U.S. Rep. Paul A. Gosar (R-AZ) recently wrote to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) pushing to withdraw boating restrictions for Lake Havasu following an announcement from FWS Southwest Regional Director Dr. Benjamin Tuggle.
“I applaud Dr. Tuggle and the Service for scrapping the April 12th draft recreational boating compatibility determination (CD),” Gosar said. “However, there is something critically important that the agency forgot. If the Service was truly interested in working with the community and other stakeholders, it would reopen the Ryde Spot which was unlawfully closed to motorized boating activities in May of 2015.”
The FWS expanded the no-wake zone for Lake Havasu in May 2015 so that it included the lake’s Ryde Spot, which was popular for recreational activities like tubing, waterskiiing and wakeboarding. Gosar, said these restrictions, which were issued without a public comment period, have had an economic impact on the tourism industry of Lake Havasu City.
“These restrictions were not based on science or merit and are what originally kicked off the whole controversy between the Service and the Lake Havasu community,” Gosar said. “I will not give up the fight to keep Lake Havasu open for all users until the Ryde Spot is back open for good.”
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