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View Full Version : Just got back from Parker, WTF?



goneboatin
05-21-2006, 03:09 PM
I launched at Bluewater as I always do, and see that there's people pulling skiers from the beach; some psycho lady pulling her kid on a trainer ski being pulled from a tube (yes, one behind the other), yelled at me because I was going too slow (the area in front of Bluewater is a no wake zone from what I remember), pwc's buzzing all over the place. I was afraid to let the kids swim and play around the boat like they always do. As I passed the bouys or where they used to be (there's a piece of one on the Arizona side), people are hauling ass thru that area, there's not a quiet spot to just float and chill anymore unless you go up to the dam, but Bluewater's nice and wide so you don't have to move your boat all the time.
The sheriff I had talked to last year when the wakeboard demos were going on told me that the area in front of Bluewater is under Indian jurisdiction and the Indians don't enforce any of the laws since thier golf carts can't go in the water. Plus if you contest the ticket saying that the sheriff was out of his jurisdiction when you received the ticket, it'll get thrown out. So only the honest people obey the rules posted at Bluewater.
From what I have read here on the boards is that the reason for the no wake area is for ecological reasons for nesting birds in the reeds on the California side. If that is so, then wouldn't the Sheriffs have jurisdiction to prosicute (sp) all offenders?

Boatcop
05-21-2006, 03:19 PM
The ticket won't get tossed if cited by the Sheriff down there. We have jurisdiction anywhere in the County, including the Reservation. We just choose not to patrol Indian jurisdiction (at their request). If we need to go down there for any reason (Emergency Call, request for assistance, etc.) We will take action on any violations we observe, but we don't routinely patrol Res waters.
In case you didn't notice, there is a conspicuous lack of "No Wake" buoys. That situation is between the Tribes, Coast Guard, ACOE, etc. Something we're not going to get in to.
In the meantime, if anyone is cited for "No Wake" in that area, the lack of buoys is an excellent defense. You shouldn't get cited from us. I've told my guys that we're not taking any enforcement action on Wakes in that area until the buoys are back in.

riverbound
05-21-2006, 03:26 PM
The ticket won't get tossed if cited by the Sheriff down there. We have jurisdiction anywhere in the County, including the Reservation. We just choose not to patrol Indian jurisdiction (at their request). If we need to go down there for any reason (Emergency Call, request for assistance, etc.) We will take action on any violations we observe, but we don't routinely patrol Res waters.
In case you didn't notice, there is a conspicuous lack of "No Wake" buoys. That situation is between the Tribes, Coast Guard, ACOE, etc. Something we're not going to get in to.
In the meantime, if anyone is cited for "No Wake" in that area, the lack of buoys is an excellent defense. You shouldn't get cited from us. I've told my guys that we're not taking any enforcement action on Wakes in that area until the buoys are back in.
Thats kind of what I figured last time i went down there and saw no buoys. Figured if I got popped, state the fact that there are no buoys present.

OCMerrill
05-21-2006, 03:29 PM
I personally don’t mind this no wake area. Those buoy’s were in sad shape last October. With out boats roaring past it makes "an easy place to hang" and my kids can swim around in a bit safer place.
That’s going to make for one bumpy tie up in the Bluewater marina if let be.
Alan,
Interesting info about not being down there...sounds complicated politically. Most the speeding no wake violaters I see are PWC. Rules....what :idea: me?

Boatcop
05-21-2006, 03:47 PM
Alan,
Interesting info about not being down there...sounds complicated politically. Most the speeding no wake violaters I see are PWC. Rules....what :idea: me?
It's not so much a political deal. It's a management deal. If we go down there we could spend the entire shift writing wake and reckless tickets. That leaves the other 11 miles of the Strip unpatrolled.
With the Casino (AKA the Tribes) getting the biggest benefit from boating in that area, we leave patrolling (or not patrolling) up to them. We owe a duty to the boaters and residents of the County, and spending an inordinant amount of time in another agency's jurisdiction would be neglecting that duty.

Parker Dreamin
05-21-2006, 05:38 PM
pretty scary if you ask me. It has been a no wake zone for awhile, then you get some freshie zooming through while the kids are floating around the boat, with the flag up..... and somebody gets wacked because nobody wanted to buy new no wake signs. Hope this gets resolved for the safety of everybody on the water.

JetBoatRich
05-21-2006, 06:35 PM
I was there last weekend it was terrible, people would leave the marina and hit it :yuk:
It was fun seeing all the UCLA students there having a hell of a party :cool:

ColeTR2
05-21-2006, 07:19 PM
If you what your kids to be safe don't take them to the most dangerous water way in the U.S. And definitely don't think there safe because of some 5 mph buoy. The no wake zone was not put there for safety reasons, it's there to protect a little fish that did just fine there for sixty years. If you ask me the no wake zone there is stupid, it killed the best place to ski on the river and test and tune high performance boats. If you what to float, pools work great for that no currents, clear water and easy to keep an eye on the kids. Also there is no speed limit near the dam so please be careful.

Parker Dreamin
05-21-2006, 07:23 PM
If you what your kids to be safe don't take them to the most dangerous water way in the U.S. And definitely don't think there safe because of some 5 mph buoy. The no wake zone was not put there for safety reasons, it's there to protect a little fish that did just fine there for sixty years. If you ask me the no wake zone there is stupid, it killed the best place to ski on the river and test and tune high performance boats. If you what to float, pools work great for that no currents, clear water and easy to keep an eye on the kids.
It is safer as a no wake zone in my opinion. Just like pools are good for floating.. there are other river and lakes to "ski on the river and test and tune high performance boats"... so now just have lake lice and beach starts coming flying at you while you are doing those things... again seems like a safety issue to me, but not to all...

Jrocket
05-21-2006, 07:33 PM
I like the no wake area,theres 11 other miles of river to haul azz on if you need to.

ColeTR2
05-21-2006, 07:43 PM
there are other river and lakes to "ski on the river and test and tune high performance boats"
Can you name some so I can go run my boat there?
I like the no wake area,theres 11 other miles of river to haul azz on if you need to.
This area of the river is what put Parker on the map. Boat racing! There is no other places on the strip with as little current and as wide for turning a skier or race boat. And it's the reason why my family starting coming to Parker in the mid 60's. I see it as a lost of freedom. Maybe someday you will have a place you enjoyed / good memories taken from you and then you will understand.

Boatcop
05-21-2006, 07:55 PM
If you what your kids to be safe don't take them to the most dangerous water way in the U.S. And definitely don't think there safe because of some 5 mph buoy. The no wake zone was not put there for safety reasons, it's there to protect a little fish that did just fine there for sixty years. If you ask me the no wake zone there is stupid, it killed the best place to ski on the river and test and tune high performance boats. If you what to float, pools work great for that no currents, clear water and easy to keep an eye on the kids. Also there is no speed limit near the dam so please be careful.
We gave up the title of "Most Dangerous Waterway" many years ago. On the contrary, the Parker Strip is one of the safest in the US, and definitely the safest in the Colorado River chain. We have the lowest accident per boat use days of any stretch of River from Mead to Yuma.
Over the past 18 years we (La Paz County) have averaged 17-20 reportable accidents a year. And that's for the entire County, including our portion of Lake Havasu, the Lower River down past Cibola, and Lake Alamo.
We've had a few notable fatalities, but that's been the exception, rather than the norm. Although even 1 fatal wreck is 1 too many, it's far better than 10-15 deaths a year that we experienced in the '70s.
From a strictly statistical viewpoint, the Bullhead area has about 3 times as many accidents as we do, and about 1/10 th the boat use.
We won't even get into the accident rate on Lake Havasu (the Lake, not the City) and the River from the Delta to the Avi.
And it wasn't the fish that brought the no-wake zone. It's an endangered bird, the Yuma Clapper Rail. It builds its nest on the surface of the water, back in the reeds. When the wakes disturb the area, the mother bird will leave, but return if it calms down. If it gets disturbed on a regular basis, it will abandon the nest.
The protocol for races and other events within the no wake zone calls for a minimum of 2 weeks between events, and aggressive enforcement of the no wake zone at all other times.
Once the USFWS, ACOE, and Coast Guard stop issuing permits, because the zone isn't being enforced, and the Casino (Tribe) loses all that race and other event business, you'll see them out there writing tickets 24 hours a day.

Moneypitt
05-21-2006, 08:00 PM
Thanks Alan, for once again seperating fact from fiction........MP

Jrocket
05-21-2006, 08:12 PM
This area of the river is what put Parker on the map. Boat racing! There is no other places on the strip with as little current and as wide for turning a skier or race boat. And it's the reason why my family starting coming to Parker in the mid 60's. I see it as a lost of freedom. Maybe someday you will have a place you enjoyed / good memories taken from you and then you will understand.
Last time I checked they still have races there.How many times a year do you take your boat down there on a weekend and want to practice your turns?How many times a year do you actually race your boat?My first trip to Parker was in 1970,although I dont remember it(too young),I was still there...So its not like I just joined the low payment seadoo club buyers.

ColeTR2
05-21-2006, 08:13 PM
Thanks Allen I new something laid eggs over there i thought it was a fish. We used to be able to get a test and tune permit and run our boat there not anymore. Not evern during the week. Not to many places to do that along the river. And as far as safety I still can't get insurance on the Parker strip. Was told that buy the insurance agent.

Wake Havasu
05-22-2006, 02:55 AM
I was at the sandbar by the Blue Water last Sunday and noticed everyone jamming there!
I did not see any remaining buoys stating a no wake zone.
So maybe it's changed.
People wake board in front of the Blue water now!

RiverDave
05-22-2006, 08:21 AM
It will be interesting to see if San Bernadino is enforcing the no wake zone this year with no bouies up.. My bet is they'll enforce it anyways.
RD

Tom Brown
05-22-2006, 08:30 AM
How about the 0.08% BAC rule? Is that still being enforced or is the an enforcement holiday on that too?

JetBoatRich
05-22-2006, 08:42 AM
Hate to catch my boat on the a remaining bouy or it's chain :mad: because you can't see it underwater :yuk:

WaTchTheGelCoat
05-22-2006, 08:49 AM
I stayed at the Bluewater this weekend as well. Are the bouys gone forever? Is it still a no wake zone?

Parker Dreamin
05-22-2006, 10:07 AM
I think they need to go back up, they can not cost that much $ can they? I bet it will take an accident or something for them to do it. Lets hope not !!

OrangePicker
05-22-2006, 11:13 AM
Thanks Allen I new something laid eggs over there i thought it was a fish. We used to be able to get a test and tune permit and run our boat there not anymore. Not evern during the week. Not to many places to do that along the river. And as far as safety I still can't get insurance on the Parker strip. Was told that buy the insurance agent.
You need a new insurance agent

Wake Havasu
05-22-2006, 02:37 PM
Wait till a kid gets hurt.
Even a mediocre attorney will solve the communication problem between all the parties involved in one letter.

goneboatin
05-22-2006, 02:40 PM
Can you name some so I can go run my boat there?
This area of the river is what put Parker on the map. Boat racing! There is no other places on the strip with as little current and as wide for turning a skier or race boat. And it's the reason why my family starting coming to Parker in the mid 60's. I see it as a lost of freedom. Maybe someday you will have a place you enjoyed / good memories taken from you and then you will understand.
I remember the races they used to have at Bluewater, before the Indians did the eminent domain thing and built the casino / hotel. But there wasn't a marina there before, nor a hotel, just some 2 story concrete cabanas (if you want to call them that). If there was a race, the only people camping there were the racers, and that was enforced. You didn't want some knucklehead skiing in front of 175 mph drag boat. With the hotel and marina there's no way of closing that area down for a race unless it's an off-season thing.
The no-wake zone has been the the rule for at least the last 5 years. Most people like myself respect that rule and since I can't afford a waterfront home along the river, so to just relax and float, the area in front of Bluewater has been the place to hang out for my family and other boaters.
I don't see any freedoms lost, just the area becoming more populated and changes being made to accommodate the larger boating crowd. Hell, if the water was at a constant level all the time, Big River would be the place to boat, 30 miles from Parker to Blythe, yee haw!
Once again, thank you Alan for separting the fact from the fiction.

mbrown2
05-22-2006, 02:54 PM
Hypothetically, if it was properly communicated to all boaters through flyers and bulletin board postings to all who launch on the river strip that the section would NOT be no wake any longer, where is the harm? I can see it is now an issue because some people know and some people don't, but I for one like less no wake zones not more. To compromise, make the sandbar area no wake, heck, even make the area from the Blue Water Launch Ramp to the dam south no-wake...but open up more, not less. Up near the dam, it is NOT a NO Wake area and people go fast and people float.....and from time to time there are issues, but don't change it cause one idiot.......people just need to use their head, not take more of the river away.....If it is because of of Bird Egg's, well hopefully we don't follow the same road as the Manatee.

mbrown2
05-22-2006, 02:58 PM
I don't see any freedoms lost, just the area becoming more populated and changes being made to accommodate the larger boating crowd.
I do see freedoms taken....so by your line of reasoning as the population grows on the river they make more areas no wake zones? I hope not....maybe limit the amount of boats....but don't shut down the river...

Boatcop
05-22-2006, 03:00 PM
Wait till a kid gets hurt.
Even a mediocre attorney will solve the communication problem between all the parties involved in one letter.
Only problem is that you can't sue the Tribe. Even if someone were to be hurt or killed by running over the partial buoy or due to lack of buoys, the Tribe has Sovereign Immunity, and can't be sued in any court on the planet.
The only thing they listen to is the sound of the cash register. As soon as the permits for the races and other events start getting denied, you'll see those buoys back up in no time flat.

Jrocket
05-22-2006, 03:08 PM
Only problem is that you can't sue the Tribe. Even if someone were to be hurt or killed by running over the partial buoy or due to lack of buoys, the Tribe has Sovereign Immunity, and can't be sued in any court on the planet.
Just another reason why I cant stand the focken *Edited due too foul mouth*

Rattle Can Lou
05-22-2006, 03:16 PM
I agree with Cole guy. lost freedom. The best waterskiing on the strip is right there. The mornings are beautiful and the water is still for quite awhile. When you lose something like that it rarely comes back. People just need to use their heads and be smart and quit regulating changes. Please quit protecting me from myself.

RiverDave
05-22-2006, 03:33 PM
I agree that it was the best waterskiing on the strip bar none.. Point in fact I remember 1st getting up on a ski & a "skurfer" (remember those? LOL) right there.. But ultimately they are not protecting ourselves from ourselves in this case. They are protecting a bird (I thought it was a fish that laid eggs attached to the reeds as well? the boney chub or something?), from us.. And while it sucks sometimes shit like that has to happen.
I don't think the river (as a whole) would be anymore or less dangerous if that was a no wake zone, or if it's open.. I will say that over the years I've kind of gotten used to the no wake zone and also enjoy the floating/swimming etc.. that comes along with it. I'll say though that it's also caused as much aggrevation though as calm, by watching PWC's blatantly disgregard the rules, and giving San Bernadino a new place to just harass the living shit out of people for no reason what so ever.
RD

mbrown2
05-22-2006, 04:16 PM
They are protecting a bird (I thought it was a fish that laid eggs attached to the reeds as well? the boney chub or something?), from us.. And while it sucks sometimes shit like that has to happen.
RD
You must still have your "Slow Down for the Manatee's" Screensaver up...:)
I think its crap....even the log boom near the dam, installed and took away maybe 20 ft more of the river....on the other side on Havasu, another log boom that cut off the entire South Dam Cove which was a nice cove, made it easier to drop people off near take off point, and I hear of the agencies shutting down a portion of the Gorge.....
Sux

Boatcop
05-22-2006, 04:40 PM
You must still have your "Slow Down for the Manatee's" Screensaver up...:)
I think its crap....even the log boom near the dam, installed and took away maybe 20 ft more of the river....on the other side on Havasu, another log boom that cut off the entire South Dam Cove which was a nice cove, made it easier to drop people off near take off point,
Sux
It would be much worse if a pontoon boat full of Ammonium Nitrate and diesel fuel were allowed to just float unrestricted up to either side of the Dam.
Not only would there be no Lake Havasu or Parker Strip any more, Southern California would lose more than 50% of its water supply. I think protecting that resource is worth a few dozen square yards of water surface.

mbrown2
05-22-2006, 06:38 PM
It would be much worse if a pontoon boat full of Ammonium Nitrate and diesel fuel were allowed to just float unrestricted up to either side of the Dam.
Not only would there be no Lake Havasu or Parker Strip any more, Southern California would lose more than 50% of its water supply. I think protecting that resource is worth a few dozen square yards of water surface.
With all due respect Allen, they could do it from the road now....the barricades currently there and the cops in the offices would not stop them. In addition, any jet boat loaded with Nitrate could jump those log booms.....I don't think we should give a foot of away of freedom due to so called terroist threats...

ColeTR2
05-22-2006, 07:46 PM
I have to ask, where did the birds lay there eggs before 1941 when Headgate Dam was built. Building the dam is what made Lake Moovalya and the wetland area in the no wake zone. Sixty years of no wake zone 1941 to 2001 and the birds where still there. I'm all for protecting nature and our natural environment. But there is nothing natural about Headgate dam and what it did to the environment. So maybe we should tear down all the dams on the Colorado River and put it back to the way it was. That's what the environmentalist want. There working on doing that to Lake Powell as we speak. So no wake zone now, soon no lake. You watch!

goneboatin
05-22-2006, 07:50 PM
I do see freedoms taken....so by your line of reasoning as the population grows on the river they make more areas no wake zones? I hope not....maybe limit the amount of boats....but don't shut down the river...
I see your what you are trying to say about the no wake zone, but in front of a marina I feel a no wake zone is needed for safety's sake. The population has grown, there's a hotel / casino where only maybe 50 to 75 boats used to anchor, now there's parking for over 200 boats. Without a no wake zone at the entrances of the marina there's an accident waiting to happen and it will probably be a drunk kid on a pwc blasting close to the shoreline.

ColeTR2
05-22-2006, 07:57 PM
I see your what you are trying to say about the no wake zone, but in front of a marina I feel a no wake zone is needed for safety's sake.
I agree that there should be a no wake zone for the marina maybe 100 yards like all other marinas. It dose not need to be a mile plus long.

mbrown2
05-22-2006, 08:20 PM
I see your what you are trying to say about the no wake zone, but in front of a marina I feel a no wake zone is needed for safety's sake. The population has grown, there's a hotel / casino where only maybe 50 to 75 boats used to anchor, now there's parking for over 200 boats. Without a no wake zone at the entrances of the marina there's an accident waiting to happen and it will probably be a drunk kid on a pwc blasting close to the shoreline.
I hear ya...and that is why I said earlier; I am ok with making the area from just north of the BW launch ramp to south to the dam no wake, but not for a mile north of the marina like today...

BADASS38CHEVY
05-23-2006, 10:52 PM
Are the buoys up yet for this weekend?

Tyson Ross
05-24-2006, 06:16 AM
Originally Posted by mbrown2
I do see freedoms taken....so by your line of reasoning as the population grows on the river they make more areas no wake zones? I hope not....maybe limit the amount of boats....but don't shut down the river...
I say make the entire strip no wake zone. I am tired of those damn wakeboard boats shaking my toon.... :) :)

mbrown2
05-24-2006, 09:40 AM
I say make the entire strip no wake zone. I am tired of those damn wakeboard boats shaking my toon.... :) :)
That's not wakeboard boats shaking you, that's your wife splapping you in the head :)

Keith E. Sayre
05-24-2006, 01:18 PM
So here we are again....because some tree hugging nature freak who has probably never been here says there may be a bird laying an egg on the Parker strip, WE have to go no wake in that area and will probably have to
in the future.
Then according to our Havasu paper, our loud boats disturb the animals in our
wilderness area in our river above the lake so the "no noise" thing will become
law for part of our river here too. Heaven forbid that we upset an animal. I
have seen a couple big sheep on those hills one time in 20 years of driving
through there. Sure wouldn't want to upset those 2. Mufflers for everyone.
Some other tree hugging group wants to drain Lake Powell.
The Glamis crowd is being reigned in due to some exotic flower that may be endangered. The Barstow to Baker bike group had to give up their entire
run every year due to some concern over a couple of turtles.
Is it just me or have these tree hugging nature freaks worn out their welcome here on earth? We're always giving up something fun so that they can smugly pat theirselves on their back and have a power trip. They think that
they've saved the world. They're probably looking for brownie points because when they were young, theyh probably raped and pillaged everyday themselves! Ever notice that you've never seen a "good looking" nature person!!!
Keith Sayre

Not So Fast
05-24-2006, 01:59 PM
Now they have gone and done it, Keith is pissed :rolleyes: NSF

Parker Dreamin
06-09-2006, 06:54 AM
I heard they are back up !!!!! Good work Boatcop !!

28Prowler525
06-09-2006, 07:20 AM
It would be much worse if a pontoon boat full of Ammonium Nitrate and diesel fuel were allowed to just float unrestricted up to either side of the Dam.
Not only would there be no Lake Havasu or Parker Strip any more, Southern California would lose more than 50% of its water supply. I think protecting that resource is worth a few dozen square yards of water surface.
Not to mention the death and devastation a "blown" dam would cause.

OCMerrill
06-09-2006, 09:12 AM
My parents were there last weekend. Pops said they are back up.
Isn't there a race the weekend of the 24th and 25th? Not sure but Boat Cop did say when permits for racing were needed the bouys would be back right quick.
I asked my pops if they looked new and he said nope. Re-installed...interesting.
Way to go pops 70 years old and still cruzin the river in his old day crusier.