On Monday evening, May 2, over 1,000 of Lake Havasu residents met with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at the city’s Aquatic Center. The meeting was in response to plans by the Fish and Wildlife Service to place restrictions on boating activities for the Havasu National Wildlife Refuge. This is the first time the Fish and Wildlife Service held a public comment meeting concerning this issue. The unanimous consensus was that local and state officials, residents, and fellow boat enthusiasts were all non-supportive of the current plans to curtail certain boating activating within the refuge confines.
Congressman Paul Gosar was on hand and criticized the Fish and Wildlife Service for what he said was a way to slowly shut down local waterways to motor boats. The proposal by the agency would effectively prohibit tubing, water-skiing and wake boarding in an area utilized by a large number of recreational enthusiasts.
Concerns were also raised about the effect on the local economy. James Gray, President of the Partnership for Economic Development James Gray said in a community that is economically isolated and largely dependent on tourist dollars, restrictions to its main attraction could have devastating ripple effects.
Mayor of Lake Havasu City, Mark Nexsen, also spoke out about the new regulations and stated that he was willing to let the Fish and Wildlife Service start again with its proposal in accordance with federal law, and that they replace moved buoys to their original locations until they follow appropriate protocol to make any changes.
If you would like to see popular areas like the Refuge stay open to activities such as wakeboarding, fishing, water-skiing, and tubing, send your written comments to:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Havasu National Wildlife Refuge
Attn: Draft Recreational Boating CD
317 Mesquite Avenue
Needles, CA 92363