Your voice needed

[DEVOREFLYER]

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USF&W) aims to close significant portions of Lake Havasu within the Havasu National Wildlife Refuge to motorized boating.

The proposal would prevent water-skiing, tubing, and wakeboarding within the 4,000-acre manmade Topock marsh and on an additional 520 acres of the Havasu Reservoir. Motorized boating is already restricted by the USF&W on 17.5 miles of waterways in the area. The proposed new rules come on the heels of a USF&W closure last year that prohibited motorized boating within the reservoir in a half mile area that had been used by recreational enthusiasts for several decades.

Supervisor Lovingood said, “The public has a right to use and enjoy its public lands – and waterways. We need a balance, but we are seeing far too many instances of government agencies pushing the public out of public areas that the public has every right to enjoy.”

The proposed restrictions are as follows:
● Motors must be 30 hp or less in Topock Marsh.
● All watercraft must travel at no-wake speed in Topock Marsh.
● In other areas of the Refuge, all watercraft must travel at no-wake speeds as indicated by signs and regulatory buoys.
● Personal watercraft will continue to be prohibited in Topock Marsh and in Refuge backwaters as indicated by signs and buoys.
● Waterskiing, tubing, wakeboarding, or other recreational-towed devices will be prohibited on the Refuge as identified by the regulatory buoy lines and will be extended to the southern Refuge boundary.

Cook and Lovingood urged the public to comment on the proposed regulations. The proposal is available and the document can be viewed online at www.fws.gov/refuge/havasu/. The public comment period is set to end May 12. Written comments can be addressed to: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Havasu National Wildlife Refuge, Attn: Draft Recreational Boating CD, 317 Mesquite Ave., Needles, CA 92363; Attn: Boating CD Comments. Comments may be emailed to: Havasu_Boating_Comments@fws.gov.

[etucker1959]

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USF&W) aims to close significant portions of Lake Havasu within the Havasu National Wildlife Refuge to motorized boating.

The proposal would prevent water-skiing, tubing, and wakeboarding within the 4,000-acre manmade Topock marsh and on an additional 520 acres of the Havasu Reservoir. Motorized boating is already restricted by the USF&W on 17.5 miles of waterways in the area. The proposed new rules come on the heels of a USF&W closure last year that prohibited motorized boating within the reservoir in a half mile area that had been used by recreational enthusiasts for several decades.

Supervisor Lovingood said, “The public has a right to use and enjoy its public lands – and waterways. We need a balance, but we are seeing far too many instances of government agencies pushing the public out of public areas that the public has every right to enjoy.”

The proposed restrictions are as follows:
● Motors must be 30 hp or less in Topock Marsh.
● All watercraft must travel at no-wake speed in Topock Marsh.
● In other areas of the Refuge, all watercraft must travel at no-wake speeds as indicated by signs and regulatory buoys.
● Personal watercraft will continue to be prohibited in Topock Marsh and in Refuge backwaters as indicated by signs and buoys.
● Waterskiing, tubing, wakeboarding, or other recreational-towed devices will be prohibited on the Refuge as identified by the regulatory buoy lines and will be extended to the southern Refuge boundary.

Cook and Lovingood urged the public to comment on the proposed regulations. The proposal is available and the document can be viewed online at www.fws.gov/refuge/havasu/. The public comment period is set to end May 12. Written comments can be addressed to: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Havasu National Wildlife Refuge, Attn: Draft Recreational Boating CD, 317 Mesquite Ave., Needles, CA 92363; Attn: Boating CD Comments. Comments may be emailed to: Havasu_Boating_Comments@fws.gov.

So let see if I got this straight. A real good fishing spot Topock Marsh is not being closed down to fishing. Only a restriction on some over powered vessels and water lice activity's kept out for a more quiet fishing experience. Hopefully my reading skills are up to par and that's what the proposed regulations are all about!!!! lol

[CHUCKY]

Thanks for posting this. This could have a horrible impact on the whole river as I understand they are also trying to make portions of the river a no wake zone also. I've fished the marsh for a long time and have never seen anyone skiing there !!! That would be insane! And who has a 30 hp bass boat.

[DEVOREFLYER]

So let see if I got this straight. A real good fishing spot Topock Marsh is not being closed down to fishing. Only a restriction on some over powered vessels and water lice activity's kept out for a more quiet fishing experience. Hopefully my reading skills are up to par and that's what the proposed regulations are all about!!!! lol

Your reading skills are nothing to brag about.

The proposal would prevent water-skiing, tubing, and wakeboarding within the 4,000-acre manmade Topock marsh and on an additional 520 acres of the Havasu Reservoir. Motorized boating is already restricted by the USF&W on 17.5 miles of waterways in the area. The proposed new rules come on the heels of a USF&W closure last year that prohibited motorized boating within the reservoir in a half mile area that had been used by recreational enthusiasts for several decades.

Supervisor Lovingood said, “The public has a right to use and enjoy its public lands – and waterways. We need a balance, but we are seeing far too many instances of government agencies pushing the public out of public areas that the public has every right to enjoy.”

The proposed restrictions are as follows:
● Motors must be 30 hp or less in Topock Marsh.
● All watercraft must travel at no-wake speed in Topock Marsh.
● In other areas of the Refuge, all watercraft must travel at no-wake speeds as indicated by signs and regulatory buoys.
● Personal watercraft will continue to be prohibited in Topock Marsh and in Refuge backwaters as indicated by signs and buoys.
● Waterskiing, tubing, wakeboarding, or other recreational-towed devices will be prohibited on the Refuge as identified by the regulatory buoy lines and will be extended to the southern Refuge boundary.

And the question begs why limit HP to 30 or less when imposing a no wake zone on the entire waterway. And any dummy knows that you can't waterski, tube or wakeboard with a speed that conforms to a no wake zone. Even you etucker should be able to figure that one out.

[CHUCKY]

And who would enforce this 30hp rule? Is there gonna be someone standing at the launch ramp inspecting boats? Lol. I doubt it. So sick of new laws.

[DEVOREFLYER]

Not exactly a friendly place for boats going fast only fools would risk it. But a great place to fish for Bass, Catfish and Panfish. Obviously the fools in the Government that make these decisions do so from behind a desk encouraged on by the envioro-nazi's when making such stupid rules/regulations.