(Arnolds Park)– A night-time speed limit for boats is needed on the Iowa Great Lakes, but what exactly should that limit be? That was the concensus of a public hearing the DNR hosted on the matter Thursday evening in Arnolds Park.
The East Okoboji Lakes Improvement Corporation petitioned the agency for a 30-mile-per-hour limit, which also had support of the Lakes Area Water Safety Council. They feel that’s an ideal level because most boats plane easily at that speed. But the DNR Enforcement Division revised that to 25-miles-per-hour. And some who spoke at Thursday’s hearing feel that’s too high. Some even called for a no-wake speed of 10-miles-per-hour.
Others, like Rich Meyer of Arnolds Park, questioned whether the DNR will have the proper resources and manpower to enforce the limit…especially in the early morning hours.
Lowell Joslin of the DNR Enforcement Division says he’ll compile input from Thursday’s hearing and one held earlier in the week in Des Moines. He says he’ll present a formal recommendation to DNR commissioners at their meeting in March. If approved, Joslin says the night-time boat speed limit would go in effect on all Dickinson county lakes May 3rd.
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