Frequent Questions

Water Patrol FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Following is a list of the most commonly asked questions. If you cannot get an answer here, call the Water Patrol Office or send an email to .

Summer Related

Winter Related

General Questions

Do you need a driver's license to operate a boat on Lake Minnetonka?

You are not required to have a drivers license to operate a watercraft on any lake in the State of Minnesota

If you are stopped by the Water Patrol or a Conservation Officer, you need to provide the officer with proper identification. This ID is usually a drivers license, but it could also be an Minnesota ID card, school or work ID, passport or any other government issued identification.

Do children need to wear a PFD (Life jacket) while in a boat ?

All children under the age of 10 must wear a properly sized, Coast Guard approved, personal flotation device. The only exception is when the child is below deck, aboard a charter boat, or if the boat is anchored or docked.

Complete information can be found on the DNR web site.

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How far into shore do the Big Island Safety Lanes extend ?

The Safety Lanes extend all the way to shore. If any part of a boat (including the anchor line) is in a safety lane, it must be moved

The lanes were implemented 2002 to permit access to the island and to the boats anchored close to the island for emergencies. They are also intended to prevent boats from being blocked in by other boats.

In the Summer of 2004, two additional Safety Lanes were added (bringing the total to four). In addition a lane runs parallel to shore.

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Do I need an observer to tow someone behind my PWC?

On Lake Minnetonka all watercraft that are towing skiers or tubes must have an observer that is at least 12 years of age. For PWC's, the observer needs to be able to communicate with the operator and DOES NOT have to sit backwards.

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What do I do if I see a buoy out of place?

If you see a buoy out of place, or any other hazard to navigation on any lake in Hennepin County, report it to Hennepin County Lake Improvement at 612-348-4378. You can also send an email to

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When is the ice safe for winter activities?

Ice is never completely safe. Currents, schools of fish and other occurrences under the ice can erode it quickly. Six inches one day can be less than two inches the next. Also, with in a very short distance, thickness can go from 12 inches to less than an inch. This is especially true with rivers and streams.

The Minnesota DNR publishes the guide on the left to help you determine the minimum ice thickness for your planned activity.

For more information, visit the DNR website. Also, you can get a more complete explanation at the Water Patrol's General Site.

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What does the Water Patrol do in Winter?

The Water Patrol operates year round. In the winter, deputies patrol on snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles (ATV). They look for hazards, such as pressure ridges and open water, and enforce DNR and local laws.

During the "off" season (early spring, before the ice goes out, and late fall before the ice reaches minimum thickness) deputies prepare equipment and respond to emergencies.

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Why does the Water Patrol say the ice is never safe?

Each year, as the ice begins to skim Minnesota’s lakes and ponds, the Water Patrol receives hundreds of phone calls from anxious anglers and snowmobile enthusiasts who all have the same basic question: "Is the ice safe yet?" The Water Patrol's standard answer is: "No, ice is NEVER safe."

Realizing this statement is usually misunderstood as being bureaucratic (and extremely evasive), deputies explain that even if ice is a foot thick in one area on a lake, it can be one inch thick just a few yards away. A local sports reporter recently stated that, "If it were up to the DNR and Water Patrol, people would never go on the ice." Although that is really the only way to be totally safe, it’s probably unrealistic to expect Minnesotans to give up winter outdoor activities to be totally safe.

Here are a few general guidelines for use by winter recreation enthusiasts to lessen their chances of an icy dip or worse. It’s impossible to judge the strength of ice by its appearance, thickness, daily temperature, or snow cover alone. Ice strength is actually dependent on all four factors, plus water depth under the ice, the size of the water and water chemistry, currents, and distribution of the load on the ice.

Wait to walk out on the ice until there is at least 4 inches of clear, solid ice. Thinner ice will support one person, but since ice thickness can vary considerably, especially at the beginning and end of the season, 4 inches will provide a margin of safety. Some factors that can change ice thickness include flocks of waterfowl and schools of fish. By congregating in a small area, fish can cause warmer water from the bottom towards the surface, weakening or in some cases opening large holes in the ice.
Go out with a buddy and keep a good distance apart as you walk out. If one of you goes in the other can call for help. (Everyone should carry their cell phones if they have have one, so if one person goes in, the other can call for help.) The companion can also attempt a rescue if one of you are carrying rope or other survival gear.
Snowmobiles and ATV’s need at least 5 inches, and cars and light trucks need at least 8-12 inches of good clear ice.
Contact a local resort or bait shop for information about known thin ice areas.
Wear a life jacket. Life vests or float coats provide excellent flotation and protection from hypothermia (loss of body temperature). Never wear a life jacket if you are traveling in an enclosed vehicle, however. It could hamper escape in case of a breakthrough.
Carry a pair of homemade ice picks or even a pair of screwdrivers tied together with a few yards of strong cord that can be used to pull yourself up and onto the ice if you do fall in. Be sure they have wooden handles so if you drop them in the struggle to get out of the water, they won’t go straight to the bottom!
Avoid driving on the ice whenever possible. Traveling in a vehicle, especially early or late in the season is simply "an accident waiting to happen." Of the 117 ice fatalities occurring in Minnesota since 1976, 68 percent involved a vehicle.
Be prepared to bail out in a hurry if you are driving on the ice. Unbuckle your seatbelt and have a plan of action if you do breakthrough. Some safety experts recommend driving with the window rolled down and the doors ajar for an easy escape. Move your car frequently. Parking in one place for a long period weakens ice. Don’t park near cracks, and watch out for pressure ridges or ice heaves.
Do not park near other vehicles. Ice is not like a parking lot; it can break with too much weight.
Don’t drive across ice at night or when it is snowing. Reduced visibility increases your chances for driving into an open or weak ice area.
Check at the access if there are signs that indicate an aeration system is in operation on the lake. Aerators keep areas of water open to provide oxygen for fish. The ice can be weakened many yards beyond where the ice is actually open. Stay well outside the fenced areas indicated by diamond shaped thin ice signs.
Above all, avoid alcoholic beverages. Beer and booze increases your chances for hypothermia and increases the likelihood that you’ll make a stupid mistake that will cost you or a companion their life.

Try not to panic. Of course that’s easier said than done, but if you decide on a plan before you actually fall in, survival chances are greatly improved.

Adapted from an article written by Tim Smalley, Boat and Water Safety Specialist for the Minnesota DNR

If you do not respond to a written warning, you will be issued a citation for the original offense.