Saanich P.D turned me around at the boat launch!!!

[plumbcrazy]

Went to Elk lake to enjoy the sunshine and enjoy the morning fishing with my 2 kids under 10. Local law was waiting at the boat launch, stoped me and said forget about putting my 15 ft aluminum boat in the water untill after 11:00. Turns ou that the rowing club must have won our local battle over the use of the lake. NO motorized vessell of any kind may be used untill 11:00 am. unless of course you are one of the sometimes many support boats out there chasing around rowing nim-skulls in and out of the bouys that transport canada has clearly marked NO more than 10 HP. with one of their many boats running more than 10HP. PISSED right off. So you try paddling my welded 15' boat or come back after 11:00 and fire up my 2hp trolling motor!!!! What a flippen joke!

[5 spike]

what a joke. if i remember right this battle has been going on for years. to bad for the kids. hope you guys found somewere else to enjoy your day. take care buddy.

[abbyfireguy]

And how much tax dollars do the rowers add to the economy,probably little. Sounds pretty bush to me.
They must have friends in high places who pulled some strings behind the scene .:evil:

[Robinhood]

Wow that's hard to believe. Was there a special event (regatta) on today or some other reason? Sorry your plans were spoiled.

[Spy]

Our Tax $$$$$ stock Elk lake!!!!!:confused::confused:They can not stop you from fishing or access.:(

[plumbcrazy]

No rowing event was on. This was not a day use issue, this is transport canada's law re. this lake, as the cop said, read the sign??!!!!

[Silver Streak]

PlumbCrazy: There is no restriction concerning the launching of any
vessel on Elk Lake at any time of year or day. The only restrictions
that apply here are 10 HP limitations during specific events (mostly
rowing regattas) which have been vetted before the Elk/Beaver Lake
Recreational Use Advisory Group, the CRD and the final approval of
Transport Canada. The other situation is hours of exclusion for water
skiing which must commence no earlier than 11:00 AM I believe.

There is no sign, to my knowledge, at Elk Lake which should have
prevented you from launching anything you want. Read them carefully
again. Did the Saanich Police officer state that you could not launch?
If he/she did, then they are wrong. In any event you should follow up
with a letter to the Saanich PD, CRD Parks, CRD Parks Committee and
Transport Canada. Document all information such as date, time of day,
officers name (if you have it), etc.

E-mail me if you want further information or contact info for letters.

[blindguy]

Thats wrong wrong wrong! That cops gotta no his rules.What a way to get a morn ruined.

[steel_ram]

Ridiculous! Are the UVic lawyer's pulling the SPD's strings now?

[Silver Streak]

Although Saanich Police are incorrect here, they, Transport Canada, CRD
Parks, CRD Parks Committee (the politicians) and the Victoria Rowing
Society are in bed together in their lack of motivation to correct problems
at Elk Lake. Numerous suggestions have been made over the years to
address rower/angler incidents and not one has been instituted.

Although use on the lake is minimal this time of year, I have had two
incidents reported to me over the last month - the latest within the
last couple days. An angler in a new aluminum boat was stationary on
the lake working on his electric motor when rowers collided with his boat
puncturing it. I suggested that he document the events in a report to
Saanich Police and the other agencies involved. He should also get his boat repaired and send the bill to the Rowing Society for payment.

These incidents are commonplace on the lake and virtually all are the
result of rowers being at fault. If anyone is involved in an incident on
the lake, please document details and forward a report to Saanich Police,
Transport Canada and the CRD.

[Sangstercraft]

I've been turned away from that launch too.
Police cruiser idling next to the ramp for hours, telling people they can't launch. The lady cop told us in a rude manner too. No wonder people resent cops. You think they could spend their time better. Just put up a notice or a block off the ramp.
Ideally, they'd put up a notice at the start of the summer telling us what days we can't use it.
Ideally we'd be able to use it all the time, but 'the squeaky wheel gets the grease' as my dad says. The rowers and their club are probably quite vocal and get their 'needs' heard clearly. Most of us just piss and moan at the ramp.

[Silver Streak]

Sangstercraft- once again, there are no restrictions on the launching of any vessel on Elk Lake at any time of year or day. There are only speed
(HP) restrictions during certain events (ie. rowing regattas) and speed/time restrictions for waterskiing. The rowers and their interests
have the politicians at their beck and call. It is very difficult for anglers
and the other users to have their positions advanced because of this.
However, we are our worst enemy. It is critical that everyone document
the facts surrounding any incident at, or on Elk Lake, which you believe
is wrong. Then you must follow up by writing a letter (and/or e-mail)
to the various agencies involved expressing your displeasure. See above
posts for agencies. Change those 'pisses and moans' into letters and we
might get somewhere.

[huntcoop]

Read this.....

http://www.crd.bc.ca/parks/elkbeaver/documents/CanadaShippingAct2001-VesselOperationRestrictionRegulations.pdf

[Silver Streak]

Huntcoop - I am aware of all this. However, there is nothing in those
regulations which precludes the launching of any vessel on Elk Lake on
any day of the year and at any hour of the day. There are restrictions
limiting where on the lake you can operate a vessel and during what
hours of the day. There is nothing in the regulations which would keep
a vessel off the lake; even during a rowing regatta. Put your lawyer's
hat on and read them again.

[Johnnybear]

Huntcoop - I am aware of all this. However, there is nothing in those
regulations which precludes the launching of any vessel on Elk Lake on
any day of the year and at any hour of the day. There are restrictions
limiting where on the lake you can operate a vessel and during what
hours of the day. There is nothing in the regulations which would keep
a vessel off the lake; even during a rowing regatta. Put your lawyer's
hat on and read them again.

I read the link and I agree with you Silver Streak. I live in Nanaimo but I would be pretty pissed off like the OP if this happened to me.

I smell fish. I would like to know like everyone else why or how the RCMP are doing this?:confused:.

Next time you go down there plumbcrazy (like the cop's in this instance) have a print out that huntcoop posted with you and ask them to explain why you can't launch your boat!!!

[huntcoop]

.... Put your lawyer's
hat on and read them again.

I know, I agree with you. I was posting for everyone else to read so they will be informed next time a uninformed SPD member tries to hassle them.

[Silver Streak]

Started a similar thread over on the SportfishingBC 'Freshwater' Forum
to see if others have had similar experiences with Saanich Police while
attempting to launch their boats at Elk Lake. This really irks me if the
Police have been denying access to boaters trying to enjoy some
recreational time out on the lake. We'll see what happens.