Chapter NR 5

NR 5.31 NR 5.31 Applicability. These rules apply to the waters of the lower St. Croix river from the dam at St. Croix Falls to its confluence with the Mississippi river.

NR 5.31 History History: Cr. Register, October, 1978, No. 274, eff. 11-1-78.

NR 5.32 NR 5.32 Definitions.

NR 5.32(1) (1) “Mile” means distance in miles above the confluence of the St. Croix river with the Mississippi river.

NR 5.32(2) (2) “Motorboat” as defined in s. 30.50 (2), Stats.

NR 5.32(3) (3) “Slow-no-wake” means operation of a motorboat at the slowest possible speed necessary to maintain steerage.

NR 5.32(4) (4) “Slow-speed” means operation of a motorboat at a leisurely speed, less than planing speed, whereby the wake or wash created by the motorboat is minimal.

NR 5.32 History History: Cr. Register, October, 1978, No. 274, eff. 11-1-78.

NR 5.33 NR 5.33 Restricted speed zones.

NR 5.33(1) (1) No motorboat shall be operated in excess of a slow speed from the dam at St. Croix Falls to the sandbars located at mile 31.0.

NR 5.33(1)(a) (a) From May 15 through September 15, after 6:00 pm on Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays until sunrise of the next day, from the sandbar located at mile 30.0 to the Stillwater, Minnesota north city limits at mile 25.0.

NR 5.33(2) (2) No motorboat shall be operated in excess of a slow-no-wake speed in the following areas:

NR 5.33(2)(a) (a) At the narrows located approximately at mile 28.6, which is 0.4 miles downstream from the Arcola high bridge.

NR 5.33(2)(b) (b) Between the coast guard navigational buoys designating location of the navigational channel from the railroad swing bridge located at mile 17.3 to the south side of the southern-most bridge in the interstate highway 94 corridor located at mile 16.1, and from shore to shore in the area known as South Hudson Bay, down stream from the Hudson dike road to the embankment of interstate highway 94.

NR 5.33(2)(c) (c) Between the coast guard navigational buoys designating the Kinnickinnic river delta narrows from mile 6.6 to mile 6.0.

NR 5.33(2)(d) (d) At the Prescott narrows from the north side of the U.S. highway #10 bridge located at mile 0.3 to the confluence of the St. Croix river with the Mississippi river.

NR 5.33(2)(e) (e) Within 100 feet of shore (including the shores of islands) and of swimmers, from sandbars located at mile 31.0 to the confluence of the St. Croix river with the Mississippi river.

NR 5.33(2)(f) (f) In the bay formed by the Kinnickinnic river delta, north and east of Donut island, at mile 6.0.

NR 5.33(2)(g) (g) From shore to shore in the area known as Afton Catfish Bar, located approximately at mile 11.4 to 11.8, as measured in the navigational channel, and established by regulatory buoys; and between the dam at Taylors Falls to the confluence of the St. Croix river with the Mississippi river, whenever the water level reaches or exceeds 683.0 feet mean sea level, as measured at the Stillwater gauge, and marked by regulatory buoys.

NR 5.33(2)(h) (h) From May 15 through September 15, after 12:00 noon on Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays until 6:00 pm from the sandbar located at mile 30.0 to the Stillwater, Minnesota north city limits at mile 25.0.

NR 5.33(3) (3) Any motorboat designated for law enforcement shall be exempt from subs. (1) and (2) in circumstances involving emergencies or when engaged in law enforcement.

NR 5.33(4) (4) No motorboat shall be operated in excess of a slow no wake speed within 100 feet of a stationary or drifting authorized patrol vessel or emergency vessel displaying an emergency light or siren.

NR 5.33 History History: Cr. Register, October, 1978, No. 274, eff. 11-1-78; cr. (2) (f), Register, November, 1984, No. 347, eff. 12-1-84; correction in (3) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 4., Stats., Register, January, 1989, No. 397; emerg. cr. (2) (g), eff. 4-15-91; cr. (2) (g), Register, August, 1991, No. 428, eff. 9-1-91; cr. (1) (a) and (2) (h), am. (2) (b), Register, May, 1995, No. 473, eff. 6-1-95; CR 14-048: cr. (4) Register May 2015 No. 713, eff. 6-1-15.

NR 5.34 NR 5.34 Water skiing.

NR 5.34(1) (1) No motorboat towing a person on water skis, aquaplane or similar device shall be operated between sunset and sunrise on the St. Croix river from the dam at St. Croix Falls to its confluence with the Mississippi river.

NR 5.34(2) (2) No motorboat towing a person on water skis, aquaplane or similar device shall be operated in any zone designated a restricted speed zone under s. NR 5.33. A motorboat launching or landing a person on water skis, aquaplane or similar device by the most direct route to open water shall be exempt from s. NR 5.33 (2) (e).

NR 5.34(3) (3) From May 15 through September 15, no motorboat towing a person on water skis, aquaplane or similar device may operate after 12:00 noon on Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays, from the sandbars located at mile 31.0 to the upper end of the federal 9-foot navigation channel at mile 24.5.

NR 5.34 History History: Cr. Register, October, 1978, No. 274, eff. 11-1-78; am. (3), Register, November, 1984, No. 347, eff. 12-1-84.

NR 5.36 NR 5.36 Effective date. These rules shall be effective upon the adoption of laws, rules or regulations providing for similar limitations or prohibitions on the operation and use of motorboats on the same segments of the lower St. Croix river by the state of Minnesota.

NR 5.36 History History: Cr. Register, October, 1978, No. 274, eff. 11-1-78.