10.b River Taskforce Letter 51
k.cammilleri
Subject:FW: Support for a St. Croix River Task Force
From: Lisa Etzwiler
Sent: Tuesday, May 18, 2021 10:07 AM
To: c.maefsky <c.maefsky@ci.scandia.mn.us>; k.cammilleri <k.cammilleri@ci.scandia.mn.us>
Subject: Support for a St. Croix River Task Force
Dear Mayor Maefsky and Scandia Council Members,
We are residents on Quint Avenue North with property on The St. Croix River and are writing in support of the
creation of a Multi-city River Task Force. As residents along the river, we are concerned about the lack of
signage, education, and enforcement of safety and environmentally-friendly regulations on the St. Croix. To
enlighten you about common situations we encounter, we are providing a couple illustrative concerns that
highlight why we a task force is needed.
1. UNSAFE AND DESTRUCTIVE BOAT SPEEDS:
Probably the most frequent concern is the speeding of boats along the riverway. Not only do these boats
create large wakes that visibly, in real time, contribute to erosion of the shores, but they create an unsafe
environment for children and others swimming in the water, and for paddlers of all types (kayak, canoe,
paddleboarders) and other boaters. More than once, I have been swimming midstream when a boat is speeding
up river, and I have been terrified they won't see me before I can reach the other side. I have also watched
paddles boarders and canoers being violently rocked by wakes and have helped rescue swamped canoeists on
more than one occasion.
I honestly think a large number of the boaters are not out to be reckless, but they are simply not aware of the
slow wake regulations. When we have happened to come upon some, who have just zipped or even water-
skiied past us, and engaged them in helpful education about the regulations, most are apologetic and claimed
they had no idea there were regulations along the river. We all want to use and enjoy the river. I feel most
folks are respectful of regulations, when they know about them. We truly need to figure out a better way to
educate and inform people about what the regulations are.
We have been continually astonished that there are not large signs at public boat launches that clearly state the
regulations. It seems like such an easy and relatively inexpensive starting point. Again, as noted, when I have
had friendly conversations with those violating speed limits, almost all of them were unaware that there are
stretches of the river that do not allow for speed and large wakes. One of the things I would task a committee to
do is to determine why so many people violate regulations and then to determine how best to inform, educate,
and enforce regulations.
2. FISHING BY FLOODLIGHT:
We don't know what the history is for permitting fishing in the middle of the night with large floodlights. For
those not on the river, the best analog y I can provide for you is having a large truck without a muffler troll down
your street in the middle of the night and then shine a flood light into your home and bedroom. Being
awakened out of dead sleep is as alarming as it is annoying. The fact that this is allowed at all, much less on a
Scenic Riverway, leaves me flabberghasted. As disruptive as it is to us, I can't imagine how it affects animals,
birds, and aquatic creatures. In any other setting, this would be considered a disturbance of the peace. None of
2
you would tolerate folks shining lights like this into your homes at one or two or three in the morning. The fact
that the light is often accompanied by loud motors and/or inebriated voices does not help. Again, to reiterate,
this type of disturbance would never be permitted in any of your residential neighborhoods. The fact that it is
occurring along a Scenic Riverway, where there are environmental concerns for natural wildlife, is
unconscionable! I would like the task force to examine why this is permitted anywhere along a Scenic
Riverway, but especially along a residential stretch of the river. Permitting this middle-of-the night practice
defies all reason and common sense!
These are just two of our concerns. Truly there are many others, but the two we have mentioned occur with the
most frequency. We recognize that people seek many different ways to recreate on the river, but it is also a
special river with federally mandated environmental regulations. There are many alternative, easily available
and accessible lakes and rivers that allow for large boats and fast speeds. There are even other stretches along
the same river that allow for this. We are simply asking for the public to respect the scenic parts of the river
that are protected for those who seek recreation in an area zoned for limited aquatic disturbances. These people
do not have other available alternatives for this type of recreation.
Thank you so much for your interest, service, and time. We hope this has helped you understand why we
support a river task force.
Sincerely,
Lisa Etzwiler & Randall Clary