Low Lake Levels and Irresponsible Boat Owners Causing Havoc on Lakes Area Boat Launches

Image depicting eroded sediment from power loading via MN DNR

DETROIT LAKES (KDLM) – Low lake levels and irresponsible boat owners are causing havoc on some Lakes Area boat launches.

The Lake Melissa and Sallie Improvement Association says they’ve received many emails and calls about the condition of the DNR boat launch site on Lake Sallie.

The lake level is down around a foot because of warm temperatures and drought like conditions, but irresponsible loading is making it more difficult to launch boats at the Sallie launch. “The big problem at the Sallie Launch Site is the boat owners who ‘Power Load’ their boats onto their trailers when they take them out,” says Mike Becraft, Lake Melissa and Sallie Improvement Association President.

The process creates sink holes for trailers and the prop wash create mounds of gravel and sand behind the sinkholes which then deny other boats from launching altogether or causing damage to their props.

Last week the Minnesota DNR brought a heavy equipment team on site who dug out the mounds and restored the launch site. Becraft says the problem will continue to exist until power launching can be controlled.