A Management Strategy for Oneida Lake and its ... - CNY RPDB Home

Promoting Responsible Boating
Program Goal
Promote the responsible use of boats and motorized craft on Oneida Lake in a manner that
balances economic, environmental, recreational and residential needs, as well as personal safety
Problem Identification
Boating and the use of personal watercraft are
popular pastimes on Oneida Lake that positively
affect the economy of local municipalities
and businesses. However, there are a
number of safety, environmental, and quality
of life issues that are of concern. These
include:
Excessive Speed – high speeds and reckless
driving is a safety concern for both boaters
and other user groups;
Excessive Noise – loud engines, buzzing jet
skis, and noisy partiers disturb other lake users
and homeowners;
Lack of Boating Courtesy – inconsiderate
behavior amplifies conflicts between and
among different user groups;
Navigation Issues – uprooted trees and aquatic
weeds, low water levels, and misplaced buoys
can cause dilemmas for boaters;
Water Quality Impacts – fuel spills, emissions,
boat waste, soil erosion, litter, and exotic
species can have negative effects on lake
water;
Damage of Lake Bottom – boats degrade the
lake bottom and undermine the ramp structure
when they “power load” at ramp sites;
Jurisdictions/Law Enforcement – many
residents and lake users are unclear about who
to call to receive assistance or report incidents.
Impacts
Excessive Speed: Boaters engaging in excessive
speeds can pose a danger to themselves,
other watercraft operators, and swimmers.
The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation,
and Historic Preservation (NYS OPRHP)
reports excessive speeds as the cause of
watercrafts capsizing, colliding with both
fixed and floating objects, colliding with other
vessels, grounding, sinking, losing passengers
overboard, and striking non-boaters. The
collision of two or more watercraft vessels is
the most common boating accident resulting
in injury. The NYS OPRHP reported that
approximately 20% of boating accidents in
2002 were caused by careless and reckless
operation, or excessive speed. Other major
causes for accidents include the absence of a
proper lookout and, operator inattention.
Accident reports also show that the increasingly
popular personal watercraft (PWC),
otherwise known as the jet ski, is involved in
nearly 30% of all accidents despite the fact
that they comprise less than 10% of the state’s
registered boats.
Excessive Noise: For lake-side homeowners,
the noise from motorboats, personal
watercrafts, and boating partiers can easily
impede on their choice of recreational activities
as well as nighttime peace and quiet.
While the State of New York has established
noise level regulations for recreational boats,
even the sound of watercraft that meet specifications
or of multiple PWCs (which are not
especially loud but emit a particular buzzing
frequency) can turn a quiet lake into a con-
page 74
Chapter 3: Priority Areas