Important News

Welcome to the Hennepin County, Minnesota Water Patrol Web Site. The site provides links to the LMCD, Minnesota DNR, the US Power Squadron and other organizations that promote boat and water safety. We provide links so you can register your watercraft, ATV and snowmobile without leaving the Water Patrol web site. (If you are not looking for the Hennepin County Water Patrol, click here to find other water patrol sites in Minnesota and the USA)

There are 104 lakes and three rivers in Hennepin County, Minnesota. The Hennepin County Water Patrol is responsible for the safety and regulation of all lakes and, in conjunction with the US Coast Guard and adjoining county sheriff's, the rivers of the county.

As summer turns to fall and winter, this responsibility changes from safe boating, to safe snowmobiling, ice fishing and other winter activities.

The purpose of this site is to provide up-to-date information to help you enjoy the waterways of Hennepin County. From here, you can access information about the Water Patrol, apply for temporary structure and special event permits, and find out about rules and regulations on various lakes and rivers, including Lake Minnetonka, the Mississippi River and the Minnesota River.

Check the Water Patrol Public Forum for the latest updates on new laws, high water restrictions and much more

If you have any questions or comments, please address them to

Last update to this page was April 24, 2008

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With Lake Minnetonka ice out declared, the Hennepin County Sheriff's Water Patrol announced that buoy placement will begin on Monday, April 28. This process usually takes about two weeks.

Please remember that even without buoys in place, boaters are still responsible for observing Quiet Waters and Slow / No Wake areas.

Lt. Kip Carver of the Hennepin County Sheriff's Water Patrol has official declared Ice Out on Lake Minnetonka as April 23, 2008.

At 4:00 PM the Lieutenant navigated from Spring Park Bay, through the Narrows, around Big Island and back to Spring Park Bay without significantly altering course to avoid ice flows.

This method has been used since the beginning of the last century to determine when the Lake was safe for commercial shipping.

Ice out does not necessarily mean ice free, so there still may be ice along the shore that does not affect navigation.

Click the headline above for more information about declaring ice out and for information about historical ice out dates.

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This link takes you to up-to-date information about the rivers and lakes in Hennepin County

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