Lake Havasu City, Arizona – In response to numerous requests, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is extending the comment period for the Havasu National Wildlife Refuge draft Recreational Boating Compatibility Determination (CD) an additional 30 days.
“In light of my participation in the public meetings last week, it’s apparent we need to allow more time for input," said Dr. Benjamin Tuggle, Southwest Regional Director for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. "I have therefore decided to extend the comment period for the draft Recreational Boating Compatibility Determination through June 13, 2016.”
The draft Recreational Boating CD contains several proposed changes including restricting use to 30hp and no-wake within the 4,000-acre Topock marsh. Additional proposed changes include adding a twomile (estimated to be about 520 acres) extension to the 17.5-mile existing regulations. These existing regulations include prohibiting personal watercraft and no-wake in backwaters as indicated by signs and buoys; and prohibiting water-skiing, tubing, wake boarding, or other recreational towed devices.
- No new restrictions (including no-wake) are proposed for the 17-miles from the south regulatory buoy line to the north regulatory buoy line at Interstate 40.
- No new restrictions are proposed on the California side of the River in the area of the southern two-mile expansion.
- No new areas are proposed to be closed or cut off to through passage.
A complete copy of the draft boating recreation CD and other information can be found at: www.fws.gov/refuge/havasu
A public comment period on the draft boating recreation CD was opened on April 12, 2016 for 30 days. It is now being extended an additional 30 days. The comment period will end on Monday, June 13, 2016. To ensure comments are captured accurately, written comments are encouraged.
Please send written comments to:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Havasu National Wildlife Refuge
Attn: Draft Recreational Boating CD
317 Mesquite Avenue
Needles, CA 92363
Written comments may also be emailed to: Havasu_Boating_Comments@fws.gov .
All comments will be considered public records. Anonymous comments will not be considered. The Service will take all submissions from organizations or businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or businesses, available for public inspection in their entirety. However, individual respondents may request that their names and addresses are withheld from the public record. The Service will honor such requests to the extent allowed by law. If you wish to withhold your name and/or address, you must state that request prominently at the beginning of your comment. Please note that due to public disclose requirements, the Service, if requested, may have to make the names and addresses of those who submit written comments public.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service works with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. For more information, visit www.fws.gov, or connect with us through any of these social media channels: Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Flickr. ---FW
