All vehicles banned from Sleepy Eye Lake due to unsafe conditions

The Brown County Sheriff’s Office is restricting all vehicle traffic on Sleepy Eye Lake due to open water and unsafe ice conditions effective Friday, January 17, 2025 at 1500 hours.

This includes ALL vehicles: trucks, cars, ATVs, and snowmobiles.

This is due to several open water areas on the lake and at the North public landing. The Brown County Sheriff’s Office will monitor the ice conditions and allow vehicle traffic once the ice conditions are safe.

In everything that we do, public safety for the participants and event is the Sheriff’s Office number 1 priority.

Per authority Minnesota State Statute 86B.106 BARRING VEHICLES FROM UNSAFE ICE.

(a) Whenever ice conditions on a body of water deteriorate to such an extent that there is substantial danger to persons using motorized vehicles, including snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles, the sheriff of the county where the body of water is located may prohibit or restrict the use of motorized vehicles on all or a portion of the body of water. If the body of water is located in more than one county, all counties involved must coordinate any prohibitions or restrictions that are imposed. A county sheriff acting under this section shall, as soon as practicable, post all common access sites and publicize the prohibitions or restrictions. The commissioner must be notified immediately and may review and suspend any restrictions imposed. Restrictions may be lifted as soon as conditions warrant.

(b) A person may not operate a motorized vehicle in violation of a prohibition or restriction imposed under this section.

 

 

The Brown County Sheriff’s Office recommends following the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources ice thickness guidelines before heading out onto the ice.

 

The DNR offers the following guidelines for new clear ice:

 

Under 4 inches of ice: STAY OFF

4 inches of ice: Walking, ice fishing, ice skating, or other activities on foot

5–7 inches of ice: Snowmobiling or riding a small ATV

7–8 inches of ice: Riding a side-by-side ATV

9–12 inches of ice: Driving a car

13–17 inches of ice: Driving a truck

More than 20 in: Driving a large truck with a wheelhouse shelter