Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP)
Winona, Mn 55987
Gregory L Vandemark
Wabasha, Mn 55981
To whom it may concern:
I am a small business owner in Wabasha
I have attended three of the meetings that you have provided on this matter.
I have also spent hour upon hour on your web site trying to make heads or tails of the proposals.
So I am just going to write on a few things that I think need to be addressed.
I am not a big think tank from
I for one do not want to see any no-motor zones put in place any where.
This will never be enforced and all the people that come from other states and just plain out of Towner’s will not know the rules. Enforcement is a problem, on this waterway. It just does not exist.
There was another topic about noise on the refuge..
Banning jet skis etc loud bass boats…etc,etc..
I am not a college graduate so I am really confused on this topic. Every weekend during the spring till fall months the river roadways have harley davidsons ripping up an down with no exhaust systems..I believe this is an issue that needs to be addressed.
The other huge problem in the noise issues are all the new boats that are hitting the water with above water exhausts. What the hell is up with that. I thought that there was a 2006 EPA program that all motors had to meet. There is no-way that these boats could pass such a standard. There are going to be people killed because of these boats they are too big and too fast for this congested waterway. Another factor is that the owners of these are not given any instruction on the safety procedures in a federal waterway. Most do not even have a clue on right of way on the water. And NONE have a clue of being responsible for their wakes. Someone will be killed and then the funny thing is they will call it an accident.
This brings me to my next point. River erosion you have not even addressed
this issue. If this issue was addressed. I think most of the so called problems
with the ducks would go away. I personally do not hunt. However I have seen the
river produce some of the best fishing that the
So before I lose you , The EPA needs to keep up their programs.
Back to river bank erosion, I think that this falls to the Army Corp of Engineers.
They need to keep replacing rip rap…need to rip rap more shore lines.
I think it would be a good idea to tax the big Cruisers by the foot and you could use that money to replace shore line. Most of there captains also do not have a clue about being responsible for there own wakes.
I believe more on improving the Physical habitat needs to be done, I think that the lowering of the pools works and is a good program. Costs to do this must be minimal.
The
Enforcement a big issue in my opinion. The laws that are already in effect are not enforced. There is not enough officers to cover the waterway. There is much over harvesting of fish I know this for a fact I have seen it and reported it before. Many fishing without licensing, language barriers for enforcement so they do not even apprehend.
I spend about 150 days a year on the water and have for the past 18 years. I can honestly tell you I have never seen a law enforcement officer stop a big vessel for swamping a smaller vessel with its wake or for running a no-wake zone. I must assume that the big rigs get preferred treatment. Over the years I have seen many fishing boats pulled over and ticketed for a no-wake infraction. Over the years I have seen pontoon boats swamped, peopled ejected from the boat. I have seen big vessels wakes throw small fishing boats on to the rip rapped shore. I have seen Captains come down the bottle neck at the end of Pepin and purposely changing course, to see how many fishing boats they can make the people sit down. While they laugh and wave as they go past. I keep saying that I’m going to get a better camera and take pictures of this, some day.
Anyway I believe enforcement needs to be helped to make this waterway stay safe.
The boats are getting too fast and too big.
So I am not in favor of making all these new rules or laws that will never be enforced.
Ok get on with it :
I vote NO for the following:
closed no-motor zones
fees for beach use
regulating fishing tournaments
shell limits
fees for guide use of waterway
One more issue that sticks out in my mind. Someone said something about making kayak and canoe areas, creating walking trails, platforms for photographers.
The walking trails if they do not destroy a bunch of habitat is ok with me, same with the photo platforms.
However as far as permitting canoes and kayaks on the Mighty
Mississippi. What dim witted brain tank thinker came up with this one. Must
have been from
I would strongly advise that they be outlawed from the river. In my area there are plenty of small rivers the Zumbro, the Root , the Vermilion , the Cannon, and Hay Creek, to name a few. That canoeing and kayaking can be done safely.
It should be made illegal to operate a kayak and a canoe on this Federal regulated waterway. Other wise you better start some funding for rescue boats and equipment for all the towns along the waterway. Buy some body bags and train personnel on water rescue. Many people drown every year along this waterway that are in 14 foot flat bottom boats.
So you want to create a place to draw more of these type of vessels to the river.
Poop for brains….THEY
have NO RIGHT to be on the
Sorry but I am just a grumpy old man from Wabasha.
Putting more canoes and kayaks on the water is pure stupidity. They SHOULD go else where there are plenty of places they can enjoy there sport.
One other point that I do not agree with, why does this have to be a 15 year plan????
Make it a Five year program and then re-evaluate.
I strongly believe more funding should be spent on enforcement. We can’t even protect our borders, you want to create more boundaries where you can’t go or you must not use your gas motor…ridiculous. So lets make more laws that will not be enforced so that everyone is breaking the law and the river will become a wild lawless excursion for all Americans to take part in.
This is all that I can address at this time.
But there is much much more.
Some things I would like to see addressed:
Enforcement of existing laws. (did I mention this)
Above the
water exhausts illegal on all water craft. EPA
regulations by 2006
Thinking about imposing a Speed limit these new craft are hitting speeds over 70 mph
Classes on rules of the road for boat owner’s mandatory before boat purchase on a
Federal waterway
No regulating of fur trapping leave this to
the states
No
regulating of commercial fisherman leave it to
the states
No more no
boating zones did I mention this
More work on water quality
More work done to prevent the erosion problem
More
work done to promote recreational fishing
help existing floats instead of more
Regulations for
them to meet
Hunting improve the
habitat they will come I don’t think more
hunting regulations is
the answer
Make this plan a 2
year program with up grades
Thank you for listening
Sincerely
Gregory L Vandemark
www.vandysguideservice.com