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Recreation
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- Written by: Boat Owners Association of The United States
The short, 13-question survey is an effort to gain an understanding about how ethanol fuels are affecting recreational boating this summer, gauge opinion, and seek out comments related to the Renewable Fuel Standard, or RFS.
When it was passed in 2005, the RFS assumed that America’s use of gasoline would continue to grow.
Since then, however, gasoline usage has not increased as forecast, which today forces more ethanol into each gallon of gas.
To keep up with the RFS mandate and avoid hitting a “blend wall” in which the volume of ethanol production would exceed consumption and infrastructure constraints, in 2010 the EPA granted a waiver to allow E15 into the marketplace. Recently, President Trump also proposed the sale of E15 year-round.
Only fuels containing up to 10 percent ethanol (E10) are permitted for use in recreational boats, and anything greater voids many marine engine warranties.
However, 92 percent of readers of Boating Industry magazine that serves the boating trades reported in 2017 that they have seen damage caused by ethanol, which also decreases fuel economy, thus increasing fuel cost, and has questionable environmental benefits.
BoatUS also has concerns over potential consumer misfueling as E15 pump labeling requirements are minimal with just a small orange warning label.
BoatUS is a member of the Smarter Fuel Future coalition which aims to reform the broken RFS. For more information, go to www.SmarterFuelFuture.org.
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- Written by: Clear Lake Scullers
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Mike Sullivan, who is coaching rowing at UC Davis, will be offering beginning rowing lessons this summer here in Lakeport as part of the Clear Lake Scullers summer season.
Saturday Learn to Row Days are free on June 30 and July 7 from 8 a.m. to noon.
Everyone is welcome including residents and visitors of all ages. Kayaks will be available to try in addition to the rowing sculls. People are also welcome to learn to row on the team boat every Saturday at 8 a.m., no experience is necessary.
Sullivan will also be holding an adult sweep and sculling camp from July 2 through July 6 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. for $100 which includes summer membership and use of club boats.
Youth and high school paddling, rowing and water safety camp will be held on July 2 to July 6 from 10:30 a.m. to noon for a cost of $40. For more information contact Sullivan.
Membership is open to the public and there is rowing year round, weather permitting. The goal of Clear Lake Scullers is to provide broad access to beautiful Clear Lake and to expose people to a wide variety of aquatic sports with emphasis on safety and competence.
Sullivan is also available to teach the skills necessary for athletes to train and race.
The club is located in the city of Lakeport at the site of the former Natural High School on Main Street just north of Library Park. You will see the boats there in a fenced in yard.
For more information visit our web site at http://clearlakescullers.org/, the club’s Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/ClearLakeScullers/, or contact Mike Sullivan at
- Details
- Written by: MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST
The office is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., closed from noon to 1 p.m.
During these business hours, the public may obtain information about recreation, closures, fire restrictions, and current conditions.
“Although there are no sales at this time for maps and forest products, we are pleased to be open to provide as much information as possible to the community and visitors about all of the opportunities that are available on the forest,” Aebly said.
The public may purchase maps and permits at forest offices in Upper Lake, Willows and Stonyford.
Forest maps also are available online at https://www.nationalforestmapstore.com/.
For more information, please call the Covelo office at 707-983-6118, visit the forest Web site and follow the forest on Facebook and Twitter.
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- Written by: MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST
The prospective change would be a business opportunity for a non-Forest Service entity to operate the RBRA as a concessionaire.
For more than 20 years, the forest has charged visitors fees at RBRA for camping at Sycamore Grove, Camp Discovery, and using the boat ramp.
These fees have been reinvested into the facilities paying for operations and maintenance costs. However, fees currently being collected are not nearly enough to keep up with the rising cost of maintaining the site.
Due to current and future budget constraints, a change is necessary in order to keep this area open and able to provide high quality recreational opportunities to the public.
“I believe this new approach will benefit the community and enhance the recreation experience at the RBRA,” said Forest Supervisor Ann Carlson.
To make this a viable business opportunity, there may be changes in the recreation fees charged to visitors at the RBRA.
What those changes will be are unknown until a prospectus is produced and responses to a request for proposals are received. One potential change would be a fee for day users.
“I am hopeful that a new partnership and fee changes at the RBRA will allow for improved maintenance of what is there now, enhancements to facilities and additional services in the future, and an increase in customer service available onsite,” Carlson said. “These upgrades would be of benefit to all visitors and could lead to increased popularity of the site as an outdoor recreation destination.”
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