Charles Mill Horsepower

[Steeg]

Hey everyone. We are down to the wire for getting the emails and letters in to ODNR DOW in support of making Charles Mill Lake unlimited horsepower /no wake, like has been done at Knox, Oxbow, Rupert, LaSuAn and Burr Oak. At last count, we were about even with those against the change on letters and emails. We have a real chance to get this changed if everyone will pull together and send those emails. If you need a guideline for a letter, I am attaching the one I sent. You are welcome to use whatever part or all of it. John Terry of Hookerz Tackle also posted a letter a couple weeks ago that was excellent. Thanks John!

Deborah.Green@dnr.state.oh.us

Ms. Green,

First, I want to thank you for giving me the opportunity to voice my opinion at the Charles Mill Lake Horsepower Meeting, held at Pleasant Hill Lake. The meeting was very well run by you and your staff and I felt very positive when I left, that there is a distinct possibility we can get a horsepower change at Charles Mill Lake. I know the petition was turned in to increase the hp to 30 hp but it makes absolutely no sense to me. I have never really understood the reasoning behind any horsepower limit anyway. With that said, I again would like to ask that Charles Mill Lake be made unlimited horsepower and either a 6-8 mph speed limit or no wake. Of course you know this is not a new idea. ODNR did a wonderful thing by making Oxbow, Rupert, LaSuAn, Knox and Burr Oak unlimited horsepower. They made those lakes accessible to all, not just a select few. And to my knowledge, there have been just 3 minor complaints, total, out of all 5 lakes in 2 1/2 years. ODNR Div. of Watercraft is to be commended on a job well done.

I have read with interest some of the past recommendations made internally at ODNR DOW in the BOW meetings. I must agree with some of their findings. We rank 9th nationally in number of watercraft registered. Our average horsepower of watercraft is 160hp. And I will quote from BOW documents "The policy of unlimited horsepower / no wake allows access for all, but greatly restricts speed, thus preserving a quiet calm atmosphere on a lake when desired. The survey of other states showed that this management method is one of the most commonly used lake management methods in other states. Yet in Ohio, where a big population of boaters exists, with unusually high horsepower engines, this management method is uncommon" (end of quote). To put this into perspective I will use figures derived from this same document. We have 31 lakes that are higher horsepower lakes, 25 hp - unlimited hp ( remember not all are unlimited). These 31 lakes average 5270 boats per lake. At the same time, there are 223 lakes that are 10 hp or less. These 223 lakes average about 724 boats per lake. Quite a difference, wouldn't you say? By changing lakes to unlimited horsepower and setting speed limits or no wake, you can alleviate a lot of the over crowding on some of the other lakes. You also make it much safer all around by affording the larger craft (pontoons, houseboats, etc.), the horsepower to navigate in adverse conditions, should they get caught out in bad weather. Also, by establishing speed limits or making it no wake, it eliminates the concerns of excessive noise and erosion and makes it more enjoyable for all. Clearfork Lake is a prime example of using a speed limit (theirs is 8 mph). They have not written a citation for speed in quite a few years, only a few friendly warnings.

I know this is for Charles Mill Lake but I can't help but think that we would be much further ahead with one easy to follow horsepower rule for all of Ohio's lakes. Maybe we can start leaning that way. Horsepower has never been the problem to start with. Operator error and speed are the problems. And that can be regulated, no different than on our roadways.

Again Deborah, I want to thank you and all those involved at ODNR DOW and Muskingum for taking the time to try to fix our lake problems. And please try to make Charles Mill Lake unlimited horsepower / no wake so everyone can enjoy the lake. It has worked at other lakes, it will work at Charles Mill Lake.
If you have any questions about anything I have said or quoted, feel free to call me @ 419-589-2472.

Sincerely,

Jeff Stigall
Mansfield, Ohio

[bman5150]

Thanks for posting this. I'll shoot an email to the DNR as well. Based on what I experienced from a shore fishing trip to Charles Mill last year, I'd love to fish it from my boat. Only issue I saw was the scary steep gravel launch at the marina! Are there other better concrete launches on the lake?

[Steeg]

Thanks for sending the letters bman. Hope everyone else will. As to the launch ramps at Charles Mill, the one at the marina is actually concrete. It really is a pretty good ramp. The new ramp is just past the entrance to the marina, on the north side of St.Rt. 430. It is single lane but all concrete and good parking. Just be careful out on the lake. It is really shallow in most places when you get out of the main channel.

[Steeg]

"UPDATE" I just spoke with Deb Green from the Div. of Watercraft at ODNR and she informed me that they have extended the time for public input on the Charles Mill Lake horsepower change. You can still send your emails and letters. They will be accepting them until Dec. 23, 2010. Please take the time to send your letters of support for unlimited horsepower - no wake on Charles Mill Lake.