Lake Minnewashta Preservation Association

Thanks to the Minnesota Coalition of Lake Associations (MN COLA) for this article. The LMPA is a dues paying member of MN COLA and individuals can read more and join by clicking HERE.

The Minnesota Legislature in the 2023 session expanded Minnesota’s existing Boater  Education Program to all boat operators aged 12 and up, born on or after July 1, 1987. Minnesota’s  previous boater education requirement was for youth (ages 12-17). 

A watercraft operator’s license has been a cornerstone of MN COLA’s Legislative  Agenda for years. MN COLA’s consensus building throughout the water community  over numerous legislative sessions helped make this law reality.  

NEXT STEPS 

The MN DNR will be establishing a working group to create and implement the program.  The program will cover core safety education in the areas of waterway rules, user  conflict reduction, and towing responsibility. It will also provide important lake ecology  education on preventing the spread of AIS and understanding how excessive wake  height and powerful propeller thrust can negatively impact shoreline erosion, lake  bottom habitat, and water quality—all of which are pressing issues for most lakeshore  owners. The required boater operator education will help calibrate all Minnesota  boaters’ knowledge with  current information and research, and increase the likelihood that users operate their  watercraft in an informed, responsible, and respectful manner.

The requirement is phased in and effective: 

• July 1, 2025, if born on or after July 1, 2004; 

• July 1, 2026, if born on or after July 1, 2000; 

• July 1, 2027, if born on or after July 1, 1996; 

• July 1, 2028, if born on or after July 1, 1987. 

Other details of the requirement include: 

• Boats with a 25hp or less do not require Boater Education and Certification to  operate; 

• Youth Boaters (ages 12-17) limited to 75 hp motors; 

• Watercraft owner is responsible for operation of watercraft; 

• Rental business requirements which include administering a “short boater safety  exam” to operators without a MN certification; 

• Program can be administered electronically or on paper.

With the geese population growing, a runoff management installation at your lake shore could be a solution and at an extremely low cost! Beautiful runoff management installations are typically at lakes edge and, once established, geese do not like to cross them. Plus, they improve the health of the lake by preventing runoff directly to the lake. Grass clippings in the runoff to the lake result in phosphorus and leads to algae. A runoff installation filters the water before it enters the lake. This is a way to kill two aggressors with one stone!

NO SWEAT!!!! Runoff Buffer and/or Rain Garden Installation grant program available to all residents within the Minnewashta watershed, area bounded by highway 7 on the north, highway 5 on the south, highway 41 on the east and Rolling Acres Road on the west, see the map below. Lake side or residential lot, all are welcome! Help us clean stormwater flowing to the Lake Minnewashta watershed and street drains! The end result is a completed project on your property supervised and installed by others!

GREAT OPPORTUNTIY TO INSTALL A BEAUTIFUL ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY PROJECT IN YOUR YARD AT A VERY LOW COST!! A qualified $3000 to $4000 project of 250 to 500 square feet could cost the resident only $300 to $600!!!!

We have a collection of potential grants involved in this opportunity and we thank all our partners for their help and cooperation. After the initial LMPA grant, all other grants are on a reimbursement basis.

****** This is a time sensitive offer and limited to the first three applicants. ******

• The Lake Minnewashta Preservation Association (LMPA), will provide an upfront grant of $710 to cover the cost for Metro Blooms to provide consultation, design, estimate and assist in filling out the CSWCD application and City of Chanhassen LID application. ONLY TWO GRANTS REMAIN!
• The Carver County Soil & Water Conservation District (CSWCD), will provide an additional grant that would include the cost of materials and project management by Metro Blooms. This grant money is provided as part of their Shoreline Habitat Program (LINK). This requires CSWCD Board approval and resident agreeing to a 10-year maintenance agreement.
• The City of Chanhassen Low Impact Development grants (LINK) is for Chanhassen residents who are eligible for a grant of 50% on actual costs up to $2000.
• Metro Blooms, https://metroblooms.org/, provides initial design, estimate and applications completion. Metro Blooms also provides all materials, project management and installation supervision after projects are approved by CSWCD and City of Chanhassen
• The Conservation Corp Minnesota (CCM) provides installation supervised by Metro Blooms.

After project approval by LMPA, CSWCD and the City of Chanhassen, the resident will pay all expenses and then provide receipts for reimbursement for each approved grant.

Interested parties should contact Kevin and Seth to apply. Upon approval from LMPA and CSWCD, Metro Blooms will then assist with consultation, design and filling in the applications. 

Kevin Zahler – kjzahler@hotmail.com, Master Water Steward, LMPA

Seth Ristow – sristow@co.carver.mn.us, Resource Conservation Technician, CSWCD 

Check out our longtime partner Whitefish Gallery for custom made Lake Minnewashta themed products. Click HERE to go to their online catalog and take 20% off on all orders. Just email Tom at giftnetworksllc@gmail.com and let him know you are an LMPA member. If you have any questions, he can be reached on his cell at 763-670-3268 or studio at 952-217-5129.

The Independence Day holiday weekend is upon us and there are many events planned you should consider attending. Check ’em out below!

Board member Scot Lacek has been working with the Sheriff’s department and local residents to identify locations in the lake where submerged rocks are a hazard. With the increase in deep draft wake surf boats, the opportunity for severe damage is increasing, especially during periods of drought where the lake levels are low.  While we only have a few approved buoy markers in the lake, we are working to add more buoys to identify the hazards. Please refer to the map below for locations of hazards, marked and unmarked.