SLEEPY EYE — The Brown County Sheriff’s Office restricted vehicle traffic on Sleepy Eye Lake effective 9 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 1.

Due to deteriorating ice conditions at the North Landing and beach access, truck and car vehicle traffic will not be allowed on the lake, according to a Brown County Sheriff’s Office news release received at The Journal at 8:17 p.m. Saturday.

“The (lake) accesses were getting pretty chopped up and there were a lot of fish houses on the lake, so we closed it to cars and trucks. The ice on the lake is really good. We’ll re-evaluate ice conditions after this cold weather comes in and allow car and truck traffic once ice conditions improve,” said Brown County Chief Deputy Jeremy Reed.

The news release stated that ATVs (all-terrain vehicles), UTVs (utility terrain vehicles) and snowmobiles are allowed on the lake.

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

The DNR recommends staying off less then four inches of ice. Walking, ice fishing, ice skating or other activities on foot for four inches of ice. Snowmobiling or riding a small ATV on five to seven inches, riding a side-by-side ATV on seven to eight inches, driving a car on nine to 12 inches, driving a truck on 13 to 17 inches and driving a large truck with wheelhouse shelter on more than 20 inches of ice.