4. Watercraft and Water Surface Use Regulations R§ 97.21 WATERCRAFT AND WATER SURFACE USE REGULATIONS.
The following regulations shall apply to the use of watercraft on lakes entirely within the city
limits, to the use of a lake entirely within the city limits, and to the use of ice surfaces on lakes
entirely within the city limits.
(A) Dumping. No person shall dump or throw garbage, paper, bottles, cans, refuse, or debris
into any lake or on the shore of any lake or in any public area around any lake in the city.
(B) Hours of operation.
(1) Normal conditions. No person shall operate any motorboat at a speed greater than a
slow, no-wake speed as defined by M.S. § 86B.005 in the following manner:
(a) Lake Elmo - between sunset and noon the following day, 7 days a week.
(b) Olson Lake, Lake Demontreville and Lake Jane -between sunset and sunrise, Monday
through Friday; and between sunset and 9:00 am. on weekends and holidays. .
(2) High water conditions. No person shall operate any motorboat at greater than a slow,
no-wake speed as defined by M.S. § 86B.005 whenever the lake level of Lakes Olson and
Demontreville is above 929.7 feet above sea level (MSL). This restriction will remain in effect
until the water level drops below 929.7 feet, and remains there for 3 consecutive days.
(C) Operating regulations. No person shall operate any watercraft in violation of the
provisions of this code, or in violation of the provisions of M.S. Chapter 86B or Minnesota Boat
and Water Safety Rules (6110.0100-6110.2300)which statutes and rules are hereby adopted and
incorporated herein. In the event of a conflict between the various city and state regulations,the
more restrictive regulation shall apply.
(D) Buoys. No person shall place a buoy or structure on a lake unless the buoy is specifically
authorized by the Washington County Sheriff. No buoy or structure, other than shallow water
marking or channel buoys shall be left overnight or placed contrary to MN Water Safety Rules
6l 10.1800.
(E) Operation. All motorboats, operating in excess of a slow, no-wake speed shall operate in
a counter clockwise direction on all City of Lake Elmo lakes 7 days a week. Personal watercraft
engaging in constant turning activity shall confine that activity to the center of the lake.
(F) Non public lake access. No person, except riparian owners, shall launch a watercraft or
gain access to or egress from a lake other than at a designated public access point except in the
case of any emergency or except with the written permission of the riparian lot owner. A person
who has written permission to launch a watercraft from a riparian lot shall park their vehicle(s)
and trailer(s) on the lot of the riparian owner. Riparian lot owners who grant permission to use
their property as a launch site shall otherwise comply with all of the land use regulations of the
city.
(G) Public launching areas. Except as noted in division (F) no person shall launch a
watercraft or gain access to or egress from a lake except from a public right-of-way or other
public park area in those locations specifically designated and posted for the purpose.
(H) Non-motorized carry-on access. A person may access any public waters through public
land with a hand-carried non-motorized watercraft in accordance with M.S. § 86B.201, Subd. 3.
(I) Safe operating distance.
(1) No person shall operate or permit the operation of a personal watercraft per M.S. §
86B.313, in excess of slow, no-wake speed,within 150 feet of a shoreline.
(2) Launching or landing a personal watercraft or towing a person on skis or other devices
must be done by using the most direct route to or from open water.
(J) Non-motorized watercraft. A non-motorized watercraft has the right-of-way over motor-
powered watercraft except when it is the overtaking watercraft. Motor-powered watercraft
should always keep clear and pass astern on non-motorized watercraft(Minn. Rule 6110.1200,
Sub. 1, D). (1997 Code, § 1380.03)
(K) Permanent "slow -no wake"areas. The channels and narrows between Lake Olson and
Lake Demontreville are hereby designated as permanent"slow - no wake" areas and appropriate
signs or buoys meeting the specifications found in Minn. Rules 6110.1500 shall be posted.
(Am. Ord. 97-150, passed 3-1-2005; Am. Ord. 08-014,passed 5-19-2009; Am. Ord. 08-050,
passed 7-19-2011; Am. Ord. 08-50, passed 11-1-2011; Am. Ord. 2012-58, passed 7-17-2012;
Am. Ord. 08-074, passed 9-17-2013) Penalty, see §10.99