Source: http://www.greenlakespicer.com/sheriffspatrol/regulations.htm
Timestamp: 2014-10-25 09:26:05
Document Index: 764263366

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 1', 'art. 6110', 'art 1', 'art 1', 'art 6110', 'art 4', 'art 6110']

Regulations Regarding Buoys and Swimming Areas
Lake Veg. Mgmt. Plan (PDF) Middle Fork of the Crow River
Other areas of concern that have been presented include the use of buoys to mark off swimming areas, temporary structures and operation of personal watercraft. Current regulations require a permit to place temporary structures, buoys or signs and may be obtained from the Kandiyohi County Sheriff's Department, 2201 NE 23rd ST, Willmar, MN 56201 or by calling 235-1260. Current statute and regulations provide the following for each: 6110.1500 WATERWAY MARKERS. Subpart 1. In general. Except as hereinafter provided, or as otherwise provided by law, all waterway markers placed in or upon the waters of the state by public authority or under a permit issued by the sheriff of any county for the purposes hereinafter set forth shall have the form, size, lighting, reflectorization, and coloration prescribed therefor. Subp. 2. Channel marker buoys. Channel marker buoys: Every channel marker buoy shall have the external form of a cylinder having a circular transverse cross-section not less than nine inches in diameter. Channel markers must extend at least 36 inches above the water. B. Where channel marker buoys are placed to indicate the location of a well defined boating channel, an all green buoy and an all red buoy shall be placed in opposition to each other to indicate the course of the channel is located between them. The red buoy or marker shall be situated on the right side of the channel when heading towards shore, or when heading upstream. A green flashing light shall be used in conjunction with a green buoy if it is to be lighted. When reflectorization is used with a green buoy, it shall be green in color and no less than a three-inch wide strip shall completely surround the buoy and shall be located at the top of the buoy. Number designations shall be odd. A red flashing light shall be used in conjunction with a red buoy if it is to be lighted. When reflectorization is used with a red buoy, it shall be red in color and no less than a three-inch wide strip shall completely surround the buoy and shall be located at the top of the buoy. Number designations shall be even. Subp. 3. Other navigational buoys. A buoy indicating that a watercraft should not pass between it and the nearest shore shall have a circular transverse cross-section measuring not less than nine inches in diameter and shall extend at least 36 inches above the surface of the water. Each such buoy shall be marked with alternating vertical red and white stripes. White reflectorization may be used on a minimum of the upper four inches of the white vertical stripe. Red reflectorization may be used on a minimum of the upper four inches of the red vertical stripes. A white quick-flashing light shall be used if the buoy is lighted. Subp. 4. Mooring buoys.
Every buoy placed in the waters of the state for use in anchoring or mooring watercraft may be of any practicable size or shape, but must have at least eight inches extending above the waterline. No anchoring buoy may have a diameter of over 24 inches circular or a width of more than 24 inches if some other shape. No mooring or anchor buoy may be placed in any public water if it obstructs access to any public or private property or creates a navigational hazard. No mooring or anchor buoy may be placed in or upon the water of the state except by public authority or under a permit issued by the sheriff of the county. Every such buoy shall be colored white and shall be encircled by a visible blue band at least one inch wide. Mooring buoys must have a minimum total of 16 square inches of white reflectorization, part of which must be visible from any direction. Mooring buoys, if lighted, shall show a flashing white light. Subp. 5. Regulatory and information signs and buoys. Regulatory and information signs and buoys: A. No regulatory or informational signs or buoys may be placed in or upon the waters of this state, except by public authority or under a permit issued by the sheriff of the county. All such signs and buoys shall be colored white except as hereinafter provided. When a buoy is used as a regulatory or informational marker (except in private swimming areas), it shall have two orange-colored horizontal bands completely around the buoy's circumference, one such band at the top, and the other just above the waterline. The appropriate geometric shape(s) indicating the buoy's purpose and any lettering or numerals shall be placed between these horizontal bands. The buoy itself shall have a circular transverse cross section of at least nine inches and shall extend at least 36 inches above the surface of the water. B. Every sign or buoy giving information for the convenience of watercraft operators shall bear a two-inch wide orange-colored band forming an upright rectangle measuring at least 14 inches in height outside dimensions. C. Signs or buoys indicating danger to watercraft shall bear an orange-colored band of two-inch width forming an upright diamond at least 14 inches in outside height, and such signs shall bear a printed statement of the source of danger. D. Signs or buoys indicating controlled water areas in which boating, fishing, water-skiing, skin diving, or other water activities are restricted, limited, or otherwise subjected to special rules or regulations shall bear a two-inch wide band forming a circle at least 12 inches in outside diameter. The limitation, restriction, prohibition, or regulation effective within a controlled area shall be printed inside of the orange-colored circle when possible. Signs or buoys designating state game refuges, wildlife management areas, or spawning areas shall not be subject to the provisions of this order. E. Signs or buoys directing all watercraft to keep out of a specific water area shall bear a two-inch orange-colored band forming an upright diamond at least 14 inches in outside height, dissected vertically and horizontally by an orange-colored strip two inches wide. Signs or buoys designating state game refuges, wildlife management areas, or spawning areas shall not be subject to the provisions of this order. F. Signs indicating winter ice dangers to persons, motor vehicles, snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles, ice boats, or any other conveyance used to transport persons over the ice on public waters of the state shall bear a two-inch wide orange-colored band forming an upright diamond at least 14 inches in outside height and such signs shall bear a printed statement of the source of danger. Where used, except for the marking of aeration systems operating under a permit from the commissioner of natural resources, these signs shall completely line the perimeter of the ice hazard at intervals not exceeding 75 feet and shall be at least 48 inches above the ice. When a permit is issued for an aeration system, the commissioner shall specify the marking requirements for each system as a part of the permit. G. No person shall operate any motor vehicle, snowmobile, all-terrain vehicle, ice boat, or any other conveyance used to transport persons over the ice on public waters of the state within 150 feet of a diver's warning flag described in Minnesota Statutes, section 86B.601. H. Written material on any waterway marker sign or buoy shall be printed with black letters at least two inches in height, on a white background. I. Every waterway marker driven into the bottom of a lake or stream, or attached to a post so driven, shall extend at least 30 inches above the surface of the water. The surface of the water shall be considered to be the normal high watermark during the local boating season. J. Any sign may be reflectorized or fluorescent provided that the entire displayed surface is uniformly reflectorized or fluorescent. K. The reflectorized material required by all sections of these rules shall retain 80 percent of its dry weather reflective signal strength when submerged in water. L. Whenever an emergency situation requires that immediate warning be given of any hazardous condition on any waters of the state, any available object or apparatus may be utilized as a temporary waterway marker to give such warning until the emergency ceases to exist or until a marker complying with these regulations can be substituted therefor. Subp. 6. [Repealed, 15 SR 2430] Subp. 7. Milfoil areas.
Buoys or signs indicating an area that is infested with Eurasian water milfoil may be marked using a solid yellow sign or buoy. If a buoy is used, it shall be no less than four inches in diameter and extend at least 30 inches above the surface of the water. The words "Milfoil" or Milfoil Area" must appear on opposing sides of the buoy in at least two-inch high black letters. If a sign is used, it shall be no more than 12 inches in width or more than 18 inches in height and extend at least 30 inches above the surface of the water at normal high water level. The words "Milfoil" or "Milfoil Area" must appear on the sign in at least two-inch high black letters. Subp. 8. Exceptions.
Whenever an emergency situation requires that immediate warning be given of a hazardous condition, any appropriate marker may be used until such time as the emergency ceases to exist or until a marker complying with these rules can be obtained. In addition, the commissioner or designee may exempt specific types of waterway markers or buoys from the dimensional requirements of this part where safety would not be adversely affected and may also designate buoys or markers for purposes not previously set forth in this part. 6110.1600 MARKING OF LEGALLY DESIGNATED SWIMMING AREAS. Subpart 1. Individual private areas. The owner or lessee of shoreline property may place white markers defining a swimming area adjacent to the property for personal use. This area shall not exceed 2,500 square feet in area and shall not extend more than 50 linear feet along the lake frontage of the owner or lessee. These markers must have no less than six inches but no more than 14 inches showing above the waterline. Markers in the form of a cylinder must have a diameter of at least five inches and not larger than nine inches. Markers with a shape other than a cylinder may not have a length or width greater than 14 inches. Each such marker shall bear on opposite sides a one-half inch wide band of international orange color forming an upright diamond at least five inches in outside width, dissected vertically and horizontally by a one-half inch wide strip of international orange color. The border of the diamond and cross outline shall not be less than one-half inch in width. These markers may not be spaced more than 15 feet apart and must outline all of the swimming area. No swimming marker may obstruct watercraft traffic or unduly interfere with public use of the water. If in the opinion of the local sheriff, the sheriff's water patrol officer, or conservation officer, such conditions exist, they may direct the landowner or lessee to change the boundaries of the swimming area or have the markers removed. The landowner or lessee may appeal such a directive to the commissioner of natural resources. 6110.1800 PLACEMENT OF TEMPORARY STRUCTURES AND BUOYS IN THE WATERS OF THE STATE. Subpart 1. In general.
No person shall leave any temporary structure not extending from shore, or any buoy or sign in the waters of this state between the hours of sunset and sunrise without first obtaining a permit in writing therefor from the sheriff of the county. Mooring buoys must be placed as provided in part 6110.1500, subpart 4. Swimming area markers must be placed as provided in part 6110.1600. Subp. 2. Permit for temporary structure or buoy. The sheriff of any county may issue a permit for the placement of any such structure or buoy whenever, in the sheriff's opinion, the structure or buoy will not constitute an undue hazard to or illegal obstruction of navigation. Each structure or navigational buoy placed pursuant to such permit shall have the permit number painted on it and shall have attached either a light visible in all directions, or sufficient reflectorized material so as to reflect light from all directions, which material shall retain 80 percent of its dry weather reflective signal strength when submerged in water. Home | Membership | Board of Directors | Board Minutes | Calendar | Photo Gallery |
(c) 1999 - 2014 Green Lake Property Owners Association