Lake Aesthetic and User Recreation Index
for Lake Harriet
Click here for Current Beach Conditions
Known for the landmark bandshell on its shoreline, Lake Harriet is a sailing lake and one of the largest lakes in the Chain of Lakes. With two beaches and two fishing docks, it is a favorite summer destination for families. The nearby rose and rock gardens, bird sanctuary, and historic streetcar are additional attractions for those who come for concerts and special events at the bandshell each summer.
Lake Harriet has excellent rankings in aesthetics and water clarity and a good rating for bacteria levels. It does, however, have high amounts of invasive Eurasian watermilfoil.
The Lake Aesthetic and User Recreation Index (LAURI) was developed by the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board to give the public information about the recreational suitability of Minneapolis lakes. Lakes were scored in 4 areas:
The figure above presents the average score Lake Harriet received in each category from May to June in 2005. LAURI was field tested in 2004 for the first time.
The LAURI was developed to provide recreational users with an additional source of information about the status of MPRB lakes. Aesthetics can be difficult to evaluate since they are dependent on one’s own experience and preferences. But LAURI provides lake users with an easily understandable recreational suitability indicator for MPRB lakes that incorporates aesthetics and the health of the lake. Data is collected during the growing season (May to September).
Hopefully, LAURI will be useful to users of the Minneapolis park system when making recreational decisions. Someone interested in walking or biking around a lake may use the aesthetic score. A swimmer may compare lakes based on the public health, aquatic plant, aesthetic and water clarity scores. A sailor or kayak user may be primarily concerned with the aquatic plant (recreational interference) score.
