LeMAY 09/06/2021 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Towne, Jason From: John LeMay <jhlemay@comcast.net> Sent: Monday, September 6, 2021 5:08 PM To: Conroy, Craig;Towne, Jason Cc: Taylor, Donald Subject: RE: Voyager Village Proposal re Additional slips on Loon-Cadotte and Birch Island Lakes Craig and Jason: I hope this email finds you both well and looking forward to a beautiful fall here in Burnett County. Preserving and protecting that beauty, from overuse and degradation, is the purpose of this email. As you know I am a member and Treasurer of Loon Lake Property Owners Association (LLPOA) and a 20 plus year resident on Loon Lake. As I am writing this I hear and see a jet ski doing circles 30-40 feet off the end of my dock,inside of the little bay on the north end where our place is located. Our bay has three feet of water,many aquatic plants, a favorite fishing spot for many anglers, and also several families of small children and grandchildren. We are told that the traffic on the main lake is tearing ups the shorelines, destroying aquatic plants, increasing turbidity and water clarity, destroying wildlife and destroying their habitat. Our lake water testing, which our association has been doing for at least 20 years reflects the clarity changes by secci disk,the most recent at 7 feet, compared to readings of 13 and more in past years. The increasing number and size and variety and use of recreational boats and uses of and on the lake is amazing, all of which contribute to the above changes. In addition to those physical effects,we are sitting on a time bomb for the human factor of safety and quiet enjoyment of the natural environment,knowing that the towns and counties and state do not have sufficient resources to "Protect and To Serve" in their public safety roles. I applaud the county for the steps it has taken examining the campground situation and recognizing the resources must be protected, that they are not unlimited and must be treated with respect and care. The lakes are no different and in fact one can argue that because the ratio of land to water is so disparate that the lakes need much more oversight. I strongly urge the county to take similar action with shoreland zoning and step back and look at how the lakes can be better managed to preserve and protect them and similarly allow people access and enjoyment in ways which are less harmful and safer for all. The present proposal by Voyager Village,relative to Loon/Cadotte,is proposing to almost double the number of slips from 38 to 70,which translates from 3.18 acres per boat down to 1.72 acres per boat. Contrast this with Little Bear Lake,where they also own all the shoreline and are proposing to not add any slips because, as I am told,the Little Bear property owners feel it is already overcrowded and dangerously overboated. Little Bear is cited as an example of clean water etc, and its ratio is 2.97 acres a slip, roughly twice the amount they want force onto Cadotte. An additional reason for not adding more slips on Cadotte is that 5-10% of the lake is basically a swamp or wetland and is not navigable even for diehard bass fishermen. 1