Where is everyone?

[jrc]

I don't have independent fact that the cape is up 30% and the lake is down 30% just karen47's post. If that is true, then it's not just the economy, people are picking one place over another. Sure the pool of vacation money is smaller but are we getting our fair share of the pool.

VtSteve, I don't things have changed all that much. I'm just saying we now have a reputation as a dangerous lake. We may need to overcompensate a little to swing the pendulum back. The Weirs is the front door, a little curb appeal might be a good thing.

As I type this, I wonder why I care. My personal boating fun is improved by lower crowds. I can avoid the Weirs. I just hate to see all the businesses suffering.

[VtSteve]

Originally Posted by jrc

VtSteve, I don't things have changed all that much. I'm just saying we now have a reputation as a dangerous lake. We may need to overcompensate a little to swing the pendulum back. The Weirs is the front door, a little curb appeal might be a good thing.

As I type this, I wonder why I care. My personal boating fun is improved by lower crowds. I can avoid the Weirs. I just hate to see all the businesses suffering.

Yes, having the lake to yourself can indeed be a lasting memory. In spite of Winni having one of the safest boating records in the nation, some felt it was in their best interest to change that perception. They did. Winni has always been a busy boating lake, even when I was a kid. Midweek quiet, weekends very busy, seemingly chaotic in areas like the Weirs. That dates back to the 60's.

Nobody needs to "overcompensate" on anything, that was what started this perception issue anyway. Like most bodies of water nowadays, Winni has a certain number of boneheads and wise guys that need to be dealt with. Instead, people from around the state were convinced to focus on a rather unimportant issue, and legislators were as uniformed as those whining to them.

So JRC, I don't think it's quite fair to whine about perception, and making a larger NWZ all around the Weirs a feel-good PR move. The MP is as cash-strapped as ever, and I don't think they can adequately enforce the NWZ's that already exist. I'd never change a model whereby you have a robust lake economy, and try to transform it into a peaceful, serene beauty where the local region's economy depends on people spending money when they'd rather just sit on the porch and listen to the crickets and loons.

It's also hard to attract boaters from surrounding states when the media has been given scripts that warn of cowboy, anything goes days on the water, then they read about budget cuts, MP funds raided, registration fees go higher to the gen fund. The they go to find Ames Farm launch has been restricted, people hassled about rafting, no anchoring here or there, none of this and none of that.

If anyone's worried about business, perhaps they would have been better served by addressing boater's concerns in a quieter fashion. There were several threads here devoted to people wildly boating to close to others, Bear Islander afraid for the campers because of boaters being cowboys, blowing through the BI NWZ, etc... They didn't have to make new laws, nor inform the media. Just call the MP and see if they can help stop that madness. Winni is not exactly a trailer-boater-friendly lake. The last thing you want to do is discourage them.

So no JRC, in no way do I think your "curb appeal" thought is in any way one of Winni's current goals. Last year and this year, it was made abundantly clear on many fronts what those in power wanted for curb appeal. Those kind thoughts just don't pay the bills.

[winnisummergal]

This is the first time in my 40 years that I will not visit the lake during the summer. The economic downturn over the past few years has taken such a toll on our finances we will not be vacationing this year. However, I already have my winni vacation fund for next year and will be sure to contribute each month...I know we'll be back next year