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Highlands Today

Boaters' Rights

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Burt Watkins

Published: October 23, 2007

Boaters may lose again if the county follows through on a suggested land swap plan. The plan being talked about is the possible swap of the boat ramp located on Little Lake Bonnet for a piece of private property located next to the Lake Denton boat ramp. The purpose for acquiring this additional property is to provide a venue for scuba divers.

The boat ramp at Little Lake Bonnet was described by Commissioner Don Bates as "seldom used." This has not been my experience. About four years ago, I finally found my way to the Little Lake Bonnet ramp where I found it covered with broken beer bottles, and looking like a trash dump.

Later that day, I returned with a broom and a couple of garbage cans, and proceeded to clean it up, so that it could be made usable. Months later I noticed evidence of further clean-up activity.

Since then, the housekeeping has continued to improve. The last time I was there, it was fairly nice. However, the ramp could use some maintenance. At lower-than-normal water levels, you have to be careful not to back off the end of the ramp with your trailer, or it will drop into a deep hole that will hang up your trailer and possibly tear it up when pulling off the ramp. I continue to use this ramp knowing the danger. I see other fishermen using this "seldom found" ramp on a fairly regular basis, and hope they know to be careful also.

I appreciate the strong lobby efforts to make Lake Denton a venue for scuba divers. However, I see an issue of fairness here. Being an avid fisherman, I won't stand down and be silent while boaters' access to this, or other area lakes, appears to be traded away for use by mostly commercial interest groups.

I would suggest providing more boat ramps instead of closing them. Deer and Fox lakes used to be accessible through an orange grove with a four-wheel drive vehicle. As most people know, it's now illegal to enter an orange grove. These are just a few suggestions, there are many other lakes with a county right of way ending at the lake edge that could possibly serve as additional boat ramps.

Burt Watkins
Avon Park

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