H.P. Changes-5 Ohio Lakes

Well it is official, ODNR is changing the rules for 9.9 horsepower limits on 5 lakes here in Ohio. ODNR is proposing a pilot program for 4 lakes located in state wildlife areas and one state park. They are as follows: State Wildlife Areas - Knox Lake, Oxbow Lake, Lake Rupert and Lake La Su Ann. The state Park Lake will be Burr Oak. ODNR has been lobbied by B.A.S.S. to remove horsepower limits to allow boats with unlimited horsepower engines to use these lakes. The boats with unlimited horsepower will be restircted to traveling at "no wake" speeds. This pilot program is for a two year period. The enforcement aspects of the "no wake" are still being looked into. The rules for this program have already been submitted to Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review (JCARR) for approval. Shortly there will be an official news release and that will be followed by the first public hearing on March 6 to accept comments on this proposal. It is understood that ODNR supports this proposal. At the end of the two year period, there will be a review to see how well it worked.