January Update
Warning from Hennepin County Water Patrol about unsafe ice
Authorities are warning that the ice on area lakes is not yet thick enough for vehicles. Recently two people went through the ice on Lake Minnetonka while riding an ATV pulling a portable ice fishing house. Fortunately they were able to get out of the water safely.
It will not be safe to drive cars or trucks on the ice until we have several days of sub-zero weather to increase ice thickness.
The MN DNR guidelines call for at least 4 inches of ice for safe walking, 5 to 7 inches for snowmobiles or ATV’s and 12 to 15 inches to support a large vehicle or truck.
Let's stay safe out there!
2020 Calendar of Events
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15th
Winter Party on Ice
2:00 - 5:00 PM
On the ice behind 5010 South Lakeshore Dr.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 29th
2019-20 Fishing Tournament closes
SATURDAY, APRIL 11th
Annual Members Meeting & Ice Cream Social
Fishing Seminar (immediately following meeting)
SATURDAY, MAY 2nd
2020-2021 Fishing Tournament begins
SATURDAY, JULY 4th
4th of July Boat Flotilla
TUESDAY, AUGUST 4th
Neighborhood Night Out
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19th
Medina Celebration Day (LICA info table)
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3rd
Octoberfest Picnic
Welcome to Lake Independence
Lake Independence is a beautiful recreational lake in Western Hennepin County, Minnesota. The lake is 844 acres in size and about 58 feet at its deepest.
Adorning its shores are 104 residential properties, Three Rivers Parks Baker Park Reserve, Vinland Center, and YMCA Camp Iduhapi. The lake has 5.8 miles of shoreline and two islands on the northwest side of the lake.
Baker Ravine Project Update
The ravine that runs through Baker Campground into Lake Independence is severely eroded and was identified as a major source of contaminants, including an estimated 277 lbs. of phosphorus and 300 tons of sediment annually.
A plan was developed for stabilizing the ravine with rounded field stone and angular rip-rap. Installation work has begun. The photo above shows the new rip-rap at the end of the ravine, adjacent to the lake.
Funding was provided by grants from the Clean Water Legacy Fund and Hennepin County, along with contributions from the Pioneer-Sarah Creek Watershed Commission, Three Rivers Parks, the cities of Medina and Independence, and LICA.
This project is an excellent example of multiple stakeholder groups working together to achieve a common goal: To improve the water quality of Lake Independence.
Slow No Wake trigger level being evaluated
In response to the valuable input we received from our LICA Members Survey, LICA Board Members are consulting with the DNR and other stakeholders, including the Pioneer-Sarah Creek Watershed Commission and Three Rivers Parks, to develop a process for re-evaluating the Slow No Wake trigger level, which was set in 2003 when lake conditions were very different.
The question is how much the level should be raised, to balance the potential increase in shoreline erosion and the resulting phosphorus run-off, versus the projected number of open water days for boating. We are currently discussing possible methodologies for coming up with a recommendation for the new level.
After all of the stakeholders have agreed on the revision, our recommendation will be forwarded to the Cities of Independence and Medina to begin the process of changing the Cities’ ordinances. Our goal is to have the new level implemented by the start of the 2020 boating season.
Facebook links
LICA
https://www.facebook.com/lica.org
INDEPENDENCE FISHING
https://www.facebook.com/IndependenceFishing