Kissimmee PUA Meeting Sat. 10 am

[N. Cook]

We will be attending the meeting in Basinger. The KPUA is a model for what most of the WMAs should be....however, there is much resistance to that idea! Issue of what is to be done with the Gardner/Cobb area may be discussed. UW-F supports a PUA concept versus a more restrictive (Quotas?) WMA. Duck hunting in the restored area continues to improve. We also are looking for the signing to be moved back toward the high water mark to improve access.

[David B]

Where do we stand on the NO BOATING issue brought up by the airboaters? I hear that they are still pushing for the duck hunters to be included in this. If so, we will lose some nice grounds and many an acre. Shall we discuss this on the private side? I am thinking that it may be to the best.

David B

[N. Cook]

I believe the airboaters are looking for the right to "pole" their airboats pass the "no airboat" signs so they can reach shallow water or ground just like any other boat....we will support that. Signs would need to be changed to something like: Airboat Motors Off Past This Sign

[N. Cook]

Sometimes you wonder if all the hours in meetings are worth it....and then a meeting like today occurs and you are very glad you are there....

David must have had a premonition.

Jeff McDonald, SFWMD manager for KPUA, and Fred Davis had a couple of proposals to answer the airboaters' complaint at the February meeting about the "NO AIRBOAT" signs placed 100 to 200 yards off the marsh or river banks. The airboaters had rightfully said it often left them in too deep of water to even wade to the bank or to get out and duck hunt. They said it was unfair.

Now, UW-F supported one of the airboaters' suggestions at that meeting....the right to pole into the "NO AIRBOAT" zone to shallow water.
The meeting ended in Feb. with the subject there.

Today these were the two District proposals:

1. Since it is a problem banning one type of boat and not all boats, the new signs will just say " NO BOATS".

OR

2. The complaint that caused the airboats to be banned was excessive noise and chasing game through the marsh (by adjacent landowners and "still" hunters on the land). Therefore, all gasoline motors can be banned. The signs would read: "NO GASOLINE MOTORS".

Now either of these "brilliant ideas" would effectively cut off access to miles of marsh and shoreline and have a major impact on duck hunting. The choice between poleing hundreds of yards through the marsh at 4:30 am or pulling along with a trolling motor looking for your GPS spot is no reasonable choice.


UW-F strongly opposed both of the "solutions".

We continue to believe the airboats deserve some relief, but would rather the signs remain as they are than either of these moves.

I placed an alternative on the table: If a change has to be made, require all boats, including airboats, to operate at "idle" speed in the zones.

Not the best (best is as we originally suggested to just let the airboats pole in or operate at idle speed and leave the kickers non restricted as now)....but it addresses the legitiment complaint for access by airboaters and maintains motor use for all.

Jeff and Fred said the District will consider all of the suggestions and meet with us again on the issue. I am sure this will come up at the forthcoming SFWMD RECREATION WORKSHOP tenatively set for May 15.