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EmailBoat Launch Hours Lead to Complaints from Mpls. Boaters
About three weeks ago, the Minneapolis Parks Board started limiting boat access on three lakes – and it’s getting an earful about it.
Boat inspections on Harriet, Calhoun, and Nokomis limit boaters to launch hours of 6-10 a.m. and 5-9 p.m. Monday through Friday. On weekends, the launches are open much of the day.
The hope is that by limiting hours and having inspectors on hand, zebra mussels and other invasive species will be kept out of the three lakes.
But those who like to fish have told the parks board by the dozens that they don’t like the hours.
The parks board is contacting everyone who complains because it’s putting together focus groups and says things will be different next year.
Meanwhile, the DNR says it’s struggling to combat zebra mussels because of limited resources. The agency says it has 118 inspectors checking boats, but there are about 3,000 public access points.
The DNR’s goal was to hire 150 inspectors this year.
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