A Decision Certain Not to Cause Waves
No-wake zone on popular section of Monongahela River long overdue
Morgantown Dominion Post - EDITORIAL
12 August 2011
A lot of boats can get rocked in the wake of some official resolutions.
Not this one. As a matter of fact, a decision by Morgantown’s City
Council last spring won’t cause a ripple. The resolution establishes a
no-wake zone along a short span of the Monongahela River — from near
the Westover Bridge to the Morgantown Lock and Dam. This decision is
long overdue. Our chief concern is safety. WaveRunners and other kinds
of fast-moving personal watercraft already don’t account for a lot of
the river traffic in this area of the river. However, the numbers of
kayakers, row boats, swimmers and fishermen are increasingly growing,
and don’t have the means to move out of the way of dangerous waves and
boats.
Also, not only is a no-wake zone good for recreational use of the
river, but it also protects the shoreline and the boats moored at the
public marina and dock near the city’s riverfront park. Though most
boaters are considerate and take precautions not to swamp others, some
don’t take responsibility for their wake and the damage it causes. And
it’s not just that some wakes can dump people out onto the deck of
their boats or in the water, but the potential exists for a collision
to occur without a no-wake zone on a busy weekend. The Monongahela
River’s shoreline is often subject to its own highs and lows — strong
currents and occasional flooding. But as a rule the waves along its
banks are generally soft and consistent in the area that’s been
designated a no-wake zone. The harm to shorelines by the wakes of some
boats is especially damaging in developed areas. This no-wake zone
should also lend itself to increased visits to the marina in this area
by non-motorized craft. There are miles and miles of the river where
recreational boaters in powerful watercraft can range freely with
wake-boarders and water-skiers in tow. This no-wake zone probably
covers less than a mile of the river’s breadth. It’s not too much to
ask that anyone wanting to embrace a calm outing on the river from the
seat of a kayak or a canoe should be allowed to do so. As resolutions
go, many are unenforceable or make no provision for enforcement. In
this case take note: City Council gave both the police department and
the Division of Natural Resources authority to enforce this rule.
No-wake buoys should soon mark this zone on the river. Now, if we could
just calm some of the traffic on land.