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5 MPH Speed Limit To Go In Effect At 4:00 PM Tuesday On ALL Dickinson County Lakes

June 17, 2024 Steve Schwaller

(Spirit Lake)– Meeting in emergency session late this (Mon.) afternoon, the Dickinson County Emergency Management Commission voted to implement a 5 mph speed limit on ALL Dickinson county lakes. Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Ehret says it goes into effect at 4:00 pm Tuesday…

“They wanted to give time to get out proper notice, the DNR can notify their staff and everybody of what’s happening, just give everybody a little time to get ready for it, I guess.”

Ehret says the commission opted to take the action even though the lakes at the time of the meeting were still below the required thresholds for the limit…

“Just due to the amount of damage we’re seeing out there on the docks and boats and everything and just the continued wave action from boats out there and all of the phone calls and emails and everything we’ve been getting today that they opted to take this action early.”

Ehret says the Emergency Management Commission is tentatively scheduled to meet again this Friday at 12 Noon at the courthouse in Spirit Lake…

“We’ll reassess everything, see where things are at. It’s going to depend a lot on how much rain we get between now and then. I would say even if it quit raining right now, the lakes are still going to be going up a little bit. I don’t foresee any fall in the water even if we were to get lucky enough to go without rain.”

Ehret says the only exception to the 5 mph limit is for DNR enforcement personnel as well as the fire boat with the proper lights and warning equipment. Violators will be subject to a fine of $95.25.

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