QUIET, SAFE, CLEAN WATERS CAMPAIGN
Fact Sheet
Minnesotans want more quiet lakes
60% of Northeastern and 43% of other Minnesotans visit our lakes seek "quiet".
(1998 DNR/MN Sea Grant Study)
- 7 out of 10 Minnesotans seek nonmotorized experiences on our public lands.
(1998 DNR Border to Border Trail Study)
- Over 60% percent polled agreed that "personal watercraft should be banned from small lakes – those less than 200 acres…".
(1998 Minnesota State Fair Poll)
- 42.7% of responding members in Minnesota’s largest lake association, the Whitefish Area Property Owners Association, say "personal watercraft, (PWC), noise was a serious or very serious problem".
("Whitefish Area Property Owners Association Newsletter", 1999)
- 35% of boaters asked whether they experience problems with other boaters responded that "use of personal watercraft" is a "moderate" or more serious problem. Personal watercraft were the only problem with elevated numbers of "serious" or "very serious" responses. The next most frequently indicated problem was noise. The use of jet skis also lead the list of problems in the Twin Cities Metro Area, though in a smaller percentage.
(1999 DNR Study, "Boating in North Central MN: Status in 1998 & Trends Since 1985")
Quiet, Safe, Clean Waters can be hard to find in Minnesota
Minnesota has 11,842 lakes. Only 567 or 4.7% have some type of surface water restriction. (MNDNR Water Inventory, 1982; Water Surface Use Summary, MNDNR, May 2001)
- Minnesota has 68 state parks. Only 14 or 21% have horsepower restrictions on park lakes (Minnesota State Parks, MNDNR, 1998 –99)
- Minnesota has 783,264 registered watercraft of which 170,513 are canoes, kayaks, and sailboats, 367,424 are fishing boats and only 33,883 are jet skis
(MN Dept of Administration, July, 2001)
MRR’s goal is to regulate high-powered watercraft on surface waters throughout the state so that every Minnesotan has access to quiet, safe, clean lakes and rivers nearby for their enjoyment, use, and recreation.