From the Prior Lake Association 

Sometimes there seems to be confusion or misunderstanding between operating a motor vehicle on the roadways (with brakes and firm, positive steering), and operating a watercraft (with no brakes and no firm, positive steering) on a body of water.

A motor vehicle can be safely driven within a few feet of another motor vehicle as on a multi-lane highway or passing another vehicle. This is not true when operating a watercraft and is unsafe and dangerous.Boating rules and laws state that a passing watercraft must keep a sufficient distance away to avoid a collision or endanger any other watercraft from its wake. A watercraft’s wake must not endanger, harass or interfere with any person, property or other watercraft. So watch your wake – is it rocking other boats so that their passengers have to hang on to avoid being tossed about? Also, when the Scott County Water Patrol has stopped another watercraft, be sure that your wake does not toss those two boats about. The Water Patrol states that they and their watercraft are frequently tossed about by other watercraft coming too close to their stopped watercraft. A ticket can (and should) be issued for endangering, harassing or interfering with the deputy’s official duties.

In other lake news, the Secchi Transparency Summary for 2007 was mean 3.8 feet, minimum 2 feet and maximum 7 feet. The long-term trend data from 1980 to 2007 shows slow improvement form 2.6 feet to 3.3 feet. The current reading as of Wednesday, May 14 was 5 feet. The inflow stream from Spring Lake is running vigorously and is well over the spillway at Jeffers Pond. The elevation is 902.90 feet, the same as last week. The surface water temperature was 55 degrees. Enjoy your lake, think safety and give other boats plenty of leeway.

 The Prior Lake Association can be reached at www.priorlakeassociation.org.