Rice County Sheriff Declares No-wake Zone on Some Lakes

Rice County Sheriff Troy Dunn imposed an emergency no-wake zone for four county lakes on Friday.

In a news release, the sheriff cited recent heavy rains producing higher than normal lake levels for his designation.

The temporary emergency no-wake zone is on Cannon Lake, Wells Lake, Circle Lake and Shields Lake. Each of the lakes is being posted with the order at the public accesses. The no-wake zone is for the entire body of water.

The sheriff says "slow, no wake" means operation of a watercraft at the slowest possible speed necessary to maintain steerage, but in no case greater than 5 mph. Dunn says violators may be cited.

As recently as April of this year, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources said in a report on southern Minnesota lakes that warm fall and an early ice-out led to slightly below normal lake levels. For example Waterville Fisheries said the 79-day duration of ice on Lake Tetonka was the shortest period they've recorded since recording ice out beginning in 1981.