In two weeks, on Tuesday, April 25th, the Scandia City Council will hold a public hearing regarding the four possible Log House Landing ramp access options. Our group, the Friends of Log House Landing (FLHL), has spent significant time and effort reviewing and analyzing these four options. We have concluded that the Carry-In option is overwhelmingly the best alternative. As a reminder, the four options that the Scandia Council is considering for the LHL boat ramp access are as follows: • LEAVE RAMP AS IS WITH NO CHANGES • CONTINUE TO PURSUE BUILDING A CONCRETE RAMP FOR TRAILERED BOATS • CHANGE THE RAMP TO WALK-IN / CARRY-IN ONLY - NO TRAILERS PERMITTED • CLOSE THE RAMP COMPLETELY We believe that for a number of reasons, the Carry-In option is the best choice for both Scandia residents and visiting users. Following are the primary advantages of the Carry-In option: • EROSION IS MITIGATED: The ramp will be revegetated, which will completely eliminate ramp erosion. The revegetated ramp will vastly improve the walkable surface for all users. It will replace the existing difficult trap rock surface that was added last fall in an attempt to deal with erosion. • GREATEST ACCESS: The greatest number and types of users will be able to access the site. Carry-in vehicles typically take up less space than trucks/trailers, allowing for more vehicle parking. The landing will no longer be primarily used as a trailer turn-around and more space will become available for other recreational uses such as picnics, games, swimming, shore-fishing, sightseeing, and the temporary storage of canoes, kayaks, carry-in boats, and paddle boards. • LOW EXPENSE: The cost to revegetate the ramp will be minimal, saving considerable taxpayer dollars. More expensive options just don’t make sense because of the many LHL site limitations - small size, limited parking, difficult terrain and the small number of daily users. •LOW MAINTENANCE: Very minimal ongoing ramp maintenance will be needed. Carry-in vehicles should have less impact on the road and parking areas than heavier trucks/trailers. •MOST NATURAL SETTING / IMPROVES THE RIVER VIEWSHED: Revegetating the ramp will preserve the historic, rustic and rural character of the site. The view from the landing and the river will become more natural and scenic (in accordance with the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.) •IMPROVES SAFETY: Pedestrians, swimmers and other recreational ramp users will no longer have to share the ramp or shoreline with motorized vehicles. The ramp design will allow for emergency vehicle access. •ENCOURAGES APPROPRIATE WATERCRAFT: This section of the river is a designated Slow/No Wake Zone (from Arcola Mills to Taylors Falls.) These limited speeds protect the shoreline. Building a large concrete ramp would attract bigger and faster boats that are inappropriate and damaging to this part of the St. Croix River. •MEETS THE SCANDIA COMPREHENSIVE PLAN GOALS: Most consistent with Scandia’s stated objectives “to maintain unique rural character, agricultural heritage, historic charm, and natural resources.” Aligns with similar stakeholder preferences to keep the site as natural as possible. (NPS, SCRA, Watershed) In summary, the Carry-In option will clearly enhance the LHL experience for the most number of users. Trailered boats, however, will no longer be permitted to use the ramp. Fortunately, there are several excellent and nearby ramp sites, all with arguably better designs for trailered boats: William O’Brien State Park, Osceola Landing, Franconia Landing. For more detailed information about the issues that we considered in our analysis, please go to Scandia Councilman Steve Kronmiller's website http://www.kronmiller.us/Council/Issues.html and click on the first link under the Log House Landing section. The week following the April 25th public hearing, the Council will vote at their regular meeting to select one of the four ramp access options. This Council decision will only address ramp access. The plans for the LHL road and landing are slated for discussion later in the year. However, this ramp decision is critical and will likely determine the future direction for the entire Log House Landing site. Come and Speak at the Tuesday, April 25th Public Hearing 6:30pm at the Scandia Community Center Support the Carry-In Option! We are at a very important juncture, and we need the Council to hear from as many community members as possible! There will be a new “Support LHL Carry-In” petition circulating next week…watch for the link and sign this online petition. For those who simply cannot make it on April 25th, the city will be posting an email address for submitting written comments prior to the hearing. I will forward the email address when it becomes available next week. But again, please do everything possible to attend this meeting!