According to a Union Leader story, a two year trial speed limit bill for Lake Winnipesaukee passed the New Hampshire House of Representatives today. It now moves to the Senate.
If approved, the bill would set speed limits on the state’s largest lake at 45 miles per hour during the day and 25 miles per hour at night beginning in 2009, according to its text, found here. Since it is only a two year trial, the bill would expire in 2011.
Before I go further, I should state my family owns property on an island on Winnipesaukee and I have spent much of my summers there.
That said, a speed limit is desperately needed as there are too many boats traveling too fast. The Union Leader said the bill "has been opposed by boaters and fishermen who want to get from one spot to another quickly. They argue the greatest threats to safety are not speed, but operator inattention and violations of safety regulations."
While this latter statement is true, as a boater, I am more than happy to only travel 45 miles per hour. If one goes faster, he or she could not possibly enjoy the spectacular scenery. More importantly, there are countless rocks hidden just beneath the water that, could rip apart a boat’s hull. Since not all are marked by lighted buoys (or buoys at all), they pose an additional danger at night.
The environmental aspect in all of this is shoreline erosion. I have watched wave after wave pummel Winnipesaukee’s rocky shoreline, especially during weekends and holidays in July and August, from boats going faster than 45 miles per hour. These waves erode the soil, exposing tree and plant roots and clouding the water, a source of cleaning and drinking water for many island residents. While this would not eliminate all large wakes (many are caused by cabin cruisers traveling slowly), it would be a great step towards limiting erosion.
I was surprised this argument was not discussed in the Union Leader story, as it has often been voiced by islanders. Perhaps since this broke during the day, they will have an expanded story in tomorrow’s paper.
If approved, the bill would set speed limits on the state’s largest lake at 45 miles per hour during the day and 25 miles per hour at night beginning in 2009, according to its text, found here. Since it is only a two year trial, the bill would expire in 2011.
Before I go further, I should state my family owns property on an island on Winnipesaukee and I have spent much of my summers there.
That said, a speed limit is desperately needed as there are too many boats traveling too fast. The Union Leader said the bill "has been opposed by boaters and fishermen who want to get from one spot to another quickly. They argue the greatest threats to safety are not speed, but operator inattention and violations of safety regulations."
While this latter statement is true, as a boater, I am more than happy to only travel 45 miles per hour. If one goes faster, he or she could not possibly enjoy the spectacular scenery. More importantly, there are countless rocks hidden just beneath the water that, could rip apart a boat’s hull. Since not all are marked by lighted buoys (or buoys at all), they pose an additional danger at night.
The environmental aspect in all of this is shoreline erosion. I have watched wave after wave pummel Winnipesaukee’s rocky shoreline, especially during weekends and holidays in July and August, from boats going faster than 45 miles per hour. These waves erode the soil, exposing tree and plant roots and clouding the water, a source of cleaning and drinking water for many island residents. While this would not eliminate all large wakes (many are caused by cabin cruisers traveling slowly), it would be a great step towards limiting erosion.
I was surprised this argument was not discussed in the Union Leader story, as it has often been voiced by islanders. Perhaps since this broke during the day, they will have an expanded story in tomorrow’s paper.
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