I urge you to not overlook our story "Outrage Over Ontario Water Levels" regarding water-level regulation for Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River. This may seem like a local problem, but, in many ways, the problem and the process affect all of us with a stake in the Great Lakes.
I recently sat down with a copy of the report from the International Joint Commission (IJC) that explains in great detail the process of their $20-million study. Their conclusion, ironically, is basically to maintain the status quo by implementing what they're calling Plan 2007. This decision goes against the will of the people, who overwhelmingly wanted Plan B+.
Immediately after the IJC plan was released - and most likely because of it - the respected watchdog group American Rivers placed the St. Lawrence River in the No. 4 position on its list of Most Endangered Rivers in the U.S.
I implore you to make your voice heard on this issue. Follow
this link to find an easy way to send a comment to the IJC. American Rivers has even pre-written a letter for you, which urges the IJC to implement Plan B+ immediately.
There is a group from the south shore of Lake Ontario around the Rochester area that seems to exert an undue amount of pressure on the IJC regarding this whole matter. If you have any insight into why this is, please post something on the
message boards.
On my list of must-reads is my friend Norm Schultz's blog "Dealer Outlook," which runs in Soundings Trade Only online. Norm is president emeritus of LEMTA, the Lake Erie Marine Trades Association, and the executive director of the Boating Association of Ohio.
Norm is a very savvy guy, and I read his blog to stay informed about what's going on in the boat biz. We go back to when our barbers played a more prominent role in our lives. Recently he discussed the Clean Boating Act of 2008. Unless acted on, recreational boaters will be subject to the same requirements as commercial vessels - permits for incidental discharges that cost $100 or more, and many other unpleasantries. This excerpt is from his blog, which has plenty of interest for the recreational boater, too.
"We're in a battle - and losing is not an option! There's a looming debacle that will come for every boater this September if Congress does not exempt us from a required EPA discharge permit. I have previously urged you to write your Congressmen to support Senate Bill 2067 and House of Representatives Bill 2550, the Recreational Boating Act of 2007. If you have already done so, great. However, I must urge you to do it again, and soon. Here's why: S. 2766, the Clean Boating Act of 2008, is more politically acceptable and greatly improves our chances of eliminating the permit requirement before it goes into effect.
S. 2766 is sponsored by Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL). For several months we've been pushing S. 2067 and H.R. 2550, but these bills have not been moving. S. 2067 has 12 sponsors (11 Republicans and one Democrat), while H.R. 2550 has just 70 sponsors. S. 2766 has the best chance of gaining widespread political support from both Democrats and Republicans. The new act includes all the language from the other bills, plus two additions: Charterboats would be exempt from the permit as well, and there would be a three-year, three-part framework to determine if any management practices should be required in the future.
Now is the time to ask your Congressmen to sponsor and vote yes for S. 2766. Although this issue has received substantial publicity within the industry, I'll bet many boaters aren't aware and would jump at the chance to join us in contacting Congress. After all, it's boaters who will get caught in the middle of this mess, and it's a no-brainer that you'll want to eliminate this threat as much as we do!"
