hillrunnerfl
Well-known member
I have a copy of a report presented to the Alachua Commission in 2001. It was to be put together by a group representing both sides of the issue.
What it said essentially is that the county had little power to control Airboats for several reasons. One of the main reasons is that most of the areas have facilities provided by government grants such as boat ramps, floating docks, and other improvements and can not descriminate against any one group without covering all groups.
There is specific language in the laws covering jet skis. The jet ski laws were pushed through by the manufacturers.
It was brought out that to control airboats, banning or otherwise, all areas had to be covered under a comprehensive program of sign placement, showing controlled areas, this has to be approved by the FWC and other law enforcement.
It was also brought out that wake damage, and noise is not considered a safety or environmental issue and is not enforceable even in places like Cross Creek, because the signage is not to FWC specifications.
To make a long story short, the county lawyer told the commision at the 2001 meeting that airboats and other water crafts could be very strictly controlled if a comprehensive plan was put together, following legal guidelines covering all types of water crafts, that it would hold up in court. It would be very expensive and the county could not afford it. Now we mysteriously have a very large grant to do just that.
Recommendations made at the 2001 meeting were to place curfews on all lakes, make Water Melon Pond a no motor canoe trail, and require mufflers.
One more comment. The County and FWC have ignored the enforcement of current laws for years. This had done several things. It has allowed the people that live on the lakes to build more backing, and also allowed more and more boats to move into the area. When Lake Weir was closed a lot of the people with sleds started to run up here making the problem even worse.
Finally. I just finished a new 15 foot Rivermaster that I put my 470 on. It is probably going to be a fishing only boat on salt water in Levy County.
The County has a plan and it does not include Airboats, or any other boat with a motor.
I'll try to get more information today and pass it on.
What it said essentially is that the county had little power to control Airboats for several reasons. One of the main reasons is that most of the areas have facilities provided by government grants such as boat ramps, floating docks, and other improvements and can not descriminate against any one group without covering all groups.
There is specific language in the laws covering jet skis. The jet ski laws were pushed through by the manufacturers.
It was brought out that to control airboats, banning or otherwise, all areas had to be covered under a comprehensive program of sign placement, showing controlled areas, this has to be approved by the FWC and other law enforcement.
It was also brought out that wake damage, and noise is not considered a safety or environmental issue and is not enforceable even in places like Cross Creek, because the signage is not to FWC specifications.
To make a long story short, the county lawyer told the commision at the 2001 meeting that airboats and other water crafts could be very strictly controlled if a comprehensive plan was put together, following legal guidelines covering all types of water crafts, that it would hold up in court. It would be very expensive and the county could not afford it. Now we mysteriously have a very large grant to do just that.
Recommendations made at the 2001 meeting were to place curfews on all lakes, make Water Melon Pond a no motor canoe trail, and require mufflers.
One more comment. The County and FWC have ignored the enforcement of current laws for years. This had done several things. It has allowed the people that live on the lakes to build more backing, and also allowed more and more boats to move into the area. When Lake Weir was closed a lot of the people with sleds started to run up here making the problem even worse.
Finally. I just finished a new 15 foot Rivermaster that I put my 470 on. It is probably going to be a fishing only boat on salt water in Levy County.
The County has a plan and it does not include Airboats, or any other boat with a motor.
I'll try to get more information today and pass it on.