On Tuesday evening, the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee heard about an Auke Lake management draft plan developed by city staff last month that would call on the City and Borough of Juneau to restrict the horsepower of motorized vehicles on the lake and take an active role in regulating lake use.
Parks and Recreation staff generated the plan after three public meetings late last year were held to solicit public comment on management and use of Auke Lake.
The plan finds that Auke Lake can only safely accommodate one high-horsepower motorized vehicle at a time, with staff citing the federal Water and Land Recreation Opportunity Spectrum, or WALROS, to reach that conclusion.
As a result, the plan calls for all motorized vehicles on the lake to be limited to 10 horsepower.
No state or municipal ordinance governing the lake, which is owned by the Alaska Department of Natural Resources but administered by Juneau Parks and Recreation, currently imposes a limit on either the number of vehicles that can be on Auke Lake at one time or on the horsepower of said vehicles.
City code limits the length of vessels using Auke Lake to 16 feet or less, a restriction the plan proposes replacing with the horsepower limit.
“Existing efforts to regulate motorized watercraft on Auke Lake have failed to balance the physical and social demands of those who live or recreate on Auke Lake with the need to maintain public safety and promote a healthy and productive lake ecosystem,” the plan reads in part. “Existing levels of motorized use far exceed the lake’s carrying capacity, negatively impacting public safety and reducing the recreational experience for all lake users. The fact that Auke Lake is the only navigable lake on Juneau’s road system does not change the fact that available water surface acres are not adequate for the type of high-horsepower watercraft and activities now common at the lake.”
Last June, a collision between an inner tube and a jet-ski on Auke Lake left 16-year-old Savannah Cayce dead and another girl injured. Parks and Recreation expanded its review of Auke Lake management after the incident to look at public safety at the lake.
In addition to the horsepower restriction, the draft plan calls for “towed devices” like inner tubes to be banned from Auke Lake “because the available water surface area is not adequate for this type of activity.”
The plan also recommends the CBJ create a seasonal position within Parks and Recreation for a park ranger empowered to enforce municipal laws on the lake during the summer, as well as ensure staff access to a boat.
The Juneau Police Department does not have a boat or any marine officers. As a result, enforcement of existing regulations on the lake is difficult at best.
Parks and Recreation Director Brent Fischer explained staff’s findings and recommendations to the PRAC at the Mendenhall Public Library Tuesday evening, where the committee held its first meeting of 2013.
PRAC member Chris Mertl questioned whether one high-horsepower boat at a time could be allowed on the lake to tow waterskiers.
Fischer said he and Parks and Landscape Superintendent George Schaaf had discussed that idea, but had concluded it would be impractical.
“If you look at having one powerboat on there, how are we fairly going to do that to the public?” Fischer asked.
Fischer acknowledged the proposed horsepower restriction will have its detractors.
“Some people are going to say it’s not fair that we restrict over 10 … horsepower,” Fischer said. “I understand that.”
No public comment on Auke Lake management was permitted at the meeting, as the plan was placed on the agenda as an information item only.
As staff and committee members waited for a quorum before starting the meeting, attendee Dave Hanna spoke up to criticize the plan.
“No offense, but it’s highly inaccurate,” Hanna said, a longtime resident of Auke Lake. “A lot of it is.”
“Did you make corrections on your copy?” asked committee member Dixie Hood.
“I don’t have enough ink in my pen,” Hanna quipped.
Fischer invited Hanna and others to submit their written comments to him for consideration.
“We kind of need to not go back and forth on this, because we don’t want public comment, please,” Fischer said.
Later, Hanna explained some of his objections to the plan.
“They’re making all these issues that don’t exist,” Hanna complained, challenging claims in the plan about water pollution levels, erosion and lake residents’ alleged “desire to retain the quiet, residential atmosphere of the lake,” among others.
Hanna and fellow attendee Angela Miller, who jet-skis on the lake, also took exception to the recommendation that a park ranger position be created, with Hanna suggesting the intent is for Parks and Recreation to “grow their empire.”
“What do you need a park ranger for if you don’t have any use on the lake?” asked Miller rhetorically. “Because there isn’t going to be any.”
The PRAC will meet again for a special meeting at City Hall on Jan. 29 to discuss the draft plan. It will take public comment on the matter at that time.
Fischer told committee members, “As public comment streams in from tonight on, those will be forwarded to you so that you can include that in part of the evaluation of the plan.”
At Mertl’s suggestion, the PRAC will likely wait until its regular meeting in February to make a recommendation to the Borough Assembly on the plan. It will be up to the Assembly to adopt any new ordinances for Auke Lake management.
• Contact reporter Mark D. Miller at 523-2279 or at mark.d.miller@juneauempire.com.
Comments (44)
Add comment...WHAT ABOUT THOSE AIRPLANES...
...whats going to happen to those 180 horse power airplanes going in and out of our lake??...
Was just going to comment on
Was just going to comment on that. You beat me to it, long time. The floatplanes should be exempted. And in response to Angela's comment that if no one is on the lake, why do they need an enforcement person? Why do we need police enforcing the speed limit? Because people dont follow the law...
Armed Police Boat
The park ranger(s) will need a big, fast, expensive, new police boat with all the bells and sirens. This position will be much too dangerous for a single worker - because working on or near the water is dangerous, so there should always be two or more Rangers working together at any given time.
It's time for Parks and Recs to formally establish it's legal-enforcement division. Due to the dangerous nature of the work which will involve law-enforcement activities, these Rangers should be fully armed for protection.
Public comment unwanted.
Thanks, MrFischer... for making it clear you DO NOT want public comment - you just want to do what you think we should do. Hanna is right - you just seem to want to grow your department. Ranger? Really?
Shut it all down
The lake doesn't belong to the public, it belongs to Park and Rec. Shut it all down to human encroachment. We may need to look at removing all lakeshore homes as well.
Look out for the next mishap on saltwater
Next thing you know, the PRAC will recommend every uses row boats for salmon fishing because some got hurt on a powerboat.
All I can say is OMG, what next?
DNR
The lake is owned by the state. Why parks and rec. manages it is beyond me. Troopers already have boats to pull our crab pots. US Coast Guard already has jurisdiction of navigable waters. Why is the city making the call?
lets teach boating safety instead.
this is the first accident auke lake has had that i know of in the twenty years that i have been waterskiing and wake boarding there. if any of you know of other incidents i would like to know of them please. people have drowned in twin lakes, adults and children, yet we still allow people to swim there. a man drowned in mendenhall lake this summer while kayaking yet people are still allowed to kayak there. people have died at eagle crest skiing and they did not ban skiing. there are several fatalities each year on egan highway and we still allow people to drive cars to work. the world is a dangerous place if you are inexperienced and uneducated. this is what leads to unsafe decisions. one death in the 30 years i have lived here, however tragic and unacceptable, is testament that boating there is not as dangerous as it is being made out to be. I would like to point out that there are no safe boating or safe towing guidelines posted at the lake. most lakes down south have guidelines indicating a track that should be followed while towing a skier. also all traffic is supposed to follow in the same direction like an ice rink or rollerskating rink. this allows drivers behind another boat to easily keep watch on skiers in front of them so they will have plenty of time to maneuver in case a skier falls. towing someone erratically at high speeds is extremely dangerous and will kill you or someone else. my 10 year old daughter was learning to waterski and wakeboard last summer. i don't want to tell her she can't do that any more. this is a case of experienced and respectful users being punished for the actions of the inexperienced and uneducated. we could do like the mendenhall wetlands duck hunting. lets offer a boating safety class with a boating safety test. you attend the class and pass the test you get a launch ramp permit for the lake. a requirement could also be 18 or older. if you are caught without a launch ramp permit make it a $500 fine so people know it is serious. we can then keep a special part of juneau alive and create a safer environment to play in at the same time. the only way to make our lakes 100% accident free is to put a fence all the way around them, no swimming, no wading, and certainly no kayaking, canoeing, or row boats. these are all extremely dangerous activties that people die from every year. water sports and water in general has inherent dangers. lets teach our children how to be safe, only our fear will keep them stupid.
Canoes
It appears as if the plan is to only allow small boats like canoes with tiny motors on them in the lake. How many jet skis have 10 hp? You might as well close the lake to swimming too. If no one is allowed in the lake we shouldn't have any problems right? Not exactly.
This isn't a swimming pool we have spent tens of millions of dollars on swimming pools. The irresponsible behavior of a few should not restrict and punish the rights of all of the other responsible citizens. Keep the lake open to motorized traffic. I currently don't have a boat but have enjoyed water skiing on the lake done in what I think was a responsible manner. I want others to have the same fun that I enjoyed. If you eliminate boating it's just another reason for our teens to booze it up because they have one less legal high to do.
I'm curious . . .
Does this mean folks who back down their 16+ foot long boats to rinse and flush the 100+ HP engines will not longer be allowed to do that either?
I'm all for...
...limiting swimmers to 10hp.
Auke lake
Just make it no motor boats period, and get the floatplanes out of there. That pond is not big enough to warrant the use of a motor boat.
Good call
I hope that CBJ, has the sense to follow through on the horsepower restrictions.
AKNUT
Keep in mind that even the canoes with tiny engines, have to be 16' or less. I can't take either of my canoes on the lake with my 2hp Honda, because they're both too long.
I'm all for...
...limiting swimmers to 16'.
Time to replace that board....
The anti's on the P&R advisory committee will win if people don't swamp them and the Assembly with a resounding NO to their recommendations.
I think the Parks and Rec budget has way too much fluff and tries to act like we are a wealthy community of 100,000 people with their grandiose plans for Juneau.... as one example, do we really need a bunch of BBQ's and a cabin at Fish creek? That will be great for vandals and squatters living out North Douglas. We can't continue to spend money on things we don't need as a community and this latest deal to shut down Auke Lake is crazy....a police boat and staff to maintain peace and quiet?
I can agree that a 250HP 22 ft speed boat may be too much on that lake, but the jet skiers and tubing should be allowed to continue on out there.
Whats next, shutting down Egan Drive?
CBJ Has A Park Ranger
CBJ has had a Parks Ranger for a while. He cleaned up after the fiasco at Sunshine Cove where folks threw garbage, didn't provide the porta Johns they promised and picked up the 4 truck loads of nails fro burnt pallets organizers promised they would cleanup.
After reading their comments Hanna and Miller gotta be Wayne La Pierre acolytes.
Only a crisis—actual or
Only a crisis—actual or perceived—produces real change. When that crisis occurs, the actions that are taken depend on the ideas that are lying around. -- Friedman.
Or I could quote Mayor Emanuel.
I think this a huge overreach by P&R. The anti-personal-watercraft crowd has been awaiting some kind of crisis to impose strict standards that a vocal few have been pushing for years. I am not against some enforcement, but it should be by the troopers. I live on Auke Lake, and it is only a few days a year when chaos reigns out there. If troopers handed out a few $250 reckless boating tickets, it would be tough on the recipient, but word travels fast around here. I do not have a motorized use on Auke Lake presently, but I might like my kids to be able to water ski like I did when I was younger.
10 HP is arbitrary and essentially might as well be no motorized use. And planes should be included in such a ban to be consistent, and then you might see who really cares about this issue.
i really hope
that auke lake doesn't end up like dredge lake...
It has to, hero.
Got to get rid of those baaaad 17 foot 11 horsepower swimmers!
Planes were on Auke lake......
long before " Parks& Rec "was invented.
Lots of empty slips...
...on the floatplane pond at the AIRPORT.
What's next
Things I used to do in Juneau. Ride off road motorcycles. We closed drege lake. Drive my jeep on the beach. Now it's a Federal offense. Skateboard. The city banned skateboarding every where but the skate park. I got a ticket for skate boarding in front of my own home. What's next? Eaglecrest? Ice climbing? Biking? Razor scooters? I used to wake board with my friends on auke lake. It "was" sooo much fun!
@SKIRKZ
Lots of empty lanes at the local pools as well. Perhaps we should regulate swimmers? I find them offensive when I am enjoying the lake.
Exactly what
Is CBJ managing at the lake? It's owned by the state and the city is not providing any facilities there are they? If they are going to start regulating it they are going to have to provide rangers and a lifeguard as well and of course they will be obligated to 'close' the lake when no lifeguard is on duty......
Reactionary
P&R always has been and always will be reactionary. Change only occurs when the wheel is squeaky. Being politically correct to dare not offend someone keeps their phones quiet.
But I agree with Skirtz, keep the swimmers under 16 feet. That should satisfy the "fun police". Then we can all have fun. About as much fun as that terrifying sled hill at Twin Lakes.
Planes were on Auke Lake Wavemkr?
So what, lots of things happened before lots of other things. They didn't grandfather in people who owned slaves... Ok that's a bit extreme, but the point is not prohibiting one group because they have always been doing it and prohibiting another is discriminatory and hypocritical.
Church Bells Ringing
@His
There is a quaint small-town in the mid-west that hasn't changed much in many years. A local church had been ringing their bell tower every Sunday morning for over one hundred years.
Several years ago a new family moved to town and bought a home near the church. Immediately the family complained to local officials about the church bells ringing every Sunday morning. Shortly after the family went to court and won an injunction to stop those damn bells from ringing.
So much for the rights of the few.
Exploitation of a Tragedy by greenies
Where were the other calls for action? Why just this one tragedy? These people are exploiting a tragedy for their personal agendas.
Ban Kyaks on Mendenhall Lake and Auke Lake.
http://juneauempire.com/local/2012-07-16/cruise-passenger-dies-kayaking-...
Ban Kyaks in Salt Water
Sunday, March 20, 2005. Juneau resident, Peter Barrett, 30, died March 15, 2005, in a kayaking accident off North Douglas.
Ban lunds in Salt Water
Two young men from Juneau recently downed in a lund returning from Tenakee area.
Ban Skiing
Mar 14, 2012 – Second skier dies after avalanche near Haines
I don't care where you are. Planes will crash. Cars will crash. Boats will crash or sink. Skiiers will die. Kyakers will drown. Even some people playing recreational sports will have accidental deaths. People die on McKinley every year because they want to reach the top of a mountain. Hikers fall off cliffs. Come on people. Let's remember our loved ones but we can't stop living ourselves.
we want all want our mothers
or a nanny state to wipe our nose or a$$