Watercraft and Watercraft Inspections

Watercraft Hours and Rules

Governing Regulations: Minnesota Administrative Rules 6110.4000 - Watercraft Operation on Square Lake. https://www.revisor.mn.gov/rules/6110.4000/

Restricted Speed Zone:

No motorized watercraft are permitted to be operated in excess of 5 mph in the Restricted Speed Zone (RSZ).
As marked by buoys, the RSZ is the area between the shoreline and 40-foot depth contour.

Open Speed Zone:

An Open Speed Zone (OSZ) is permitted in the middle area of the lake with water depth greater than 40 feet as marked by buoys.

Hours:

Monday to Friday - 12 noon to 6 pm.
Weekends and Holidays - 12 noon to 4 pm.
At all other times beyond these hours the entire lake is limited to 5 mph or less.

Powerboat Direction:

Motorized watercraft is permitted to travel in a counter-clockwise direction around Square Lake.

Watercraft Inspections

SLA has been supporting the efforts of the Washington Conservation District to monitor Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) at the Square Lake Park boat launch. Financial support from SLA has doubled the number of hours that inspectors are checking incoming watercraft for AIS at the County Park. In summary:

According to Washington County Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Program Management reports, the number of Square Lake boaters reached in 2019 by watercraft inspectors at the Square Lake Boat Launch was 768 (incurring 384.5 inspector hours).

In 2020, thanks to SLA’s increased matching-fund grant, the number of Square Lake boaters reached by watercraft inspectors took a huge jump from 2019 to 1,342 (# of inspections).

As a direct result of your investment and inspection diligence, no new AIS infestations occurred in 2020. On numerous occasions, boaters who failed to properly maintain their watercraft were turned away by diligent inspectors, preventing likely AIS intrusions.

Importantly, in 2019, a watchful inspector observed a Zebra Mussel infestation on an incoming watercraft, took immediate remedial action, and was praised for his diligence.

For additional information and success stories from our Square Lake watercraft inspectors about their work this past summer, please check out:

https://www.cmscwd.org/lakes-streams

We’re grateful to Association members who have expressed their gratitude to the inspectors.