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Name:	Marine Police -	Reply
Subject:	Idle / No Wake Zone Requests
Date:	6/25/2009 2:46:20 AM

The Alabama Marine Police is the permitting agency in regard to the restriction of any portion of a public body of water to Idle Speed Only/No Wake. It is our responsibility to mark such zones and maintain the buoys around State-owned public launching areas and facilities.

If an individual or a group of individuals wishes to make an application for the restriction of a portion of a public body of water to Idle Speed Only/No Wake then they need to contact our office at (256) 329-2268. We will discuss the application process and forward an application to that person. Once we receive the completed application, our officers will inspect the location to see if it meets any of the criteria set by our policy for approval. If approval is granted for the restriction, then the permit-holder is responsible for purchasing, placing and maintaining the buoy(s).

In order to meet the criteria, the area in question must contain a public launching facility where any member of the public may launch a boat free of charge (AND/OR) must contain a gasoline dispensing facility (AND/OR) must present a paramount risk to public safety as determined by the reviewing officer(s).

That being said, it is the duty of the Marine Police Division to safeguard public waters for the use of the entire general public. The overwhelming majority of applications are denied due to the fact that the area in question does not meet our criteria for approval. Under the public safety consideration, we use the number of complaints regarding the area, the number of accidents or incidents that have been reported there and our own observations of traffic flow to make our decision.

People should also keep in mind that there are currently a number of Idle Speed Only/No Wake Buoys on the lake that were placed by private citizens that have not been permitted. When we identify such a buoy we remove it from the lake once we have the time to do so.

The Marine Police Division does not permit Hazard Buoys but all Hazard Buoys must be approved for placement by us. We also place and maintain some buoys. We work very closely with the Lake Martin Resource Association on the placement of other Hazard Buoys. The LMRA bears the costs for the placement and maintenance of such buoys and provides us with the GPS coordinates of every such buoy on the lake. These folks really are to be thanked for their hard work at keeping boaters on Lake Martin safe.

A number of people place "swim buoys" or mooring buoys off the ends of their docks. We don't have a problem with this as long as these buoys don't interfere with the normal flow of traffic for the slough and are not placed more than 25-feet from the end of the dock.

I hope this helps clear up this issue. Sgt. Buchanan and I have decided to created a Marine Police FAQ for the forum and once we have it completed we will submit it to Mr. Pate to post here if he chooses.

If any of you have any questions or concerns about the Marine Police and anything we do on Lake Martin, I invite you to call me at the District office at (256) 329-2268 or e-mail me at matt.brooks@dcnr.alabama.gov.

Have a safe and happy summer!

Captain Matt Brooks
Alabama Marine Police

Name:	Swimmer27 -	Reply
Subject:	Thumbs up to FAQ
Date:	6/25/2009 6:32:56 AM

Thanks for the info and all that you guys do. I think the FAQ is a great idea.

Name:	lakeplumber -	Reply
Subject:	Idle / No Wake Zone Requests
Date:	6/25/2009 7:08:19 AM

The information that you provided to be very informative. Thanks for your service to the lake areas.

Name:	Kizma Anuice -	Reply
Subject:	Question for MP re: standard
Date:	6/25/2009 7:28:59 AM

the standard states inter alia, "OR) must present a paramount risk to public safety as determined by the reviewing officer(s). "

this seems rather subjective and arbitrary.

was wondering what the risk was in the area of Christopher's where the new "NO WAKE ZONE" has been established.

wondering the same thing about the 1/4 mile or better "NO WAKE ZONE" that makes it difficult to get to the docks at Russell Cross Roads?

Name:	lucky67 -	Reply
Subject:	Idle / No Wake Zone Requests
Date:	6/25/2009 7:44:21 AM

communication is key to help us all enjoy & make lake better

Name:	slownez -	Reply
Subject:	Idle / No Wake Zone Requests
Date:	6/26/2009 8:07:02 AM

Matt,

In regards to:

In order to meet the criteria, the area in question must contain a public launching facility where any member of the public may launch a boat free of charge (AND/OR) must contain a gasoline dispensing facility (AND/OR) must present a paramount risk to public safety as determined by the reviewing officer(s).

It would seem to also include all public restaurants that have docks for lake access such as Sinclairs. They don't pump gas or have a boat ramp, the no wake is there for the public safety.

Thanks,
Steve

Name:	Capt M Brooks -	Reply
Subject:	Idle / No Wake Zone Requests
Date:	6/26/2009 1:17:33 PM

Steve,

You would be partially correct. I have been here as the district supervisor since February of 2007 and part of my job is to periodically review the restricted areas and permits on the lake. When I first saw the buoys at Sinclair's my initial reaction was that the area did not meet the criteria but after talking to the officers on the lake I decided to watch the traffic patterns and see what type of activity we had there. All of the currently-approved restricted areas were already in place when I arrived, as is the case with Sinclair's.

Now I am convinced that the approval of that permit was appropriate due to the traffic patterns in and around that area. For example, behind Sinclair's is Kowaliga Marina which leads to a large amount of ingress and egress traffic through the passage between Sinclair's and the island just to the west of it. You then have the Highway 63 bridge, where boats come under it at plane speed and then make a beeline for the restaurant. Couple that with the fact that the area is basically an intersection for traffic leaving Big Kowaliga Creek and Little Kowaliga Creek. One other factor is that the location in question is also where we have some of our heaviest night traffic. All of these factors (not to mention complaints we receive about individual boats, personal watercraft, etc.) came into play in the decision to leave that area restricted.

Not all establishments automatically receive approval. As you see above we try to take all factors into account when it comes to making these decisions.

If you have any other questions regarding this matter or any other issue, please feel free to give me a call at the district office at (256) 329-2268.

Name:	muddauber -	Reply
Subject:	Idle / No Wake Zone Requests
Date:	6/27/2009 6:40:04 AM

You posts and comments go a long way to dispel erroneous information. Thanks for taking the time and doing the job you all do.

Name:	Kizma Anuice -	Reply
Subject:	Idle / No Wake Zone Requests
Date:	6/27/2009 6:40:17 PM

Dude,

I would really like to know about the zone that restricts the entrance to the Russell Cross Roads docks. I doubt that the people at Russell Cross Roads want this, and certainly those of us who have to navigate it don't want it.

the no wake buoys are sketchy looking and unnecessarily restrictive. Not to mention arbitrarily located and random.

Was all of this authorized and if so when and at who's request?

thanx,
the pirate of peckerwood

Name:	Marine Police -	Reply
Subject:	Idle / No Wake Zone Requests
Date:	6/28/2009 11:20:35 AM

I'm not the Dude you asked, but I'll answer your question. That idle speed zone has been there for at least 10 years. I say at least because that's how long I've been here and it was here when I got here. I don't know who originally requested the zone but there is a permit for it.

Gary

Name:	Kizma Anuice -	Reply
Subject:	Idle / No Wake Zone Requests
Date:	6/29/2009 9:48:50 PM

I am not sure I care how long it has been there. I am wondering what the criteria was for establishing it. I don't see how any of the conditions stated above apply.

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