Don't let one special interest group further restrict water sports areas at Lake Havasu!
440 Comments
D
Doug Arnold
11 years ago
keep boating and motorized water sports in havasu!
J
Johnny Maxwell
11 years ago
I Sign the petition
M
Maureen McNamara
11 years ago
There are probably more places for kayaking than wakeboarding
K
Katie liven
11 years ago
Wow, the shear amount of misinformation in this post is astonishing. First, Arizona Department of Game and Fish had nothing to do with this decision. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has owned and regulated Speed Alley since the wildlife refuge was created in the 1940s- more than 30 years before McCulloch built his bridge or imagined a town here. Second, there are other places to waterski on Lake Havasu. Visit the Chamber's website and you'll find a link to a waterskiing page and map. It does not even mention Speed Alley but instead directs people to Skier's Island and the three coves west of Site Six. Third, the only place CLOSED to powerboats (and canoes) on our River is the small island north of the Sandbar. Powerboats are allowed in every other backwater and fishermen use them regularly- they are just no wake areas for safety reasons and the environmental reasons which prompted Congress and President Truman to create this place. Lastly, you guys all need to stop crying and accept that public safety trumps your recreation. Many of you probably are safe, responsible boaters but as the old adage goes "one bad apple will spoil the whole bunch". Some boaters in Speed Alley have acted with reckless disregard for the safety of other users, and since the sheriff cannot police the area 24/7 for reckless behavior the authorities have simply restricted all activity of this type. This river is HIGHLY regulated and it is about time Havasu started doing something to reduce the unacceptibly high numbers of fatalities here each year. This whole "party like you mean it" mindset is killing people and the drunken stupidity of summertime on Lake Havasu needs to go. Learn to recreate safely and responsibly or stay home!
L
LYNDA J. BELLER
11 years ago
We have enough restrictions on the lake. It is here for everyone to enjoy. Lets not restrict any more of it
M
Mama Fish
11 years ago
The water is intended for everyone to use and share safely.
L
Leslie Lavinsky
11 years ago
Featured
We have been going to this same safe channel to waterski, wakeboard, and tubing for many, many years. We need to save this spot for safe use. Since kayakers already have other designated areas in which to go they don't need this area too! Keep it open for all users.
C
Cory VanCleave
11 years ago
Keep the lake open for all users.
G
gumaro rodriguez
11 years ago
Share the lake
M
Maria Chavez
11 years ago
Because some people love and enjoys the feeling of being in the water more than anything. .....
S
S Brinton
11 years ago
Wow, I am really sorry you are so angry, and I am not uninformed. This is not a personal attack. This area has been very special to us for years as we have a small child, have met the greatest people while skiing/ riding up here (including very cool kayakers) and always feel safe while boating - not at excessive speeds with no more than 2 or 3 boats running up here. This forum provides ALL people affected the right to express their opinion. I respect yours, I just think there is a way to share the area, protect the birds ( who are affected by water level changes and natural predators!) and enjoy this preserve for ALL activities. In my experience, boaters who do not know this channel, tend to run aground 9 out of 10 times on the sandbar an don't tend to come back. If you ride or ski you understand the preciousness and rarity of calm safe waters to enjoy all our sports. Please don't let one bad apple spoil it for all of us who respect this area. We are so bummed this is closed. And will look for somewhere else that is safe for our family to enjoy ALL water sports ( including boating) I hope you find peace B Warner. In the grand scheme of things, this is not worth fighting about. Can't we just agree to disagree. The govt is going to decide for us anyway. There will always be places to ski/ kayak/ and enjoy the natural world. It's ok that we are sad and frustrated to lose this gem.
M
Marcel Alexandre
11 years ago
Absolutely. I'm in no rush to get this out until I have all the information
B
B Warner
11 years ago
In order to travel the other side of the channel kayakers would have to cross through the heavy speeding boat traffic. Kayakers do not have a death wish and choose to stay close to shore in this area due to those ski boat operators who refuse to "play nice".
B
B Warner
11 years ago
Obviously you have not read the other comments addressing this. Suggest you go back and educate yourself: NO KAYAKER EVER REQUESTED EXCLUSIVE USE! The lawless violators brought attention to themselves in this area.
S
S Brinton
11 years ago
Save the area! We will sell our house here if we can't ride safely in calm waters. We have encountered kayakers, and kayak ourselves and we always drop our rider and let them exit the channel. We have been respectful to them, just because the dot understand what we do, why can't they be respectful of us? They have the whole west side of the area to travel over the shallow sandbar, and yet they always come down the deep water channel. The only navigable route for a boat in this stretch. Please don't take this away! We will take our money, friends and family and find a place where we can ride safely in California, the delta or elsewhere. We love Havasu. Grew up coming here, have family here, but if we cannot wakeboard without fear of injury, we will move our vacation house and expendable income elsewhere. Please open the channel back up. Thanks!
B
B Warner
11 years ago
Confused now Katie as it appears you voted FOR this petition...?
B
B Warner
11 years ago
PS: ALL of these ski/powerboats travel all over the Lake. THEY are NOT restricted to a small area to ski in - contrary to their claims. This petition is misleading and misrepresents the facts.
B
B Warner
11 years ago
I will be contacting you. Trusting that you will present each side fairly and that you wish to present the whole picture truthfully. Thank you.
B
B Warner
11 years ago
NO ONE is being EXCLUDED - the dangerous safety threats are being halted, waking in the Habitat and "skiing near shore" is now restricted. No one is going to have to sell their home as it is only a little bit the other direction by water for a power boat to go to other coves. Have you ever heard of anywhere that allows speedboats, water skiing including barefoot skiing (speeds of 35-45 mph) in a narrow channel which also happens to be a Waterways Trail for paddle craft in a Wildlife Refuge?That is exactly the problem with votes from readers who have no real grasp on the situation = a meaningless accumulation of "clicks".
keep boating and motorized water sports in havasu!
I Sign the petition
There are probably more places for kayaking than wakeboarding
Wow, the shear amount of misinformation in this post is astonishing. First, Arizona Department of Game and Fish had nothing to do with this decision. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has owned and regulated Speed Alley since the wildlife refuge was created in the 1940s- more than 30 years before McCulloch built his bridge or imagined a town here. Second, there are other places to waterski on Lake Havasu. Visit the Chamber's website and you'll find a link to a waterskiing page and map. It does not even mention Speed Alley but instead directs people to Skier's Island and the three coves west of Site Six. Third, the only place CLOSED to powerboats (and canoes) on our River is the small island north of the Sandbar. Powerboats are allowed in every other backwater and fishermen use them regularly- they are just no wake areas for safety reasons and the environmental reasons which prompted Congress and President Truman to create this place. Lastly, you guys all need to stop crying and accept that public safety trumps your recreation. Many of you probably are safe, responsible boaters but as the old adage goes "one bad apple will spoil the whole bunch". Some boaters in Speed Alley have acted with reckless disregard for the safety of other users, and since the sheriff cannot police the area 24/7 for reckless behavior the authorities have simply restricted all activity of this type. This river is HIGHLY regulated and it is about time Havasu started doing something to reduce the unacceptibly high numbers of fatalities here each year. This whole "party like you mean it" mindset is killing people and the drunken stupidity of summertime on Lake Havasu needs to go. Learn to recreate safely and responsibly or stay home!
We have enough restrictions on the lake. It is here for everyone to enjoy. Lets not restrict any more of it
The water is intended for everyone to use and share safely.
We have been going to this same safe channel to waterski, wakeboard, and tubing for many, many years. We need to save this spot for safe use. Since kayakers already have other designated areas in which to go they don't need this area too! Keep it open for all users.
Keep the lake open for all users.
Share the lake
Because some people love and enjoys the feeling of being in the water more than anything. .....
Wow, I am really sorry you are so angry, and I am not uninformed. This is not a personal attack. This area has been very special to us for years as we have a small child, have met the greatest people while skiing/ riding up here (including very cool kayakers) and always feel safe while boating - not at excessive speeds with no more than 2 or 3 boats running up here. This forum provides ALL people affected the right to express their opinion. I respect yours, I just think there is a way to share the area, protect the birds ( who are affected by water level changes and natural predators!) and enjoy this preserve for ALL activities. In my experience, boaters who do not know this channel, tend to run aground 9 out of 10 times on the sandbar an don't tend to come back. If you ride or ski you understand the preciousness and rarity of calm safe waters to enjoy all our sports. Please don't let one bad apple spoil it for all of us who respect this area. We are so bummed this is closed. And will look for somewhere else that is safe for our family to enjoy ALL water sports ( including boating) I hope you find peace B Warner. In the grand scheme of things, this is not worth fighting about. Can't we just agree to disagree. The govt is going to decide for us anyway. There will always be places to ski/ kayak/ and enjoy the natural world. It's ok that we are sad and frustrated to lose this gem.
Absolutely. I'm in no rush to get this out until I have all the information
In order to travel the other side of the channel kayakers would have to cross through the heavy speeding boat traffic. Kayakers do not have a death wish and choose to stay close to shore in this area due to those ski boat operators who refuse to "play nice".
Obviously you have not read the other comments addressing this. Suggest you go back and educate yourself: NO KAYAKER EVER REQUESTED EXCLUSIVE USE! The lawless violators brought attention to themselves in this area.
Save the area! We will sell our house here if we can't ride safely in calm waters. We have encountered kayakers, and kayak ourselves and we always drop our rider and let them exit the channel. We have been respectful to them, just because the dot understand what we do, why can't they be respectful of us? They have the whole west side of the area to travel over the shallow sandbar, and yet they always come down the deep water channel. The only navigable route for a boat in this stretch. Please don't take this away! We will take our money, friends and family and find a place where we can ride safely in California, the delta or elsewhere. We love Havasu. Grew up coming here, have family here, but if we cannot wakeboard without fear of injury, we will move our vacation house and expendable income elsewhere. Please open the channel back up. Thanks!
Confused now Katie as it appears you voted FOR this petition...?
PS: ALL of these ski/powerboats travel all over the Lake. THEY are NOT restricted to a small area to ski in - contrary to their claims. This petition is misleading and misrepresents the facts.
I will be contacting you. Trusting that you will present each side fairly and that you wish to present the whole picture truthfully. Thank you.
NO ONE is being EXCLUDED - the dangerous safety threats are being halted, waking in the Habitat and "skiing near shore" is now restricted. No one is going to have to sell their home as it is only a little bit the other direction by water for a power boat to go to other coves. Have you ever heard of anywhere that allows speedboats, water skiing including barefoot skiing (speeds of 35-45 mph) in a narrow channel which also happens to be a Waterways Trail for paddle craft in a Wildlife Refuge?That is exactly the problem with votes from readers who have no real grasp on the situation = a meaningless accumulation of "clicks".
Let us ski