Wake Surfing Should Be Regulated On Lake Minnetonka
Protect Lake Shoreling & Ecology
Wake surfing should be restricted to designated areas on Lake Minnetonka that are identified by a cell phone navigational app, and meet three key criteria:
1) Have at least 100 contiguous acres of useable surface water.
2) Located 600 ft or more from all shorelines.
3) Meet a minimum water depth of 20 ft.
A distance of 600 ft from shore is consistent with the SAFL Phase 1 Study findings regarding the distance required for the energy and power of wake surf waves to attenuate to the same level of the waves of a non-wake surf wave at 200 ft from shore. Specifically. the distance required for wave energy was >575 ft, and wave power >600 ft. The commonly cited >500 ft distance is for wave height attenuation, however, wave energy and power cause shoreline damage and safety issues for other lake users.
100 contiguous acreage is equivalent to an area .56 of a mile long and .28 of a mile wide. The length of this area enables a 3-minute straight line wake surfing run at a speed of 11 mph, and the width provides 500 ft of separation for 3 boats operating simultaneously in wake surfing mode.
The 20 ft water depth requirement is the water depth the SAFL Phase 2 Study recommended to prevent lakebed destruction by wake surfing.
Fairness To Other Users
1) Prohibit wake surfing before noon on bays of 250 acres or less. Place
signage at all boat launches and channels where the rule applies.
This restores fairness to non-wake surf users of the lake, by providing a reliable time to safely enjoy their water recreation without the interference of large, high energy, powerful waves. It restores the culture of shared access that has historically defined the lake.
Safety
1) Require wake surfing to stop 1 hour before sunset, as is required of
personal watercraft to ensure other boaters, paddlers and anglers will
have adequate daylight to see wake surf waves they may encounter.
Protect The Lake From Future Bigger More Powerful Boats Designed For Wake Surfing.
1) Impose weight limit of 13,100 lbs ( for boats designed to create waves for wake surfing. Total weight equals the sum of factory max dry weight plus max ballast weight listed in manufacturer specifications.
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