LMA Not allowing boats to Launch if at Prior Lake clean up!

[DiverQueen]

My boat hasn't been out of the shed all winter, but....I'm thinking Crosby this weekend!

[Terry]

                  I'm quite sure the LMA has NO legal right to stop me from launching my boat in any public access, ( I'd like to see them try that) while I applaud their effort to protect Lake Minnetonka, there is no way they will stop the spread of AIS, only slow it down at best, much like BP trying to stop the flow of oil in the gulf, just another example of a group with too much money and too little common sense. Couple questions for this group,,,,, do they know Zebras are not already in Minnetonka, ( or will WE prove that they are on Sat? ) rather then jerking the octopus of divers who are volunteering their fuel, boats, time, gear and effort to clean up their lake, where is the LMA checking all the other groups of boaters for (5 day dried) anchor lockers, bilges, live wells, etc.because I see lots of boats launching with no one doing the inspection of anything, where is this "group" normally if their so viligent about stopping AIS. It looks to me like LMA is singleing out divers, if they see my gear is wet from Calhoun or Harriet, (most likely where I will be diving later on this week) and they stop me from participating in the clean up, oue-sker-do (there wont be any stopping me from launching in any public launch), I will just head out to go see the Hopkins or the Hercules and meet up for beers afterwards, so count me in either way.        TRINITY

[scubadog76]

They certainly mean well, but the short term planning is pretty lame.  Prior Lake is in need of an overhaul as well, and when divers are forced to pick which dive they are going to do, somebody will shoot their own foot.  For future overhauls, I would suggest the PL and LM associations have a Pow-Wow and everyone wins.  2 weeks apart  doesn't seem like rocket surgery and since LM changed their policy, they should be flexable on the date too.  Even with this change, it"s still a ton of fun!

[doug67]

Its still a BS rule. They hold divers back but the same day a hundred fishermen could start the morning on Prior and head to Tonka in the afternoon and nothing is said about it. This is all politics. Its not the way to get more people at your event.

[Indigo Blues]

I would tend to agree. Who is sitting at all the public landings every day of the week inspecting boats and finding out if they were in Prior Lake or any other lake or if they were out of the water for a week drying out. I appreciate their objective as invasive species is a huge problem but unless they have daily monitoring of every landing this is BS for sure.

[mermaid]

Makes you wonder how many other volunteers are unhappy with this rule.  The short notice also raises the question of many people would decide not to participate if given ENOUGH notice? 

[MNDiver]

Whoa!  Seriously?  I cannot believe this. This is a joke right?

I was on the fence about doing this, but am not now.  I would typically try to be politically correct and say something like "I understand their plight and applaud their diligent efforts and so on..." but this is wrong in so many ways.  Just can't do it.  This is just too stupid.

So they are going to inspect boats and gear?  I can only assume that if it's wet in anyway they will think you are lying and not let you use it.  Not like they have super vision and can see the zebra muscles.  I guess this will apply to everyone except for people that keep their boats and gear on the lake (I mean live on the lake).  Sounds like they are being selective to intentionally excluded them darn "outsiders." 

Will every fishing contest, ice contest, triathlon, and any other event held at the lake going forward have the same "if it's wet, and you don't live on our lake, you can't use our lake" standard?  Good luck with that....

[popolarbear]

it sounds insane, but take it serious. Ive seen the inspectors at all the launches around tonka this year as i boat there allot. they will inspect your craft so keep that in mind. also millfoil violations are $100 a running inch of plant. I drain and blow my salt water flush on every trip. as i understand tonka already has zebra muscles found in north arm in a very limited amount. might have been purposely introduced by residents.

is the LMA a public or private organization?

[scubafreek864]

I have launched at Gray's Bay many times.  I have only been checked two of those times.  Each time they were very polite about doing the inspection and gave me a sticker to put on the tongue of my trailer.  Now I have a new(used) boat, motor, trailer without the inspection sticker.

I have also been checked on Lake Sylvia by Annandale.

This inspection is not being put on by the DNR or Water Patrol.  It is the LMA doing the inspections for the clean up event.

[popolarbear]

so i looked up on the DNR website



it looks like the DNRs website is suggesting not mandating 5day dry rule.

"Spray/rinse with high pressure, and/or hot tap water (above 120º F), especially if moored for more than a day; or
Dry for at least five days "



If there is a 5 day dry rule this would apply also to ice fishing gear augers...
State water patrol boats(and trailers), etc etc. who is inspecting the water patrol boats that i see being launched all over the metro