LAKE MINNETONKA Julia Casparriello and
Lee Copeland
A Brief Description
• Area of 14,000 Acres
• Ecologically diverse
• Besides lakeshore residents, Lake Minetonka is frequented by much of the surrounding population
• Besides aesthetic values, high recreational value to the area
• The Lake Minnetonka Conservation District
• determines lake policies
• responsible for enforcement of policies
The LMCD
Market Failures
• Overuse: the side effects– pollution– erosion– milfoil infestation
Market Failures Cont.
• Safety– beach safety– boating accidents
• speeding
• intoxicated boaters
Market Failures cont.
• Enforcement and Policing the Lake– Noise Pollution– Sale of boating permits– Provides security to lake users– Controls overuse and safety
Policy Options
• The milfoil problem– high clean-up costs– preventing spread is our focus
• monitoring public launches– mandating boat-cleaning– imposing fines on violators
• The overuse problem– Control usage without inconveniencing lakeshore
residents– Thus, our focus is on parking
More Policy Options
• Police force is necessary– enforcing policies of the LMCD– maintaining optimal level of benefits received
from the resource
Bringing Lake Minnetonka to Efficiency