WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Paul A. Gosar D.D.S. (AZ-04) will be attending the public meeting taking place in Lake Havasu City on May 2, 2016, to examine the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (Service) controversial draft recreational boating Compatibility Determination (CD) for Havasu National Wildlife Refuge announced April 12, 2016, which threatens to close significant portions of Lake Havasu to recreational boaters.
Congressman Paul A. Gosar D.D.S. (AZ-04) will be attending the public meeting taking place in Lake Havasu City on May 2, 2016, to examine the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (Service) controversial draft recreational boating Compatibility Determination (CD) for Havasu National Wildlife Refuge announced April 12, 2016, which threatens to close significant portions of Lake Havasu to recreational boaters.
Originally, the Service only scheduled two public meetings on examining the CD to take place in Laughlin, Nevada on Tuesday, May 3, 2016. Congressman Gosar and Lake Havasu City Mayor Mark Nexsen pressured the Service to add a public meeting for Lake Havasu City which was ultimately granted on April 21, 2016.
The updated Service news release announcing a change in venue for the public meeting to be held in Lake Havasu City can be found HERE.
The Service is also currently accepting written comments from the public on the CD which can be emailed to Havasu_Boating_Comments@fws.gov.
Additionally, Congressman Gosar spearheaded a bipartisan letter today signed by 21 member of the House to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director, Regional Director and Havasu Refuge Manager raising serious concerns and requesting a 60-day extension of the public comment period for the draft recreational boating Compatibility Determination (CD) for Havasu National Wildlife Refuge. More information on that letter can be found HERE.
WHAT:
Public meeting to provide comments on the Havasu National Wildlife Refuge’s recently released draft recreational boating compatibility determination
WHEN:
Monday, May 2, 2016
6:00-8:00 PM/MST
WHERE:
Lake Havasu City Community/Aquatics Center
100 Park Avenue
Lake Havasu City, Arizona 86403
Additional Information:
The CD aims to close significant portions of Lake Havasu within the Refuge to boating and prevent water-skiing, tubing, wake boarding, and other recreational towed devices within the 4,000-acre manmade Topock Marsh and on an additional 520 acres on Lake Havasu Reservoir. Motorized boating is already restricted by the Service within on 17 ½ miles within the Refuge. Further, the proposed restrictions for Topock Marsh will likely prohibit bass boats and other large fishing boats from entering these waters.
According to the Service’s own estimates, nearly three million visitors vacation at Lake Havasu each year and a typical holiday weekend draws nearly 50,000 boaters to the area. According to a 2008 Lake Havasu City Tourism Survey, nearly 75% of tourists are interested in water skiing, wakeboarding or boating while visiting Lake Havasu. The survey also revealed tourists spend more than $200 million and support nearly 4,000 full-time equivalent jobs.
