“BOATER ACCESS CALL TO ARMS AUGUST 25, 2009
RBOC is urging boaters to take action to address another situation where boater access could be severely compromised. This time, the issue involves 2 gates proposed across popular boating waterways in the Sacramento San-
Joaquin Delta. Boaters should request action to ensure that the two gates proposed to be placed across Old River and Connection Slough in the Delta - known as the Two-Gates Project - be revised to ensure reliable boating access for boats of all sizes navigating these popular public waterways.
Boaters are encouraged to contact the Governor and legislators, including the Senators and Assembly Members on two policy committees. Attached are a sample letter and a roster of legislators on the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee and the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee. Contacts can be through e-mails, letters andor phone calls. [See end of post]
Key Points:
*** The structure and function of the gates do not provide reliable recreational boating access.
*** The initial operational scenario calls for the gates to be “closed for short periods December through February… for moderate periods March through June." This is unacceptable!
*** Critical accommodations are not included for law enforcement and U.S. Coast Guard boats that must have rapid and unencumbered access.
***The boating public's long established right of vessel passage of navigable waterways under the public use doctrine to transit Delta waterways unimpeded by gates or barriers must be fully honored and mitigated
*** “Temporary" gates have a way of becoming “permanent". Thus, adequate environmental impact and mitigations to assure boating access must occur now
*** Operable locks are the best option.
Continued.......
RBOC AUGUST 25, 2009 BOATER ACCESS CALL TO ARMS
Sample Letter
Please send letters to the Governor and your legislator, and provide a copy to RBOC by email to rboc "at"rboc.org, or fax to 916.441.3520.
Dear ___________________________:
RE: Two-Gates Project:
Revise to assure reliable recreational boating access join with RBOC (Recreational Boaters of California) to urge you to take action to ensure that the two gates proposed to be placed across Old River and Connection Slough in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta - known as the Two-Gates Project - be revised to ensure reliable boating access for boats of all sizes transiting these public waterways of the state. The structure and function of the two gates do not provide reliable recreational boating access. The width of the butterfly gates when opened may be adequate for boat passage, but when the gates are closed the proposed boat ramps are not adequate for the passage of all recreational boats.
The structure of the proposed boat ramp and its mode of operation are not specified and, by itself, even pose a number of unanswered questions: Up to what size are small “trailerable boats" being considered? When will the ramp operate? How will larger “non-trailerable boats" be accommodated? And, under what operating criteria and procedures for transiting the waterway when the gates are “closed"? The initial operational scenarios for the 2-Gate Project calls for the gates to be “closed for short periods December through February… for moderate periods March through June." This is unacceptable!
Critical accommodations are not included for law enforcement and U.S. Coast Guard boats that must have rapid and unencumbered access. Access and reliable ease of movement by recreational boats is a very serious concern when these gates are “closed". But added to this is the concern for timely response by law enforcement and Coast Guard boats and working vessels (such as barges and tugs to assure levee repair or maintenance as well as farm barges transiting with farm equipment and workers) when these gates are “closed". The boating public's long established right of vessel passage under the public use doctrine to transit Delta waterways unimpeded by gates or barriers must be fully honored and mitigated in order to legally satisfy the needs of a wide variety and sizes of boats.
“Temporary" gates have a way of becoming “permanent". The proposed two-gates are described as being temporary and operational for up to a 5 year period of time. However, such structures have a way of becoming permanent. Thus, adequate environmental impact and mitigations to assure boating access must occur now. Operable locks are the best option. As changes may occur to Delta waterways, especially with the installation of gates and other barriers, the appropriate mitigation is the installation of operable boat locks and at no cost and with hours of operation satisfactory to the needs of boaters.
I urge you to work closely with RBOC to ensure that provisions are included that provide reliable access to the Delta waterways at the Two-Gates Project for recreational boating.
______________________
Name
_______________________
Address/City/Zip
continued
RBOC AUGUST 25, 2009 BOATER ACCESS CALL TO ARMS
CONTACTS
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
The Honorable Arnold Schwarzenegger, Governor
State of California
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814
www.gov.ca.gov/interact
Members, Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Water
Name, District, Party, Room, Phone, Fax
Benoit, John 37 R 4066 [916 651 4037] [916 327 2187]
Cogdill, Dave (Vice Chair) 14 R 5097 [916 651 4014] [916 327 3523]
Hollingsworth, Dennis 36 R 305 [916 651 4036] [916 447 9008]
Huff, Robert 29 R 3048 [916 651 4029] [916 324 0922]
Kehoe, Christine 39 D 5050 [916 651 4039] [916 327 2188]
Leno, Mark 3 D 4061 [916 651 4003] [916 445-4722]
Padilla, Alex 20 D 4038 [916 651 4020] [916 324 6645]
Pavley, Fran (Chair) 23 D 4035 [916 651 4023] [916 324-4823]
Simitian, Joe 11 D 2080 [916 651 4011] [916 323 4529]
Wiggins, Patricia 2 D 4081 [916 651 4002] [916 323 6958]
Wolk, Lois 5 D 4032 [916 651 4005] [916 323-2304]
Members, Assembly Committee on Water, Parks and Wildlife
Name, District, Party, Room, Phone, Fax
Anderson, Joel 77 R 2130 [916 319 2077] [916 319 2177]
Arambula, Juan 31 I 2141 [916 319 2031] [916 319 2131]
Berryhill, Tom 25 R 3141 [916 319 2025] [916 319 2125]
Blumenfield, Bob 40 D 6011 [916 319 2040] [916 319 2140]
Caballero, Anna 28 D 5119 [916 319 2028] [916 319 2128]
Fletcher, Nathan 75 R 2111 [916 319 2075] [916 319 2175]
Fuller, Jean (Vice Chair) 32 R 3098 [916 319 2032] [916 319 2132]
Huffman, Jared (Chair) 6 D 3120 [916 319 2006] [916 319 2106]
Krekorian, Paul 43 D 4005 [916 319 2043] [916 319 2143]
Lowenthal, Bonnie 54 D 5158 [916 319 2054] [916 319 2154]
Perez, John 46 D 3160 [916 319 2046] [916 319 2146]
Salas, Mary 79 D 2137 [916 319 2079] [916 319 2179]
Yamada, Mariko 8 D 5144 [916 319 2008] [916 319 2108]"
Or you can go to www.leginfo.ca.gov/yourleg.html to find the website and email your opinion. This will go into the stats to be reported to the legislator.