Loch Lomond - more bad news

I was at the Santa Cruz city council meeting a few minutes ago. Despite appeals from kayakers and a willingness of Loch Lomond staff to continue an inspection program, the city council voted 4 - 3 to prohibit outside boats from being launched at Loch Lomond. This really sucks!

That's a bummer, sorry to hear that.

  WTF is wrong with them?  I guess the county really doesn't need the proceeds from everyone that used to use the lake.  Was any length of time given for the probition?  Time for a recall!

Bummer... I guess I won't be taking the boys there anytime soon.

Freddie

I thoiught the meeting was happening on 3/10?

that's what I was telling everyone, anyway.....????

Did they slip it in early to avoid contentin?

Bad news indeed, no trout, and rental boats only (if you can get one)

Allen

I thoiught the meeting was happening on 3/10?

that's what I was telling everyone, anyway.....????

Did they slip it in early to avoid contentin?

Bad news indeed, no trout, and rental boats only (if you can get one)

Allen

Today is 3/10! I was wondering where you were.

What an idiot!

Family stuff.  I knew I was not going to able to attend last week.  Lost track of my dates, there.

Thanks for being there and again, damn! 

Not surprised at all with the SC City Council, famous for lame decisions.  thank god I live in the unincorporated area of SC.....(which is bad enough believe me)

Allen

Here is the text of an email I sent to the city council after their bulls**t decision:

"I was very unhappy with the vote regardiug Loch Lomond today! You reminded me of the Bush administration: stirring up fear of the future while sacrificing the joys of the present. Some of you were just plain ignorant, claiming that the mussels posed a threat to the safety of the water supply. Don't you do any research before making important decisions that affect the lives of others? Due to your fear of invasion by mussels (a bivalve version of Al Qaida?), you have eliminated a source of great joy in the lives of kayakers. Why not close the entire downtown to avoid the possibility of car accidents and stabbings? I can assure you that the thousands of kayakers who cherish Loch Lomond will do everything they can to ensure that the people who voted for this nonsense are not re-elected."

If you want to send them a piece of your mind, here is their email address:  citycouncil@ci.santa-cruz.ca.us

This is a complete bummer.  I will miss fishing LL this summer.

I'd be curious to know how much they lose in profit from this ruling.  Enough to make them regret their decision?  Probably not.

Michael

The ranger from Loch Lomond said that they inspected 5,000 kayaks last season. That's a lot of lost income. The rangers were open to letting in kayaks. It was the fear mongers on the city council who screwed the kayakers.

I know the head Ranger pretty well, Scot Lang.  He is totally FOR letting our boats in with proven inspection techniques that plenty of other California lakes are using successfully.  LL cobbled together a program last year on short notice, and it worked well.  He even had a system proposal for inspections that would not cost extra payroll.

I will get his take tomorrow, then i think we should all blitz SC City Council with letters and emails of complaint, once we have the facts.

it's not the PFMC or the DFG.  They can re-vote anytime they want to on this issue.

Allen

oh yeah...important addendum:  Lang is a genuine fisherman....I haven't got him out on the yak yet, but he is a trout and bass guy at LL.

 5000 kayaks @ roughly $9 per, thats $45K +/- lost I hope their decision comes back to bite them in their collective asses, the board will probably have to raise taxes to cover this loss.

  For better or worse heres a copy of what I just sent to the email address posted

 "Just read a post on a rather popular kayak fishing forum, that said you all voted against letting kayakers use the lake with their kayaks?  Not a good vote!  One of my favorite times of the year is making the Loch Lomond opener! (Usually a day or two after due to the crowds)  Now I don't have that thanks to the poor judgment used for the vote.  Don't bother trying to get us to use the meager rental fleet, it's not the same.

   Apparently the city coffers must be full, as you seem to not need or want the fees kayakers generate during the short season Loch Lomond is open.  I read that 5000 kayakers were inspected last season, at an average of $9 per kayak, thats $45k in revenue gone!    Apparently the ranger 's don't have any problems letting kayakers use the lake, why do you?  Anglers were hit once when trout plants were suspended, now this?

   Do you really think stopping all boat traffic will stop any infestation of these mussels?  Are you going to stop geese from landing? Stop Ducks from landing?  Stop any waterfowl from possibly spreading the mussels?

  I guess now, you'll decide to raise taxes or cut some program's to make up for the loss.

It's really unfortunate that a few can disrupt the lives of so many so easily!  Have any of you even been up to Loch lomond? 

  I won't be going back until you reverse your vote! I'll make sure to spread the word to stay clear of the to all my fishing friends!

  Thanks for nothing!"



 

Truly sad...

Ooops, hit send too quick...

They will be taking a big hit on both fishing and kayaking, since there is no trout being planted it wont draw the usual weekend crowds for just bass fishing.  Such a shame, since its really one of the most beautiful lakes to paddle around in our area.  And if they think that boat rentals will cover the losses, they would be sadly mistaken...