Casitas wants to allow water skiing and jet skiing!!!!!!!!

[oakview]

Brain Roney, Casitas Park Services Manager is trying to get the Bureau of Reclamation to allow Casitas to have body contact, water skiing, etc...

Bureau of Reclamation is taken written statements until 17 july - you can email them at:

repperson@mp.usbr.gov

Or you can call Brian Roney, Casitas Park Services Manager at

805-649-2233 x111

THis would be a nightmare. Its already bad enough out there on the weekends with the rent-a-boats and other clowns - But I can deal with it - As for jet skiing and water skiing, forget it - it will ruin casitas.

Just thought everyone should know!

[Ray L.]

I sent them my reply

[oakview]

THanks - I hope most of us that fish Casitas for fun or for tournaments can send an email.

No more wildlife, more trash in the water, dirty water from the constant waves, the overall price of entry fees going up, etc...

THank again

[MCSPIN]

I sent my reply.

Gary

[Brian Linehan]

Sent

[Jeff Augustyn]

I sent my lecturing reply to them.. I don't even fish Casitas, but if they want to invite LICE to ruin another body of water...I don't give a rats -ss where it is...I'm against it!!

[oakview]

All I hope is they can see past the $$$$ with this new idea - in the long run it will ruin Casitas.

Thanks again - keep sending them

[swimb8]

i sent mine. If they open it to skiiers im moving back east. That lake is the whole reason we havent moved yet. We have way too much fun there and if they open the water, were gone.

[Ray L.]

Hey Oakview you need to post this on the northern board because many of them have been to Casitas at least 1 time and I am sure they would send many e mails against this idea.

[oakview]

I'm in the Air Force and 2 years ago I came down here for a two week class. I had heard about Casitas and took local guide Sean James - Well I stuck 2 fish at Casitas over 10lbs in one day. Well I made some phone calls and got down here last year - I from backeast North Carolina area and this lake just blows my mind. I can't imagine what Casitas would be like with all those lice -

[oakview]

It will be up shortly

Thanks

[Kelly Ripa]

In part here was my response to the lake officials:

To the point I am whole heartedly against such a proposition. If you compare lakes that offer Body contact you will notice a serious decline in the lakes prestige as a whole. The contact from humans require the bluestoning of these lakes because of the the bacteria and defecation of offal and urine. This in itself is enough for me but what about the steelhead you are supposed to be enhancing? Are you going to treat the water before you dump it on them? What are the effects of literally thousands of suntan lotion covered bodies bathing in the lake? Try hard to look past the money that might get generated and preserve what you have for all to enjoy not exploit. The noise and the trash cause the wildlife to suffer either directly or indirectly. Nesting waterfowl and migratory osprey and birds would be effected by the water clarity demise and the constant water motion and from the unknowing drivers of personal water craft concentrating on their sport and not being mindful of their surroundings. I watched only 8 weeks ago in NorCal as an unwitting man operated his watercraft in a manner that while "fun" for him had a nearly extinct pair of Trumpeter Swans with a nest go totally unnoticed by him in his gyrations while they were obviously quite distressed. There would would most certainly be an increase in erosion along some shorelines that are somewhat protected at present. And my last question: ....Who is going to drag the tons of "disposable" baby diapers and swim wear from the bottom of your pond like the lagoon below Cactaic? This is a bad idea in the short and long term for locals AND visitors alike!

Sincerly...Yada...Yada...Yada

[oakview]

Now since they almost got this past us with no real notification, does anyone know how we can find out what they decided?

[Topwater Terry]

hard time believing that Brian is actually in favor of this, I know that he is a bit more of a pleasure boater and doesn't fish much, but I also know he has a brain and knows this can't be a good idea. Either way, I'll have to see if he is at the FOCL meeting tomorrow night to see if he really is behind this. I just get a feeling that there must be some other kind of special interests behind this, like some group of skiers of something.
Terry

[basssjk]

You guys really need to get on top of this ... I being from the San Diego area am tired of the water skiers, jet skis and wake boarders! They have opened San V. and El Cap to them and as the years have gone on the water contact group keep chipping away out our schedules to the point that we can not fish San V. from mid May thru October on Saturday or Sunday and they are taking over El Cap to the point even when you do fish they beat the crap out of you with their wakes as they come so close to you and the rangers don't do a thing about it.
You all better wake up and fight this as the skiers represent more money to the lake people and that is what they are after! Its not about water quality anymore!

My two cents ... Kelly

[Ray L.]

So Kelly after all that about San Diego have you sent an e mail to the right people to try and stop the ski boats at Casitas?
I hope so because you know how it is with them on the water and how reckless they are when on the water.

[Topwater Terry]

is to call Brian directly himself and he will probably tell you the same thing he told us tonight at the FOCL meeting, that he is not the one pushing for body contact at Casitas. The one pushing for it are the BLM and special interests within that group, including some waterskier groups somehow associated with Tilly's Marine. When I asked him if there were public meetings going to be held on this issue, he said there had been some, I think the same style they had when they were trying to close Castaic, you know, ones that nobody really knew about. Either way, I'll try to keep ya'll up to date.
Terry

[Lance]

Terry,

Where is this Tilly's Marine located. I'm wondering if you walked in and asked about Casitas being open to full contact someone might tell you when a meeting is going to take place.

[mark poulson]

Oakview,
I just read this thread, too late to meet the July17 deadline.
But after reading eveyone's thoughts, I wonder if contacting the Ventura County Supervisor for that area might not be the way to go.
Politicians love to stop "waste" and "protect the public", because they look like heroes and get re-elected.
After reading Kelly's post, the issues of water contamination, public safety, erosion of the shoreline, damage to waterfowl habitat, and, most important, the treat to the survival of the steelhead which the public has just spent millions to protect, should be plenty of reasons not to change the status quo. And politicians love the status quo, because they don't have to stick their necks out for something new.
Just my $.02.

[Gatorfish]

I can see it now
1) Crowded campgounds filled with loud drunken lake lice.
2) Insane launch ramps filled with stupid lake lice.
3) Crazy lake lice pulling lake lice around the lake.
4) Gangster rap and other crappy music being blasted by lake lice.
5) Lake lice litter, beer cans, diapers, fast food wrappers, etc.
6) Oh! and an imposed 35mph lake lice speed limit complete with law enforcement who will write tickets, lots of tickets like Castaic.

In the end it will be the fishermen who will feel the negative effect
of such a irresponsable act even though he does the least amount of harm and cares the most about the environment (his playgrond).

I could (with confidence) say this would apply to all the So. Cal. lakes.

[oakview]

I agree 100% -

I just hope we can find out one way or the other -

Lets hope they keep the lice off!

[Terry]

We went thru this ten years ago.

Where's Pat Marley, and where's the CEQA document covering this change?

Terry

[DougH]

Brian called me back today and told me much of the same. I asked him to register on this forum so he could post any meetings that get scheduled. It's very similar to past events, but it is still the Casitas Water Districts board that will make the ultimate decision. I hope to continue contact with Brian, I'll post anything I hear.

[oakview]

Is the key reason, money?

[DougH]

I don't think so, otherwise, this would have happened years ago when they completed their plant upgrades.
It is the responsibility of governmental agencies to listen to groups that request a change in policy. They are aware of all of the ramifications that come with this request as well. Sure, there might be more money in some ways, but there also might be costs in other areas that counter-balance any gains. The Casitas Water District board isn't a bunch of dummies. Hopefully, there will be a better representation for our side at the next hearing if we can get proper notification. Let's all continue to be aware of this situation, and continue to be in contact with Brian.
There is more to this subject than money, and Casitas is aware of the special properties of this lake.

[oakview]

How do we find out about the next hearing or meeting?

[Bulldawg Dave]

But knowing Brian Roney (whom I liked alot while I was there) he will be behind it if it means more revenue to the lake then to the County. The board of Supervisors will be behind it as well.
Casitas as we know it will fall to the lice. Money talks to these politicians. Brian is a politician and works in a political arena.
I hate to see it happen but watch ... it will. Best thing to do is hook up with the DFG to see if they will transport the pigs that live in the lake to somewhere they will survive and spread thier genes. At least the DFG understands how important the fisheries are to tourism.

[broney]

After reading the posts on this forum, I wanted to assure everyone that I have not gone to the dark side. Many of you know me from my days at Castaic and Casitas is definitely a different animal altogether.
Just to set the record straight:

1) I am not promoting body contact at Casitas - there was a local public meeting scehduled by the Bureau of Reclamation (property owner) where many waterskiers were present and requested that their sport be considered for future use at Casitas. 2) The document being prepared by the Bureau is a Resource Management Plan - their version of a master plan. Even if body contact is included in this plan, the Casitas Board of Directors would probably never approve the activity - as they have opposed it in the past. 3)The draft RMP is scheduled for release in late September. We will make every efffort to post it on our website @ www.lakecasitas.info. 4) The use of copper sulfate or bluestone is not due to body contact, it is used to treat a taste and odor problem with the drinking water that is caused by algae.

[mark poulson]

Brian,
Thanks for the post.
Is there anything we fishermen can do to help defeat this idea?

[oakview]

Thanks for the info

But how do we (fishing community) find out about these meetings?

Also, what stage are they at right now - have they voted?

Thanks again
David Roberson

[broney]

The RMP process will allow for further public comment once the draft RMP is released. I will post the information once it is available.

On another note, based on positive feedback we will be offering a second moonlight fishing coming up soon. Watch here for details!

Anyone is welcome to call me if you have a question or want to offer feedback or suggestions on our operation. Operating as an Enterprise Fund, we balance our budget on user fees only and value your comments - no taxpayer or ratepayer funds. There are only two other public lakes in California that can match that statement. A free moonlight fishing entry to anyone who can correctly identify the two facilities (hint - one is large, the other very small) E-mail me your guess @ psm@casitaswater.com. Any winning entries will be posted.