LAKEPORT >> “No wake after eight.”
That was the message of the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday when they approved the reopening of Clear Lake with a restricted speed limit.
Phil Moy, Director of the Water Resource Department said the lake is open with a 5 mph limit within a quarter mile of the shore. This provides an idle zone to limit wakes and potential wake damage to homes, docks and other fixtures.
This speed limit allows boats back on the lake for the first time since floodwaters approached 10.0 on the Rumsey Gauge. It will remain in effect until the lake level drops below 8’ on the Rumsey gauge for a period of 24 hours.
The supervisors determined to take the action in order to remove doubts about reasonable speeds on the lake at or above flood stage. On Feb. 14 the county closed the lake to all public motorized traffic. The decision came after earlier attempts first confined all boat traffic to 5 miles per hour and then amended that to unlimited speed beyond 300 yards from shore.
Both earlier measures failed to stop high speed traffic near the shore.
Since recent storms and flooding, wind and boat-generated waves have been damaging docks, piers, pilings and retaining walls. In addition, run off from the surrounding mountains carried debris into the lake, including some logs over 50 feet long. Much of this is capable of causing damage to boats traveling at speed.
“Boaters are reminded that due to flooding and debris run off, there are many hazards in the waters,” said Lake County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Steve Brooks in a statement issued on Tuesday. “These include partially and fully submerged debris such as branches, trees, stumps, docks, furniture, and other items.”
The Sheriff’s Office boat patrol, along with state agencies, have been clearing some of the larger items.
The new ordinance allows permitted vessels on the lake, provided they adhere to the limit near the shore. Permits are issued by the Lake County water Resources Department, which notifies law enforcement.
Brooks pointed out that boaters are responsible for operation their vessels safely and with due regard for existing conditions.
Boating operations for emergency salvage or other emergency operations will be put on case-by-case basis. They may only occur when weather conditions are good and won’t affect the wakes of the Lake.
Law enforcement on duty in official boats as well as warden boats are exempt from the idle speed restriction if an emergency were to occur. City and county staff are also engaged in clean up and safety operations along the shore.
Lifting the emergency declaration could also end the speed limit.
