LakeSarah.com

Summary of the Lake Sarah No-wake ordinance.

During periods of unusually high water, all watercraft and aircraft operating on Lake Sarah will be required to observe minimum wake rules over the entire lake. The ordinance becomes effective when the water level exceeds 981.10 feet above sea level at the MNDNR gauge for a period of 3 consecutive days. The ordinance will remain in effect until the water level recedes back below the 981.10 threshold for 3 consecutive days. The Hennepin County Sheriff 's department has primary responsibility to provide enforcement of the ordinance but enforcement by other licensed peace officers is not precluded. (Summary written by Brad Spencer)

The no-wake ordinance for lake Sarah was amended by the Cities of Greenfield and Independence in July 2017. The updated ordinance included minor text improvements plus a change to the whole lake no-wake removal procedure to require 3 consecutive days below 981.10 for removal of wake restriction following implementation. Questions may be directed to the city office of either City.

The Ordinances establishing slow no-wake zones on Lake Sarah defer to MN State Statues 96B.005 for definition which reads as follows;   86B.005 Definitions Subd. 16a. Slow-no wake.  "Slow-no wake" means operation of a watercraft at the slowest possible speed necessary to maintain steerage, but in no case greater than five miles per hour. see MN Statutes.

The City of Greenfield ordinance #           mirrors that of the City of Independence. A copy of each ordinance is available from the city administrator of the respective city or on each City's website.  

Independence Ordinance (amended July 11, 2017)

                             City of Independence, Hennepin County

Ordinance #2017-02

Section 1 (Independence city code 915).  Slow no-wake zone on Lake Sarah.

     Subd. 1. No Wake in Channel. No person shall operate a watercraft, including aircraft, in excess of slow no-wake speed in the channel separating the northerly and southerly halves of Lake Sarah as delineated by markers, buoys, or other aids to navigation placed by the city.

     Subd. 2. No Wake at High Water Level. Whenever the waters of Lake Sarah reach or exceed 981.1 feet above sea level, for a period of three consecutive days or more, as measured by the water level gauge set by the State Department of Natural Resources on Lake Sarah, the city administrator or designee may, upon notifying the Hennepin County Sheriff, establish a slow no-wake zone on those portions of the lake within the city. Both of the implementation and removal of these restrictions must be done in coordination with similiar actions by the city of Greenfield. 

     Subd. 3. No Wake Regulation. No person shall operate a watercraft, including aircraft, in excess of slow no-wake speed 24 hours per day when the high water slow-no wake restrictions in Subd. 2 are in effect. 

     Subd. 4. Effective date of slow no-wake regulation. A slow no-wake restriction shall become effective upon the date specified by the city administrator-clerk and shall remain in effect untill the water level for the lake has receded below 981.10 feet above sea level for at least 3 consecutive days.

This transcription may contain errors and is provided by this website for the convenience of our visitors, please refer to the actual city ordinances for exact legal language.

Additional details from Independence City Code section 915 - Regulation of Lake Sarah Surface Use.

915.07. Notification. The city administrator-clerk or designee shall notify the public of both the implementation and removal of the no-wake restriction at all public access points prior to and during the time the restriction is in place, and posting the restriction at city hall, and by such other means as the administrator-clerk determines to be reasonable. The city is responsible for providing adequate notification to the public. Placement of a sign at each public watercraft access oulining essential elements of this section, as well as placement of necessary buoys and signs shall be the responsibility of the Lake Sarah Improvement Association.

915.09. Exemption. Enforcement, resource management and emergency personnel, while in the performance of their official duties, are exempt from the provosions of subsection 915.05.

915.11. Penalties. Any person violating this section, upon conviction, is guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to a maximum fine or a maximum period of imprisonment, or both , as specified by Minnesota Statutes, section 609.03.

915.13. Enforcement. The Hennepin County sheriffs department and special deputies appointed and sworn by the sheriff have primary responsibility for enforcing the provisions of this section, but that does not preclude enforcement by other licensed peace officers.

This transcription may contain errors and is provided by this website for the convenience of our visitors, please refer to the actual city ordinances for exact legal language.