Thanks to all who attended our Annual Meeting Monday evening.  It was great to see so many neighbors again after a long winter.  If you were unable to attend here is a summary of the key topics.
​
Thank You
Thanks to John Richardson, Chad Henfling, Dave Vogel, and Jake Peterson for serving as Board Members last year.  Also, thanks to Greg Hastings for coordinating the fish stocking and Anne Florenzano for running the Ice In/Ice Out contest.
 
New Officers
John Richardson was elected the new President and Ted Marks the new Vice President for 3-year terms starting today. Welcome to the Board Ted!

Guest Speaker: Liv Nyffeler, University of Minnesota
Liv gave an update on her Low-Dose Copper Project.  She gave a background on the treatments and results done in St. Alban’s Bay of Lake Minnetonka.  It demonstrated that low-dose thermocline-targeted copper can suppress Zebra Mussel populations for multiple years at very low doses that are safe to native mussels and fish.  Lake Riley will be the first whole-lake treatment in the state! Baseline data was taken last summer from the 40 zebra mussel settlement plates placed around the lake.  Treatments will start in Mid/Late July every 3-4 days over a 3-week period. We will be notified a week before treatment starts.  It is safe to swim in the lake during treatment since the dose is so low. Her presentation is posted on the LRIA website:  www.lakeriley.org.

Guest Speaker: Terry Jeffery, District Administrator, RPBC Watershed District
Terry did not present slides so it was mainly a Q/A session.  Lake Riley was delisted from the Impaired Water List last year based on its 10-year water quality averages.  However, last summer the lake had poor visibility and had blue-green algae blooms that required closing the beach. Algae blooms were widespread in the metro area last August and September due to high temperatures calm conditions. If it happens again and you want your shoreline tested, the Watershed District will come to your lot and test it for toxin levels.  The city of EP will only test at the city park.  The lake will be treated again this year for Curly-Leaf Pondweed and (if necessary) Eurasian Milfoil.  Terry offered to attend a LRIA Board Meeting and get input for the next 10-year plan.

Fish Stocking
We stocked about 2000 10”-15” walleye last fall.  This is the second year in a row of stocking larger fish, based on DNR recommendations. 

DNR Fish Surveys
The DNR will carry out two fish surveys on the lake this summer.  In the spring they will do a sunfish assessment to see if the special regulations on bluegill and crappie has resulted in larger fish populations compared to the 2021 survey. The standard fisheries survey will be done in July.  It will be interesting to see if the northern pike population has decreased and if the walleye population is increasing. Matt Peterson is our new contact at the DNR.​

Boat Launch Inspection
The boat launch AIS inspection program was strong in 2025 with 5,494 inspections over 1,987 hours.  A total of 77 entering inspections found violations of AIS laws.    The hours are;

• Fishing opener to Memorial Day: Sa-Su from 6:00 am to 8:00 pm
• Memorial Day to Labor Day: M-Thu 6:00 am – 7:00 pm; Fr-Sun 6:00 am to 8:00 pm
• Labor Day to Late Oct.: Sa-Sun from 6:00 am to 8:00 pm

 
Unsafe Jetski and Boat activity
If anyone sees unsafe activity you should call 911 and report it. The Water Patrol said that pictures or videos of violations would help them with enforcement.  

Social Events
The Annual 4th of July Boat Parade will take place at 12:00 pm on Saturday, July 4th.  Meet in the South-West Bay to begin. As always, awards will be given to the most creative and patriotic decorations.

The Annual Fall Party will be Sunday, August 30th from 4:30 to 6:30 at the Riley Lake Park Pavilion. There will be a sign-up closer to the event to bring side dishes and desserts.
 
Have a great summer!

Boating season has begun-
Fishing, floating, water fun!
The winter season is now done
We welcome the summer warmth to come.

March 30, 2026 the ice is out - and Perry Forster won the guessing pool right on the nose! Congratulations!
Our dock went in last year on April 6th. It's fun to see the docks appear around the lake. Look for the loons to come back, usually very soon after the ice is gone. Here's a question: which will we see first, a fishing boat or a loon?

Happy Spring, everyone!
Anne

Reference:  https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/safety/boatwater/boater-education-law.html

Effective Date: July 1, 2025

Starting on July 1, 2025, a new law requires some adults and youth who operate motorboats—including personal watercraft—to have a valid watercraft operator's permit (commonly also known as a boater safety certificate). People who already have a watercraft operator's permit are not affected by the law, which is designed to make boating safer by ensuring  everyone operating a motorized watercraft knows the rules and is properly trained. Here's a breakdown of the key points:

Adult operators:

• Permit requirement: Some adults (defined below) need a valid operator's permit to drive any motorboat or personal watercraft starting July 1, 2025.
• Exemptions: Some adults are exempt from this requirement. Check the law for specific exemptions.
• Supervised operation: People without a permit still can operate a boat, but only if there's an accompanying operator (defined below) onboard.

Young operators:

• Restrictions on high-powered watercraft: Young operators (people less than 12 years old), can't operate a personal watercraft or any motorboat with a motor over 75 horsepower.
• Low-powered motorboats: Young operators can operate a motorboat that's not a personal watercraft and has a motor under 75 horsepower as long as there is an accompanying operator in the motorboat.

Who is considered an adult operator?

• Is 12 years old or older, and
• Was born after these dates:
  
  
  • June 30, 2004 (started July 1, 2025)
  • June 30, 2000 (starts July 1, 2026)
  • June 30, 1996 (starts July 1, 2027)
  • June 30, 1987 (starts July 1, 2028)

This means people born after June 30, 2004, will need a permit to operate a boat starting in 2025. The permit requirement will gradually apply to older age groups over the next few years.
Who is considered an accompanying operator?

• A person 21 years of age or older who:
  • Is in a personal watercraft or other type of motorboat;
  • Is within immediate reach of the controls of the motor; and
  • Possesses a valid operator's permit or is an exempt operator.

Who is considered an exempt operator?
"Exempt operator" means a motorboat operator, including a personal watercraft operator, who is 12 years of age or older and who:

• Possesses a valid license to operate a motorboat issued for maritime personnel by the United States Coast Guard under Code of Federal Regulations, title 46, part 10, or a marine certificate issued by the Canadian government.
• Is not a resident of the state, is temporarily using the waters of the state for a period not to exceed 60 days, and:
  • meets any applicable requirements of the state or country of residency; or
  • possesses a Canadian pleasure craft operator's card;
  • is operating a motorboat under a dealer's license according to section 86B.405; or
  • is operating a motorboat during an emergency.

Key takeaways:

• Adult and youth permits: Young operators and some adults need a valid watercraft operator's permit to operate certain motorized watercraft. For adults born after June 30, 2004, the requirement started July 1, 2025. The law will extend to older age groups over time.
• Youth restrictions: Young operators can't operate boats with more than 75 horsepower. They can operate boats (that are not PWC) with less than 75 horsepower if they're with an accompanying operator.
• Gradual rollout: The law will phase in over the next few years. The operator permit requirement started July 1, 2025 and gradually expands through 2028.

This new law aims to improve safety on the water by making sure everyone operating a motorized watercraft is trained and qualified.
Rentals:

• 18 and older:
  
  
  • If renting from a rental business and from Minnesota: Must be an exempt operator; complete the Minnesota watercraft rental course (certification is good for 180 days); or already have or obtain a watercraft operator’s permit (certification is good for a lifetime).
  • If renting from a rental business, not from Minnesota, and using Minnesota’s waterways for fewer than 60 days: Must meet any applicable requirements of state or country of residency.
  • If renting from a resort and from Minnesota: Must meet watercraft operator permit age requirements. (Those born after June 30, 2004, must hold a valid watercraft operator’s permit.)
  • If renting from a resort, not from Minnesota, and using Minnesota’s waterways for fewer than 60 days: Must meet any applicable requirements of state or country of residency.
• Under 18: 
  
  
  • Cannot rent watercraft, but Minnesota residents may operate rental watercraft if they have a valid watercraft operator’s permit. Non-residents under 18 also cannot rent watercraft but may operate rental watercraft if they’re using Minnesota’s waterways for fewer than 60 days and meet any applicable requirements of state or country of residency. (Please note: Rental businesses and resorts may also have their own requirements that are more stringent than state law.)

Low-powered motorboats
This new law does not affect individuals who operate motorboats powered by a motor with a factory rating of 25 horsepower or less. People of any age do not need a valid watercraft operator’s permit or have an accompanying operator in the motorboat so long as it is not a personal watercraft and is powered by a motor with a factory rating of 25 horsepower or less.

SIGN UP NOW to take the watercraft operator's permit course:https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/safety/boatwater/education.html

​LRIA Members,
 
Thanks to the generous donations by our members, we were able to stock Lake Riley with $5,550 worth of 10” – 15” walleye yearlings this week.  Greg took the photo’s below and said that about 1300 – 1500 fish were put into the lake on Wednesday!  It was the second year in a row of stocking larger fish (> 1 year old) , which was recommended by the DNR.  Hopefully these much larger fish will avoid falling prey to the healthy northern pike population in the lake.   Thanks to all who donated to the fish fund this year!
 
Scott

​We had a good turnout last night for the LRIA Annual Party and perfect weather.  A big thank you to John Richardson and Jake Petersen for leading the party planning again this year.  Also, thanks to everyone who contributed a side dish or desert. 
Below are the predictions of Ice-In and Ice-Out this year.  Good luck to all that entered!  The minnow races were the highlight for the kids, and the photo below shows John with the lucky winners Haldo (1st), Payton (2nd), and Evelyn (3rd).
Next year the party will be on August 30th so put it on your calendar!

A group of LRIA members met with Olivia Nyffeler from the University of Minnesota last night to hear about her research study of Zebra Mussels in Lake Riley.  Josh Maxwell from the Watershed District, Lori Haak from the City of Eden Prairie, and a representative from the US Geological Survey joined her.  The research project is being funded by the USGS.  This will be Olivia’s Ph.D. project working under the guidance of Prof. Gretchen Hansen.
 
You may have noticed the buoys they put in the lake to monitor Zebra Mussels.  The buoys have a USGS logo on them.  They will be there for 2-3 months, and the plates are about 10-12 feet deep.
 
Chemical treatments won’t be done until late July or early August 2026.  The low dose copper treatments will not interfere with any enjoyment of the lake such as swimming and are not expected to have any adverse effects on fish.  
 
This is a follow up study to what was done in Lake Minnetonka.  Here is a short summary of that study.  https://maisrc.umn.edu/news/mnkta-copper
 
It might make sense for Olivia to speak at a future LRIA Annual Meeting to educate us on what she learns.
 
Scott