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Tuesday, 13 February 2007 00:54

El Dorado Irrigation District Will Ask Supervisors For Silver Lake Speed Limit

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slide22The El Dorado Irrigation District Board of Directors met yesterday and made the decision to ask the Amador County Board of Supervisors to place a 10 mile per hour speed limit on Silver Lake. Last fall the El Dorado Irrigation District began looking at recommendations for a personal water craft ban for the lake citing concerns about public safety and potential liability. irrigation Board member George Osborne stated in November that liability issues in the event of an accident is a major concern. "We are not the enforcement agency; whatever action is involved will be done by the Amador County Board of Supervisors," he said. "But as a public entity, we are deep pockets."

slide23 A board committee recommended the restrictions in October after fishermen complained of dangers posed by fast boats, and, in one case, harassment by personal watercraft users. Publicity on the issue generated about 180 letters, e-mails and phone calls, said Don Pearson, the Irrigation district recreation director. About 130 of those letter, emails and telephone calls favored banning personal watercraft and setting a 10-mph speed limit that would effectively eliminate water skiing, he said, while about 50 opposed the restrictions.

Most speakers at the November meeting supported the ban on personal watercraft, but they objected to the speed limit, saying that lake users such as water skiers historically have gotten along well. Jane LaBoa, the now retired U.S. Forest Service Lead in Amador County, supported restrictions. She stated in November that Forest Service officials have received complaints about noise created by speedboats and personal watercraft from lake users and area hikers.

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