Lake Lure Boat Management

Barbara Wiggins, CLM Barbara Wiggins, CLM WES, Asheville, NCWES, Asheville, NC

andand

Ken Wagner, Ph.D., CLMKen Wagner, Ph.D., CLMENSR, Willington, CTENSR, Willington, CT

Today’s Agenda

• Introductions• Historical Overview of Lake Use & Management• Highlight Boating Issues at Lake Lure• Highlight Options for Managing Boat Impact• Review Lake Lure Boating Survey Results• Next Steps• Conclusion• Question & Comments

Objectives

• Better understand the history and current status of boating management in Lake Lure

• Appreciate why we must improve our boating management procedures to address our continued growth…Our access to and enjoyment of the lake, as well as value of investments, are all at risk without action.

• Continue public dialogue on approaches to boating management

Our purpose for today’s forum is to help you:

“Lake Lure is held in trust by the Town of Lake Lure

for the benefit of the citizens of Lake Lure".

TODAY

Developed lake Management Plan – 97-99

Boat Permit Rates Increased

Motorized Lake Use Exceeds Lake’s Safe Capacity Limits – Non Resident Impact

Motorized Permit Rates Increased – Resident / Non-Resident Split Created

Commercial Use of Lake Exceeds Lake’s Safe Capacity Limits

2001 Lake Survey Performed – All Property Owners

Town’s Lake Ownership & Reg. Authority Questioned Commercial Use of Lake Reaches High Impact Levels

Town Lake Ownership Confirmed – The Law of Lake Lure

Boat Permit Rates Increased for 2005 SeasonLake Commercial Impact Estimating Model Dev.

Lake Commercial Licensing – Capping max to 30%

Lake Consultants Sought – Advice non-commercial

Lake Consultants Hired Lake Workshop Held

Lake Usage & Management

1990’s 2005 200620042001 2003

1992

2002

- Historical Overview -

Lake Usage & Management - Managing Commercial Boating -

• As a result of analysis done in 2000/2001, the Marine Commission established a cap on commercial usage at 30% of available lake capacity (measured in space and time…not # of boats). This was based on historical commercial usage patterns.

• The 30% of lake capacity is carefully managed and allocated to applicants through an annual analysis. Operators are granted lake commercial licenses based on the type of boating activity, usage pattern and seniority. When the capacity is full, additional applicants are denied.

• Since 2000/2001, the demand for commercial usage has grown and exceeded the capacity, requiring the management plan to adapt. For example, use by out-of-area youth camps was curtailed, in part to make room for the expansion of local boats associated with rental homes.

Lake Usage & Management - Valuing Commercial Boating -

• Maximizes use and enjoyment of the lake…with fewer boats (e.g., tours, ski schools, fishing guides)

• Increases safety by reducing the number of visiting operators who may be inexperienced or unaware of lake regulations

• Commercial boat operators are under more stringent standards and requirements than residents or visitors…and held accountable. If needed, it is easier to alter their boating behavior than it is for the general boating population.

• Lake management consultants are consistent in their recommendation that commercial operations are a critical tool in managing increased demand for time on the lake, even for residents (e.g., shared & managed boat fleets)

From a boating management perspective, commercial operations on Lake Lure bring several benefits…

Lake Usage & Management - Safe Boating Capacity -

• The lake has a finite capacity for boating…measured in acres over a period of time.

• Boats engaging in different activities "consume" acres of the lake when in use. How much they consume depends on the activity…slow-moving pleasure cruises require less of the lake than high-speed towing activities.

• For a given mix of activities, there exists a threshold where the number of boats on the lake still have enough room to safely operate.  The residents and managers of a lake need to determine where this threshold exists, based on tolerance levels for risk, crowds and access.

• Our challenge is to manage the boating activity in the least invasive way…but in a way that ensures that that we don't exceed the safety threshold very often (or by very much). 

Lake Usage & Management - Analyzing Total Motorized Boat Permits -

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Total Motorized Boat Permits

Lake Usage & Management - Analyzing Total Annual Motorized Permits -

0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

1,400

1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Total Annual Motorized Permits

Lake Usage & Management - Analyzing Total Non Motorized Permits -

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Total Non Motorized Boat Permits

Boating Issues at Lake Lure

• The population of potential lake users is increasing

• Crowding occurs now on some days

• The risk of boating accidents and other user conflicts is increasing

• Boat impacts on the lake are increasing

• The Town bears much liability in relation to the lake

Boating Issues at Lake Lure

• Lake Lure has been “discovered”

• Remaining shoreline development

• Off – lake lots

Boating Issues at Lake Lure• Increase in summer weekend and holiday

use clearly perceived

• Increases at other times less apparentFigure 3. Change in boat traffic observed

0%

25%

50%

75%

100%

In General SummerWeekdays

SummerWeekends

andHolidays

SpringSeason

Fall Season

% No Answer

% Uncertain

% No Change

% Decrease

% Increase

n= 844 n= 844 n= 842 n= 842 n= 843

Boating Issues at Lake Lure• Even split on whether

capacity has been exceeded

• Majority believes safety should be improved

• 1% feel unsafe in off-season, 7% during peak season weekdays, and 22% during peak season weekends and holidays

Are there too many boats?

41%

37%

22%

% Believe too manyBoats

% Not too many Boats

% No answer

Total Response = 843

Improved safety on the lake a high priority?

58%23%

19%

% High priority

% Not a high priority

% No answer

Total Response = 844

Boating Issues at Lake Lure• Boat impacts on the lake can include:

– Input of gas and other contaminants – high flushing at Lake Lure, limited applicability

– Stirring up of bottom sediments – steep sides and substantial depth in most area, limited impact

– Introduction of nuisance species – always a threat, but physical features of Lake Lure limit problems

– Noise – tends to correlate with increased motorboat activity, not perceived as an issue yet

– Wave induced shoreline impacts – problems with erosion and safety, complicated by historic approach to shoreline management

Boating Issues at Lake Lure

• Invasive species often arrive on boats

• Plants of major concern include hydrilla and milfoils

• The steep sides and substantial depth limit impacts

Boating Issues at Lake Lure

• Noise is not generally perceived to have increased

• Any increase is not enough to be considered a problem

• Many of those citing noise as an issue noted non-boating sources

Change in noise

18%

36%

4%

42%

% Increase

% No change oruncertain

% Decrease

% No answer

Total Response = 843

Is noise a problem?

9%

48%

43% % Noise an issue

% Noise not an issue

% No answer

Total Response = 843

Boating Issues at Lake Lure

• The Town owns the lake

• The Town is ultimately responsible for what happens on the lake

• We live in a litigious society

• Note that taking measures to reduce risk will not prevent all problems, but represent a responsible approach

So How Do We Manage Boating?

• Strategic air strikes early in the boating season?

• Stocking of dangerous wildlife?

• Aquatic demolition derbies?

Managing Boating Impact

• Lake alteration• Education and

Training • Improved

Equipment• Equipment or Use

Bans• Space Management• Time Management• Enforcement

• Dredging to maintain depth

• Armoring or vegetating shorelines

• Intent is to absorb and dissipate energy

• Problem with Lake Lure seawalls

Managing Boat Impact - Lake Alteration -

Managing Boat Impact - Education & Training -

• Education of all lake users

• Appropriate training for operators

Managing Boat Impact - Improved Equipment -

• Engines with cleaner emissions

• Low noise engines• Altered hull draft or

hydrodynamics• Safety gear• Boat wash stations• NONE OF THESE

APPEARS ESSENTIAL BEYOND CURRENT REQUIREMENTS AT LAKE LURE

Managing Boat Impact - Equipment / Use Bans -

• Bans on engine or watercraft types

• User age or training restrictions

• Speed limits• No wake rules• Sensitive area

prohibitions• Access regulation

Managing Boat Impact - Space Management –

• Parking limits

• Shoreline buffers

• Use zoning

• Density regulation (10-20 boatable acres/boat)

Managing Boat Impact - Time Management -

• Hours of operation for motorized uses

• Odd-even day use alternation

• Time slots for designated uses

Managing Boat Impact - Enforcement -

No management system is likely to succeed without some level of enforcement

Sometimes all that is needed is enforcement of existing rules and some urging of lake users

to be cognizant and respectful of others

Lake Lure Boating Survey Results

Feature Total Average Median Max MinTotal number of Surveys returned 844Years at Lake Lure 12.2 8 65 <1Motorized Boat Permits > 10 hp 585 0.8 1.0 4.0 0.0Motorized Boat Permits < 10 hp 60 0.1 0.0 2.0 0.0Non-motorized Boat Permits 60 0.4 0.0 6.0 0.0

% Yes % No % No AnswerYear Round Resident 33 65 2Registered Voter 30 66 4Own a House 77 20 3Live on Shorefront 36 61 2Live in Defined Community 37 60 3Boat Use a Factor in Home Purchase 67 26 7Home Rented to Others 11 80 9Boat Included in Rental 17 77 5Trained Boat Operator 44 43 14

Boats >10 hp Boats < 10 hp Non-motorizedTotal Weeks of Use (All Boats of Type) 3878 453 1510Weeks of Boating per Summer per Boat 6.6 1.2 3.3Days of Boating per Week per Boat 2.3 0.5 1.2Hours of Boating per Day per Boat 2.5 0.5 1.1

Table 1. General Features of Questionnaire Respondents

Lake Lure Boating Survey

Figure 1. % of respondents present each month

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

Total Response = 844

Lake Lure Boating Survey

Home purchased based on boat use on lake?

67%

26%

7%

% Purchased home forboat use on lake

% Did not purchasehome for boat use onlake

% No answer

Total Response = 843

Lake Lure Boating Survey

Figure 2. Activities enjoyed on lake

0%

25%

50%

75%

100%

MotorizedTow ing

MotorizedPleasure

MotorizedFishing

Non-motorizedpaddling

Non-motorized

sailing

Non-motorized

fishing

% No answer

% Never

% Little

% Much

n= 844 n= 844 n= 844 n= 843 n= 842 n= 843

Lake Lure Boating SurveyFigure 7. Response to boating controls

0%

25%

50%

75%

100%

Operatorrestrictions

Eliminatetowing

activities byrenters

Eliminate alltowing

activitiesduring

problemperiods

Restrict non-motorized and<10 hp motors

to no wakezone

Apply no wakerule

everywhere forproblemperiods

Reduce speedlimit during

problemperiods

Reduceoverall access

to lake

Changepermit systemto reduce # of

boats

Reducenumber of

mooring slipsfor new

development

% No Answer

% Neutral

%Disagree

% Agree

n= 843 n= 844 n= 843 n= 842n= 843n= 843 n= 844 n= 843 n= 844

Lake Lure Boating SurveyRequired operator training for everyone?

50%

34%

16%

% Require operatortraining

% Do not requireoperator training

% No answer

Total Response = 843

Restrict boat operation over age 16?

77%

10%

13%

% Require agerestriction

% Do not require agerestriction

% No answer

Total Response = 844

Lake Lure Boating SurveyFigure 8. Permit System Changes Options

0%

25%

50%

75%

100%

Reduceoverall >

10hppermits

Reducenon-

residentail>10 hppermits

Reduceresidential

>10 hppermits

Reducecommericalpermits for

tours

Reducecommercialpermits forResorts,

Lodges, andCamps

Reducecommercialpermits for

w eeklyrental

properties

Reducecommercialpermits forreal estate

w ork

Reducecommercialpermits for

serviceboats

Reducecommericalpermits forrental boats

Reducecommercialpermits for

f ishingguides

Reducefishingpermits

Reducew eeklypermits

% No Answer

% Neutral

%Disagree

% Agree

n= 844 n= 842 n= 843 n= 844n= 844n= 843 n= 843 n= 843 n= 844n= 841 n= 844 n= 844

Lake Lure Boating SurveyFuture residents access - continue to permit

residential boats?

66%

14%

20%

% Agree to permit allboats

% Do not agree topermit all boats

% No answer

Total Response = 843

Future residents access - restrict current permit owners?

24%

54%

22% % Agree to restrictcurrent owners permits

% Do not agree torestrict current ownerspermits

% No answer

Total Response = 843

Lake Lure Boating Survey

Figure 9. Flag System

0%

25%

50%

75%

100%

One flag perlot

Limited f lagsat launch sites

Limited f lagsat marinasand groupmoorings

A reservationsystem for

f lag use

First come,first served

system

2 hour limit 4 hour limit 7 hour limit No time limit

% No Answer

% Neutral

% Disagree

% Agree

n= 844 n=843 n= 844n= 844 n= 844 n= 844n=844 n= 844 n= 843

Lake Lure Boating Survey

Figure 10. Enforcement

0%

25%

50%

75%

100%

Daily PolicePatrol Boat on

lake

Peak periodPatrol on lake

Authorizedpatrol boatsw ith trained

citizens

Call-in system topolice

Fines for unsafeboating

Removal fromlake for unsafe

boating

Revocation ofpermits for

repeatinfractions

Safetyequipment

checks onlyduring other

stops

% No Answer

% Neutral

% Disagree

% Agree

n= 844 n= 844 n= 844n= 844 n= 844n= 844 n= 844 n= 844

Next Steps:

• Discuss survey results and implications

• Perform boat use assessment to get actual density values and distribution over time (each day, weekdays vs. weekends, peak season)

• Build consensus on best plan of action

Conclusion

Before going into Question & Comments, we would like you to consider the following questions…

• Have we succeeded in enhancing your understanding of the need for improvements to our boating management strategy in Lake Lure?

• Have we succeeded in enhancing your understanding of the various methods of managing increasing boating demand against a finite capacity?

• Continue to think about the following, and provide us feedback…When demand exceeds capacity, would you rather see limits on:

The available boats in the water (slips)

When specific boats may use the lake

Limits that take effect only when the safe threshold has been reached

QUESTIONS AND

COMMENTS?