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ORANGE COUNTY RECOMMENDS GAS-MOTOR BAN -- matthews -- 19sep01
Could affect many SoCal waters: Orange County water district recommends ban on gas-powered motors at Diamond Valley.
The Municipal Water District of Orange County, in a letter to the Metropolitan Water District board of directors, has recommended that all gas-powered motors be banned on Diamond Valley Reservoir, slated to open to the public next year. The move would effectively eliminate most fishing on the deep reservoir in western Riverside County near Hemet. MWDOC, which has a seat on the MWD board in decisions governing the operation of the new reservoir, said in its letter that they were making the recommendation based on concerns about “operations and public health and welfare.”
Mike Giusti, a Department of Fish and Game biologist in charge of monitoring and developing the Diamond Valley fishery, said the reasons given by the board for banning motor boats are without merit. “First, they have always operated reservoirs the way they choose. Recreational boats have never interfered with operations of any reservoir. Second, there aren’t any valid health issues there. (The gasoline additive) MTBE will be gone under federal law by 2002, and there will be no body contact allowed at the new reservoir. So what is the issue?” said Giusti.
Giusti said the proposal makes no sense. The MWD has paid the Department to develop the resources at the reservoir, turning it into a world class bass fishery, and now Orange County is trying to dictate that most of this fishery won’t be available to the fishing public. Giusti also said that if the ban passes, there is a good likelihood that gas-powered boats will be banned from most other waters in Southern California, especially Lake Skinner, but other districts would likely follow the MWD lead should they adopt the MWDOC position.
“All of us who have fishing boats will sell them or be calling the banks to come and get them,” said Giusti. The next MWDOC board meeting is set for 9 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 3, and the water district offices in Fountain Valley. For more information or directions, anglers can call the MWDOC office at (714) 963-3058.
Could affect many SoCal waters: Orange County water district recommends ban on gas-powered motors at Diamond Valley.
The Municipal Water District of Orange County, in a letter to the Metropolitan Water District board of directors, has recommended that all gas-powered motors be banned on Diamond Valley Reservoir, slated to open to the public next year. The move would effectively eliminate most fishing on the deep reservoir in western Riverside County near Hemet. MWDOC, which has a seat on the MWD board in decisions governing the operation of the new reservoir, said in its letter that they were making the recommendation based on concerns about “operations and public health and welfare.”
Mike Giusti, a Department of Fish and Game biologist in charge of monitoring and developing the Diamond Valley fishery, said the reasons given by the board for banning motor boats are without merit. “First, they have always operated reservoirs the way they choose. Recreational boats have never interfered with operations of any reservoir. Second, there aren’t any valid health issues there. (The gasoline additive) MTBE will be gone under federal law by 2002, and there will be no body contact allowed at the new reservoir. So what is the issue?” said Giusti.
Giusti said the proposal makes no sense. The MWD has paid the Department to develop the resources at the reservoir, turning it into a world class bass fishery, and now Orange County is trying to dictate that most of this fishery won’t be available to the fishing public. Giusti also said that if the ban passes, there is a good likelihood that gas-powered boats will be banned from most other waters in Southern California, especially Lake Skinner, but other districts would likely follow the MWD lead should they adopt the MWDOC position.
“All of us who have fishing boats will sell them or be calling the banks to come and get them,” said Giusti. The next MWDOC board meeting is set for 9 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 3, and the water district offices in Fountain Valley. For more information or directions, anglers can call the MWDOC office at (714) 963-3058.
