Placer County California

Monday, October 1, 2007

Supes to consider boat use support

By: Gus Thomson, Journal Staff Writer

The Placer County Board of Supervisors is being asked to support the status quo for power boaters on the Auburn State Recreation Area's Lake Clementine.

Supervisor Bruce Kranz, whose Fifth District takes in much of the recreation area along the middle and north forks of the American River, is requesting that the board send a letter to state Department of Parks and Recreation Director Ruth Coleman supporting current regulations on the lake.

The Auburn Boat Club has been campaigning to keep regulations as they are since a proposal to eliminate or put additional limits on motorboats surfaced last spring in a list of issues presented at workshops on a revised state recreation area general plan.

U.S. Rep. John Doolittle, R-Roseville has joined with state Senators Sam Aanestad, R-Grass Valley, and Dave Cox, R-Fair Oaks, in opposing any changes at the lake.

If approved, a letter would go out to Coleman from Kranz, who is the current chairman of the board, stating that public recreation and the use of motorized boats on Lake Clementine has been an established benefit to the area since the 1940s.

"It would be a shame to discontinue an activity that has been enjoyed by residents and visitors alike for decades," the proposed letter to Coleman states.

The Foresthill Forum municipal advisory council is supportive of the boaters' campaign.

"As a community that relies heavily on tourism, be it boaters on Lake Clementine or the OHV trails, we would like to express our concerns," said forum Chairman Larry Jordan. "We do not support the reduced speed or elimination of motorized vehicles on Lake Clementine."

The Boat Club has partnered with the state and recreation area owner the Bureau of Reclamation to provide boating facilities at the lake, which is located on the north fork of the American River about two miles from Auburn. It operates a concession at the lake, providing boat-slip rentals to the public as well as fuel and ice sales.

Parks official say no decision has been made and there is no organized effort to pull motorboats from the lake but that discussion has taken place at public meeting and stakeholder sessions on future uses of Clementine.

The Journal's Gus Thomson can be reached at gust@goldcountrymedia.com, or post a comment at auburnjournal.com.

Home > Board of Supervisors > District 5 > Bruce In The News > > October 1, 2007 - Auburn Journal - Supes to consider boat use support
	Monday, October 1, 2007 Supes to consider boat use support By: Gus Thomson, Journal Staff Writer The Placer County Board of Supervisors is being asked to support the status quo for power boaters on the Auburn State Recreation Area's Lake Clementine. Supervisor Bruce Kranz, whose Fifth District takes in much of the recreation area along the middle and north forks of the American River, is requesting that the board send a letter to state Department of Parks and Recreation Director Ruth Coleman supporting current regulations on the lake. The Auburn Boat Club has been campaigning to keep regulations as they are since a proposal to eliminate or put additional limits on motorboats surfaced last spring in a list of issues presented at workshops on a revised state recreation area general plan. U.S. Rep. John Doolittle, R-Roseville has joined with state Senators Sam Aanestad, R-Grass Valley, and Dave Cox, R-Fair Oaks, in opposing any changes at the lake. If approved, a letter would go out to Coleman from Kranz, who is the current chairman of the board, stating that public recreation and the use of motorized boats on Lake Clementine has been an established benefit to the area since the 1940s. "It would be a shame to discontinue an activity that has been enjoyed by residents and visitors alike for decades," the proposed letter to Coleman states. The Foresthill Forum municipal advisory council is supportive of the boaters' campaign. "As a community that relies heavily on tourism, be it boaters on Lake Clementine or the OHV trails, we would like to express our concerns," said forum Chairman Larry Jordan. "We do not support the reduced speed or elimination of motorized vehicles on Lake Clementine." The Boat Club has partnered with the state and recreation area owner the Bureau of Reclamation to provide boating facilities at the lake, which is located on the north fork of the American River about two miles from Auburn. It operates a concession at the lake, providing boat-slip rentals to the public as well as fuel and ice sales. Parks official say no decision has been made and there is no organized effort to pull motorboats from the lake but that discussion has taken place at public meeting and stakeholder sessions on future uses of Clementine. The Journal's Gus Thomson can be reached at gust@goldcountrymedia.com, or post a comment at auburnjournal.com.