BY DAN HILDEBRAN
A Bradford County lake dweller is asking boaters to slow down after
Hurricane Debby passed the area, and homeowners saw lake waters creep into their yards and approach their homes.
Rick Nath said he is trying to persuade officials to establish a no-wake zone on the lake to minimize property damage.
We’ve got water on some docks,” he said, “and we’ve got some boats that are running 20 miles per hour.”
Nath said he called Bradford County Emergency Management, the Suwannee River Water Management District, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission about a no-wake order but could not find the agency with the authority to declare such a restriction.
Nath added that he hoped that once word got out about the damage fast boats can cause in high-water conditions, boaters would voluntarily slow down to help their neighbors.
“I have about a foot-and-a-half of water in my backyard right now,” he said. “It’s not coming into my house but creates erosion and other issues.”
The Lakewood neighborhood resident added that boat wakes create turbidity in the water and lift and move wetland plants.
“You have the erosion that can take place, especially with irregular waves and have a more forceful power than nature to the water dispositions,” he added.
Nath said that Lakes Crosby and Sampson reached flood stage on Friday at 132 feet above sea level and were expected to crest at that level.
