No members are browsing this topic
|
|
shueman
Libra
HDF Gold Supporter
Born To Drive...
   
Alta Loma CA
Posts: 17,228
APPD 2.15
Post Rank: 4
NADA
|
 |
Posted: May 04 2006,11:47 pm |
Post # 1 |
   |
This is HUGE...!!!
No wake zone on river OK'd
By DAVID BELL
Thursday, May 4, 2006 11:00 PM MDT
Boaters will have to act like angels through the Devil's Elbow, according to new rules established by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
A no wake zone has been established on the Colorado River at the Devil's Elbow area of Topock Gorge at the request of the Havasu National Wildlife Refuge.
John Earle, manager of the refuge, said the area is narrow and features a dangerously sharp turn. “Devil's Elbow has had several serious boating accidents in the past. The no wake zone is intended to slow boaters down so they can navigate the turn safely.â€
In addition to the new rule at Topock Gorge, the backwater area between the south buoy line at the entrance to the river and Castle Rock is now a no wake and No Personal Watercraft (PWC) zone. Buoys will mark both areas.
Waterskiing is also prohibited along the entire stretch of the Colorado River from the north end of Lake Havasu to the I-40 Bridge. And loud boats are not permitted to operate on any area of the Havasu National Wildlife Refuge.
“Loud noise is extremely disturbing to most wildlife and reduces the value of the refuge. Excessive noise also affects the quality of the experience for human visitors,†said Earle.
The Havasu National Wildlife Refuge manages the Arizona portions of Lake Havasu and shoreline from Windsor Beach north to the river entrance near Catfish Bay. From Catfish Bay to the I-40 Bridge both sides of the river are managed by the refuge as is another ten miles north on the Arizona side. Congress has designated about 18,000 acres of refuge lands on both sides of the Colorado River through Topock Gorge as National Wilderness.
PDF Map of Area
Edited by shueman on May 07 2006,5:25 am
|
| Back to top |
|
| Member # 376 | Joined: 2-01-2004 | |
|
|
shueman
Libra
HDF Gold Supporter
Born To Drive...
Alta Loma CA
Posts: 17,228
APPD 2.15
Post Rank: 4
NADA
|
|
Posted: May 05 2006,6:05 am |
Post # 5 |
|
| Quote (Sleek-Jet @ May 05 2006,12:10 am) | Other than what's been posted on Hotboat, I can't find any information.
Seems odd that there was not NPRM on this. Â Maybe just internet rumors... Â  |
That's where I saw it. The original story was from the Havasu News on-line. Lemme check a few other places...
|
| Back to top |
|
| Member # 376 | Joined: 2-01-2004 | |
|
|
GoFastRacer
HDF Supporter
V-Driver For Life!
Big River, Ca
Posts: 63,133
APPD 7.58
Post Rank: 1
Spectra20
|
|
Posted: May 05 2006,6:44 am |
Post # 6 |
|
Damn that sucks!.. 
|
| Back to top |
 |
| Member # 101 | Joined: 3-03-2003 | |
|
|
shueman
Libra
HDF Gold Supporter
Born To Drive...
Alta Loma CA
Posts: 17,228
APPD 2.15
Post Rank: 4
NADA
|
|
Posted: May 05 2006,10:30 am |
Post # 20 |
|
I'm with you.... 
The Elbow area is very narrow, all rock, and hundreds of boats go through there on a Saturday. Â It's a washing machine with 3' - 4' swells. Â Poor canoe guys don't stand a chance... Â I've got a home video that I need to cut down to upload.
The PWC change is a good thing. Â We frequent the backwaters alot up there, just a slow idle and float or pull up on an isolated beach.
The PWC guys tear it up back there...you can hear 'em, but not see 'em until the come around a blind turn in the grass. Â They cut all through the grass, and pull kids on tubes or wakeboards just below the NO SKI bouy line. Â With everybody goin' every which-a-way, I think the changes will make it much safer up there.
If this is indeed going into effect, it will be interesting to see what impact it has on SPEED ALLEY, a popular performance pay area that's "kinda" in the backwater area.
There's lots of backwater areas down the Martinez way. Â I assume they have that marked NO WAKE, NO BOATS, etc. Â That's why we want to get down there someday; I know people who paddle for miles and never have to hit the main channel...
Edited by shueman on May 05 2006,11:01 am
Attached Image
|
| Back to top |
|
| Member # 376 | Joined: 2-01-2004 | |
|
|
shueman
Libra
HDF Gold Supporter
Born To Drive...
Alta Loma CA
Posts: 17,228
APPD 2.15
Post Rank: 4
NADA
|
|
Posted: May 05 2006,10:38 am |
Post # 23 |
|
| Quote (NakedTurtle @ May 05 2006,10:27 am) | | So is this for real??? How are they going to get you to slow down??? Will they put signs all over that say "NO WAKE ZONE" I just don't get how they will be able to enforce that... Maybe it will be an opportunity for them to check everyone who goes through there, kind of like a dui checkpoint... |
They will put a string of bouys across the river, like the NO SKI ones you cross at the top of the lake...
When I was a kid, we used to go out to Lake Havasu for the annual Campbell Regatta at the end of the season with my Uncle. I can distinctly remember going through quite a long stretch of the Gorge area in a 5 MPH zone.....
but everyone says I've "lost it".... 
|
| Back to top |
|
| Member # 376 | Joined: 2-01-2004 | |
|
|
shueman
Libra
HDF Gold Supporter
Born To Drive...
Alta Loma CA
Posts: 17,228
APPD 2.15
Post Rank: 4
NADA
|
|
Posted: May 05 2006,10:42 am |
Post # 24 |
|
| Quote (NakedTurtle @ May 05 2006,10:35 am) | | We've never been in the backwaters, can you get a prop back there? Always see people back in that area but never been back in those little waterways. Â We pretty much hit everywhere, in fact we alway idle through the entrance to the river from havasu. Â We see guy go flying past us and then we get brave and try it and hit, it sucks. Â One time it took almost 2 hours to get the boat out, no damage (had it checked) but we were stuck really good in some deep sand... |
One of the few benefits of having a JET.... 
It is a little daunting with a big prop boat the first time; just trim it up and follow someone else...all the wakeboard guys go up the extreme east side....
|
| Back to top |
|
| Member # 376 | Joined: 2-01-2004 | |
|
|
Please help keep HDF free. If you
enjoy this site, feel free to make a donation to keep it running. THANKS!
12-24-2025 Three Word Post.....The Next Generation.... (Rep.#20,034) from: GoFastRacer
