Lake Related Legislation

[ApS]

HB1301: Relative to wake surfing on public bodies of water.
This bill proposes that any group of 25 residents or property owners will be able to petition the department of safety to restrict or prohibit wake surfing on a public water body, or a portion thereof, pursuant to a petition and hearing process. This bill would allow residents to petition the Department of Safety (DOS). Once the petition is submitted and reviewed by DOS, a hearing date would be set and all property owners and those with deeded access would be notified. DOS would review shoreline impacts, size/depth of the waterbody and other factors that would ensure access, safety and appropriate use for all. The House Resources, Recreation and Development Committee hearing was held today, January 10. NHDES, NH LAKES and numerous individuals from lakes around the state spoke in support, while other members of the public, a summer camp director and the NH Marine Trades Association and Watersport Industry Association in opposition.
Remote sign-in numbers indicate that 399 signed in support of the bill online, with 687 opposed and 2 neutral.

Those property owners concerned with shoreline erosion shouldn't be discouraged from petitioning by this apparent high number of sign-in votes.

Electronic votes from across the country, Canada, and even Australia, perpetrated "Skew The Vote" the last time prohibitions were to be placed on Lake Winnipesaukee. (Not to mention "Marine Trades").

The advent of "bots" and, more recently, AI (Artificial Intelligence) add numbers where they don't belong. In-Person appearances are the most important way to affect "numbers".

In other words, "Stay the course".