Public gives input on lake use

Frequent visitors to Lake Mead and Lake Mohave talked with officials from the Lake Mead National Recreation Area at an open house Monday to discuss alternatives to the proposed Lake Mead Management Plan.

Additional open houses are scheduled from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at Cashman Field in Room 107 and from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. July 30 at the Henderson Convention Center, 200 S. Water Street.

Alternatives emphasize litter reduction and eliminating conflict between various watercraft users.

"We want the public to be engaged in the planning process. We are asking the public, 'Is there a vision of Lake Mead in these alternatives?' We wanted to have a reality check to make sure we are on course," said Jim Holland, park planner for Lake Mead.

Holland said many people he spoke with were dealing with conflicts between users who come to Lake Mead for a variety of reasons: some to relax, some to take part in recreational activities.

Under the proposed plan, new zones would be established ranging from primitive, which would be more secluded, to urban, which would accommodate many people. The plans would establish new zones by creating five more launch ramps at different locations along Lake Mojave.

"We want to provide a spectrum of recreational opportunities so we don't eliminate any. Most boaters want to go 10 miles from where they launch, so where we put facilities, marinas and launch ramps, will determine where people go."

Karen Whitney, public affairs officer for Lake Mead, heard different issues voiced.

"One main conflict I have heard from people is there are different kinds of user groups who may not find one area compatible with others. For example, fisherman and divers, or sailboarders and powerboat operators. Another issue is boater education. Everyone I have talked with today feels it is a great idea to have some sort of education."

Under the current plan, Lake Mead only encourages states to require better education. Under one of the alternatives, however, Lake Mead could require a minimum level of boater education.

Another proposal is to help clean up Lake Mead through litter reduction. One plan would develop a partnership to assist in shoreline clean-up while another takes a more stringent angle with patrol and clean-up staffing.

A finalized proposal could be completed by the end of the year, with a decision on the management plan coming by next summer.

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