In an Oct. 13 letter to the editor, a writer declared that he alone will continue to use an electric-propeller driven watercraft on Spider Lake. I can only refer to his actions as that of a scofflaw (a person who flouts the law, especially by failing to comply with a law that is difficult to enforce effectively.)
This man claims the RCMP cannot enforce the regulations upon him and he is not harming the environment. He also claims this regulation is only for the wishes of the lake resident elites. I believe he is wrong on these opinions.
These regulations are clearly printed in the provincial fishing regulations and signage from Transport Canada.
The residents of this lake comply with this stipulation and the long-time users and visitors also comply. It is a safety regulation given the number of year-round swimmers/clubs and children using this lake.
Defying this regulation puts many users at risk and encourages crowding and conflicts with fisherman and nature observers.
Environmentally, allowing propeller driven water vessels on this renowned fish habitat would be a nail-in-coffin to the fish numbers and quality.
I’ve seen one adult allow a minor to go zooming off in an electric driven craft with 55-pound thrust right through many children. Utterly reckless.
The tranquility of the lake could ultimately be destroyed by rigged-up, electric-driven party barges.
Some of the regulars might get very testy if an influx of machines entered this lake. It is designated as self-propelled and not machine driven. That is the local long-standing culture of this lake. There are many lakes on Vancouver Island and the mainland to access if this man wants to indulge his machine desires.
Want to raise a worthy issue? Contact the conservation officer and regional district to remove the east-end, privately-installed fence that extends deep into the lake at the Park Boundary, nails and woody sharps included.
The letter writer could also demand from B.C. Parks a return to a paid, summer-time host to enforce local park regulations and also an end to the ATVs tearing up the shorelines in the off-season.
Peter BoltenParksville
