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Lake Havasu City resident Ryder Bliss (pictured above) is a ten-year-old who had his favorite wakeboarding spot closed for no legitimate reason in May 2015 due to federal overreach from the Fish and Wildlife Service.
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Today, U.S. Congressman Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-04) released the following statement after the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announced that beginning on February 1, 2017, the ½ mile backwater no-wake restriction for Lake Havasu that was designated in May 2015 will be lifted:
“After nearly two years of tirelessly fighting back against an arbitrary and overreaching bureaucratic decision, Lake Havasu will once again be open for all users. Lifting the boating restrictions on the ‘Ryde Spot’ marks a complete victory for the countless stakeholders and community leaders who stood shoulder to shoulder with me and spoke out when the very livelihood of Lake Havasu City was threatened. This win sends a clear message to all federal agencies that we the people have real power when united behind a worthwhile cause. We will not stand for lawless, unilateral actions by rogue bureaucrats.
“I applaud the efforts of the many individuals who were instrumental in today’s victory including: Lake Havasu City Mayor Mark Nexsen; the Arizona Game and Fish Department; the Lake Havasu Area Chamber of Commerce; U.S. Senator John McCain; Mohave County Supervisor Buster Johnson; the entire Bliss family including Nick, Jenni and my pal Ryder. Tip of the hat to Director Tuggle for finally seeing the light and listening to local stakeholders.
“As the new Refuge Manager takes over next month, the Lake Havasu community and I will remain vigilant to ensure that any future Compatibility Determination (CD) is enacted lawfully, allows for multiple-use and is developed using a bottom-up approach that keeps Lake Havasu open for business. I couldn’t be more excited about today’s victory and can’t wait to join Ryder Bliss for a day on the Reservoir.”
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Background
The full announcement made by the Service reopening the ½ mile backwater area on Lake Havasu can be found HERE.
On May 20, 2015, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) issued new motorized boating restrictions that arbitrarily expanded a no-wake zone on Lake Havasu, effectively closing an area commonly referred to as the Ryde Spot and prohibiting tubing, waterskiing and wakeboarding in a 1/2 mile area utilized by recreational enthusiasts for decades. This terrible new mandate was announced and implemented just two days before Memorial Day Weekend – an economically vital tourist weekend for Lake Havasu City. Further, it was done behind closed doors, with no notice and no opportunity for public comment.
On April 12, 2016, the Service announced a draft recreational boating compatibility determination (CD) and the agency’s intent to pursue even more restrictions on Lake Havasu. Once again, these proposed closures are based on an agenda, not science or need to close even more areas on Lake Havasu to motorized boating activities
Congressman Gosar has created a comprehensive information page on his website HERE documenting all relevant facts of this issue as well as a timeline of important events.
Congressman Gosar has been fighting to keep Lake Havasu open for all users and to lift these restrictions from day one. On June 24, 2015, Congressman Gosar sent a letter to the Service demanding the agency rescind the new restrictions implemented on May 20, 2015, and pursues a community-supported plan. The Congressman then spearheaded a bipartisan letter submitted by 21 members of the House of Representatives that raised serious concerns about the CD and asked for an extension of the public comment period.
The Congressman also submitted an appropriations rider, submitted a FOIA request, attended and helped secure a public meeting in Lake Havasu City, submitted numerous written comments and questions to the Service, constructed a detailed fact page on his website, and interrogated several agency officials in attempting to prevent these arbitrary boating restrictions.
On June 15, 2016, as a result of Congressman Gosar’s request, the House Appropriations Committee passed the Manager’s amendment to the Interior and Environment Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2017, which included language condemning the actions taken by the Service when proposing new boating restrictions for Lake Havasu. More information can be found HERE.
On June 16, 2016, the Service announced that it would withdraw its draft recreational boating compatibility determination (CD) for the Havasu National Wildlife Refuge but did not take action to lift the “Ryde Spot,” named after Ryder Bliss, a special needs child who had his favorite wakeboarding spot closed for no legitimate reason in May of 2015 due to federal overreach from the Service.
According to the Service’s own estimates, nearly three million visitor’s 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.
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