Thursday, May 2, 2013
The call came at 1:30 a.m. Thursday morning; Hennepin County Sheriff’s Water Patrol uses a different standard.
The Freshwater Society, which since the 1960s has called when the ice is out for the season, declared the lake ice-free as of about 1:30 a.m. Thursday, May 2. It was the third time in a nearly complete 158-year record that ice-out has occurred on that date. This year’s ice-out is 42 days later than last year, when an unusually warm early spring produced open water on March 21. And the ice-out this year is tied for the third-latest recorded ice-out on the lake. The median date for ice-out on Lake Minnetonka is April 14. Related posts: Ice-out on Lake Minnetonka is a sign of spring that scientists, naturalists and lakeshore residents have been tracking and recording since at least 1855. Freshwater Society founder Dick Gray, who catalogued …
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Standards for ice out differ between Hennepin County Sheriff's Office and Freshwater Society.
Today, at 4 a.m., the Sheriff’s Office determined the Ice Out is official. The declaration is made when a boat can be piloted on Lake Minnetonka through the "Narrows" around Big Island and back to the Sheriff’s Water Patrol Unit on Lake Minnetonka in Spring Park. The Freshwater Society, the official declarer of ice out on Lake Minnetonka, uses different standards. Freshwater Society founder Dick Gray, who catalogued the early records and has made his own records since 1968, described the standard for determining ice-out in a 2003 column: “when it is possible to travel by small boat from any one shore to any other shore through any passage on the lake.” Click here to see a historical table of official ice out dates, as provided by the …
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Contest had been scheduled for April 20 with an April 27 "ice date," but conditions moved the Saturday contest indoors.
This year's abnormally late ice out out on Lake Minnetonka caused local Lions to move their planned crappie contest indoors. The 2013 Lions Crappie Contest had been planned for April 20, pending ice conditions. Lingering ice on Lake Minnetonka forced contest organizers to move the event indoors, but several hundred people still attended the event Saturday at the Bayview Event Center. The North Westonka Lions, Orono Lions, Wayzata Lions, Minnetonka Lions, St. Boni Lions and Hopkins Lions are for the second consecutive year joining forces to conduct the contest. Related posts: All proceeds benefited: Local Lions charities, Camp Needlepoint for Children with Diabetes, Minnesota Deabetes Foundation, Minnesota Lions Vision Foundations, Future …
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Boats—and even jet skis—were out on Lake Minnetonka yesterday trying to break up ice and hasten the arrival of open water season.
Boats were seen on several bays Saturday trying to break up ice and help winter's last toe hold slip into the depths of Lake Minnetonka. Chase Korth said he and some friends did the same—only with jet skis—Saturday afternoon on Echo Bay. The photo received more than 40 "like" on Lake Minnetonka's Facebook page in less than 24 hours.
Sunday, April 7, 2013
This winter we experienced exceptional early ice season conditions. As the winter progressed abundant snowfall quickly changed the ice fishing landscape. Travel conditions on the lake, as well as the weight of snow on the ice, created serious problems.
By Maj. Roger Tietz, Minnesota DNR Enforcement Division The 2012 ice fishing season is drawing to a close. For those of you who spend time on the ice, there are a few things we can learn from this year’s ice fishing season. These are important lessons, life’s moments that will someday be the “I remember back during the winter of 2012” that will be ever etched in our minds. So, from an avid ice fisherman and a conservation officer for more than 30 years, here are “Lessons learned from the 2012 ice fishing season.” Putting a fish house on the lake requires dedication In Minnesota we enjoy the opportunity to put an ice fishing or spearing shelter on the lake. The law allows us to leave it on the lake unattended. To be clear, I’m not focusing …
Your invited to a party and fundraiser that celebrates two sure signs of spring: The (eventual) ice out on Lake Minnetonka and the frequent stopover of migrating loons on metro lakes as ice is breaking up.
The Freshwater Society’s Third Annual Ice OUT/Loon IN Fundraiser is scheduled for this Thursday, April 11, at the Lafayette Club in Minnetonka Beach. Guests will connect with their friends, neighbors and colleagues over festive drinks and mouth-watering appetizers, purchase raffle tickets for exciting prizes, compete for the best Loon call and bid on nearly 150 intriguing and entertaining live and silent auction items—including Twins tickets, a ski trip, a brunch cruise, a kayak trip and facials. Click here to register. The fundraiser supports the Freshwater Society’s citizen outreach, education and research programs, and once again, Paul Huttner—MPR meteorologist and author of MPR’s Updraft Blog—will be the enthusiastic emcee. This year …
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Fines north of $100 could be levied by the DNR against the owners of fish houses violating state statute.
All fish houses and other forms of ice shelters must be off local lakes by midnight, March 4. Shelters may remain on the ice between midnight and one hour before sunrise only when occupied or attended. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Conservation Officer Aaron Kahre, who spends about 90 percent of his time on Lake Minnetonka, said fines north of $100 could be levied by the DNR against the owners of fish houses violating state statute. Kahre went on to remind all recreational lake users to also take their garbage and other refuse with them when they leave the lake. Litter, he said, spikes around lakes at this time of year as ice shelters are removed. Related posts: It's not uncommon for the DNR to have to remove ice houses …
Thursday, February 14, 2013
City of Minnetonka says launch and marina have been closed since early December and that city ordinance prohibits any vehicle or foot traffic from using the main access at Grays Bay during the winter.
Editor's note: This post has been updated to reflect that the main access to Grays Bay has been locked and gated since December and any vehicle or foot traffic using the main launch is in violation of city ordinance. Lake Minnetonka Patch apologizes for any confusion our original post may have caused. The Grays Bay Public Access—one of Lake Minnetonka's most popular launches—is officially closed for the season. The City of Minnetonka says the access technically closed in early December, as it does every winter, and the launch's main entrance is gated and locked with a large sign posting "closed for the season." While regular foot and vehicle traffic has been observed using the launch this winter, city officials say such activity violates …
Monday, February 11, 2013
The grandson and grandmother passed away after going through the ice in Lake Minnetonka Feb. 2. A memorial service is Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013.
Ten days after the deaths of Harland Dietrich and Mary Ann Haram, friends and family are preparing for a memorial service. Maple Grove residents Harland Dietrich, 31,and Mary Ann Haram, 87, were identified as the drowning victims in a Feb. 2 Lake Minnetonka accident. A memorial service will take place at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013 at the Champlin American Legion, located at 12450 Business Park Boulevard N. in Champlin. “Grandmother and Grandson had a very unique bond and will be greatly missed by all who knew them,” according to an obituary notice on StarTribune.com. Friends of Dietrich have taken to Facebook to share memories, memorial and benefit information by creating a “In Loving Memory of Harland Dietrich” page. Allan Martin …
Friday, February 8, 2013
Lake Minnetonka accident claimed the life of Markle's infant daughter last month. Prosecutors say Markle was legally drunk. Defense attorney says family has already been "visited by extreme pain and hurt."
The father of an infant who drowned last month in Lake Minnetonka made his first court appearance Friday afternoon after being charged earlier in the week with vehicular homicide. Jonathan Markle, accompanied by his attorney, turned himself in and surrendered his passport Thursday night. He was assigned a cell and sat behind obscured windows in the courtroom Friday. Prosecutors say Markle was legally drunk on the evening of Jan. 18 when his family’s vehicle broke through the ice underneath the Halstead Bay Bridge in Minnetrista. Markle’s nine-month old daughter Tabitha was trapped in the SUV and died three days after the accident. Markle’s attorney, Joe Friedberg, spoke to reporters following Friday’s hearing and said his client dove down …
