by Doug Leecock
Canyon Lake Boat Ramps Community Alliance
The things that continue to resonate as we are working through developing long-term initiatives for improving access to Canyon Lake are safety and courtesy.
As we saw just last week, two families are now dealing with the loss of a loved one, which probably resonates with all boaters.
Authorities have a challenge to manage access and watercraft for safe recreational use.
These accidents will have repercussions for everyone if there seems to be a consistent amount of avoidable situations on Canyon Lake. Our ramps, whether operated by Comal County or U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), are the concentrated point of different experience-levels of boaters wanting to get on the water.
The county is doing what it can to have a much-needed, often-requested, increase of law enforcement presence at our ramps.
In the meantime, please take a deep breath and help your fellow boater who may be a little green with launching or recovering watercraft. If people are in an unsafe location at the ramps, call law enforcement. Please help keep the shorelines clean by picking up litter. Please wear a life vest.
Have a great weekend. God Bless.
About CLBRCA (from Facebook)
“The Canyon Lake Boat Ramps Community Alliance are tax-paying citizens who live in Comal County, Texas, mostly around Canyon Lake, and who are concerned about the access, safety, and parking issues at the various county-operated boat ramps on Canyon Lake.
“Because our county-operated boat ramps are free to the public, these issues were further amplified during the pandemic with overwhelming crowds of those seeking outdoor recreation opportunities.
“Although we recognize and accept that growth is going to happen – and it’s happening fast in our area – there are ongoing issues with lack of resources to manage and maintain our county-operated boat ramps and the surrounding areas.
“These issues are further complicated by the many entities involved with our lake, including Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority (GBRA), Water Oriented Recreation District of Comal County (WORD), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ECCPR, Comal County and others, for example, that were not adequately addressed by the County until recently, when changes to 1994 boat-ramp regulations were proposed by our county commissioners without benefit of a proper, public input period.
“We therefore formed a community alliance to make our voices heard because we know there are better outcomes in our community when we all work together.”
For more information email canyonlakerec@gmail.com.
