Lake Minnetonka is back to business as usual.
On Friday, an unprecedented no-wake restriction for the entire lake will be lifted almost two months after it was put in place, slowing boating nearly to a standstill on the most popular Twin Cities lake.
After the wettest June in Minnesota history, the lake reached record high levels and forced the Lake Minnetonka Conservation District to restrict boats from going fast enough to create a wake — usually about 5 miles per hour — to the entire lake for the first time ever.
That will be lifted Friday, something one marina owner likened to lifting a race flag that would send boaters scrambling to resume using water scooters, wakeboarding, water skiing and boating as usual.
"There's so much pent-up up demand and emotions," said Tom Jacob, owner of Bay to Bay Boat Club in Excelsior. "Everybody's been chomping at the bit to go."
While some residents cheered the restriction for turning the crowded, rowdy lake into calm, tranquil waters, it has also hampered lake businesses from marinas to shoreline restaurants.
However, wake restrictions will still be in place for boaters in smaller bays and within 600 feet of the shoreline — a rule that will remain in place until the lake levels continue to recede to 930 feet above sea level for three days. Thursday's lake level was measured at 930.22 feet.
For boaters and lake businesses, the lifting of the entire lake rule, put in place June 5, was much anticipated.