The association purchased, installed, and maintains automated I-Lids (Internet Landing Installed Device Sensor) cameras for the public access ramps on 371 and Merrifield Bays.  If you’ve used either of those boat ramps, you know they’re there.  No doubt you’ve seen the R2D2-like camera and heard the recorded message.

The cameras are motion activated and take high resolution video that is uploaded to the vendor’s computers in real-time.   Videos are stored until we delete them and can be saved and forwarded to the boat owner or DNR as necessary.  Videos can be halted and the picture zoomed in to verify whether a suspicious object is a weed or not.

Our goal is prevention.  The signs and recorded message are a constant reminder to boaters entering or leaving our lake.  But it’s good to know that the DNR can – and has – issued citations based on camera footage at other lakes.  To date this season, over 20,000 video clips have been captured for both access ramps.   We are happy to say that we have not had to report any boats to the DNR.

We do need additional volunteers to review video this season.  This can be from your home computer done over the internet.  Please contact Bill Schmidt at 612-309-6361 or island45@aol.com if you’d like to volunteer.

The camera housings are removed and stored for the winter.  The internal electronics will be returned to the vendor for preventive maintenance and software updates.