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Location: Grinnell, Iowa | Today I received a call from an acquaintance who works for the Iowa DNR. She informed me that there is a couple of organized groups who consist of tri-athelets who are in the process of lobbying the IA DNR to make it legal for them to swim in any Iowa lake, anywhere in the lake they please, at anytime.
There is no doubt in my mind that most of us would agree that this is a bad idea on many levels. Safety being the number 1 issue. There is a reason why lakes have designated swimming areas. The water has been cleared of hazards below the surface for one, and two, THERE ARE NO BOATS RUNNING AROUND IN THE SWIMMING AREAS. I fully support and participate in people anchoring down in a cove and taking a dip in the water. But I think it is foolish to allow people to swim for miles down a shore line where there is boat traffic.
The DNR is in the process of hosting "townhall" style meetings to get public input on this proposal.
I posted this here because I was wondering if any other states have gone through this debate as well. |
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Posts: 2019
| Definition of an "extreme sport": Swim from one side of West Okoboji to the other on the 4th of July - LOL.
People can already dive, windsurf, kayak, ski, Jet Ski and on and on ....all of which can and do regularly present "body hazards" in the water. We have 2 triathlons on PC every year and they already practice outside the swim area all the time.... Most tri-athletes I know are extremely intelligent - I think they will know when and where it’s safe to swim. Like right over a 4 ft deep weedbed LOL
It doen't seem that swimming outside of designated areas is currently enforced in IA - so I don't know what this would change.
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Posts: 16632
Location: The desert | I say let them swim, it's not like they'll be in the water for the entire day. Have to share the resource. |
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Posts: 1169
Location: New Hope MN | The lawsuits willl be plenty and the laweyers richer than they already are. |
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Posts: 225
Location: Nordeast Minneapolis | Yeesh... imagine trying to drive your car, when pedestrians could be anywhere in the road and you could only see the tops of their heads... Seems like a bad idea to me. I understand sharing waterways, but what you're describing sounds more like chaos than sharing. |
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Posts: 968
Location: N.FIB | if the lake is no wake,but if they are gonna swim in the middle of the lake they need some kind of flag on there back or something to let boaters know they are there.I think most swimmers would be smarter to do something like that in a crowded lake,and nothing gets changed until something bad happens,thats the US way of doing things. |
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Posts: 431
| I say let em swim. No reason to curb more individual liberties. I hope people are smart enough to make good decisions , but I've been disappointed before. No reason to say you can't do it, just do so at your own risk. |
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Posts: 16632
Location: The desert | My guess is they would mark out a course for the duration of the time the racers are in the water. Just like road construction and their orange barrels, or scuba divers with divers down flags. |
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Posts: 32892
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Most times long distance swimmers have an escort boat following them in case they get into trouble. If the escort boat is close to the swimmers as it usually is, there should be no issue. |
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Posts: 3870
| My sister is an attorney and she always lends me cash when I ask. So, first, let the swimmers thrash along out in the open waters, and second, encourage boaters to fly along blind in those same waters.
No really, swimmers should have the same access as boaters, and both should take appropriate precautions. |
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Posts: 956
Location: Home of the 2016 World Series Champion Cubs | If a boat OR JET SKI is prohibbited from creating a wake wthin 150, 200, 300' of shore/harbor/ moored boats, whatever applies to your waters, I would agree with a required flag/marker for swimmers going beyond the no wake areas. Sometiing similar to what scuba divers use to indicate "diver down". Boaters too should be reminded of their obligations regarding wakes in close proximity to a "diver down" flag as well. Yes I also scuba if you havent figured it out. A small floating tube with a flag could be easily pulled by a swimmer in training and "can be used as a floatation device" in the event of distress/fatigue out on the water. I absolutely say let them do it.....safely. Maybe use an orange triangle indicating hazard....????
Karl |
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Posts: 72
| As a triathlete, I can say that it is possible to train entirely in pools. Boring as all hell, but we do it all winter. However, I can also say that if a triathlete wants to swim outside in the summer, so be it. Most of us are smart enough to know where and when to swim, and how to avoid lakes with moderate to heavy boat traffic, especially those lakes known to be popular fishing lakes. In addition, triathletes that do swim in lakes generally go either in the early morning, or after a run by a group of triathletes training together (hard to miss that sight). People do it now, and I have yet to hear of a complaint or a conflict between a triathlete and a fisherman.
However, if they want some type of legal "rights" down in Iowa to do this, I would suggest three things during the townhall meetings:
1. They sign some type of a waiver prior to swimming outside the designated swimming area;
2. There must be at least 3 people swimming together; and
3. That they must put up a flag/sign/schedule at the boat launch(es) informing others that they are currently swimming and/or when they will be swimming.
Failure to do these things would result in a fine, similar to the transgressions of fishing without a license, operating a boat without registration, etc...
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Posts: 3870
| Yes! to safe practices.
No! to unecessary regulations.
Beats me! to proper balance between the two.
he he he |
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Location: Grinnell, Iowa | Like I said earlier, I am not opposed to people anchored down in a cove somewhere enjoying a swim; several weekends during the summer that is me and my family in that cove. I just don't like the idea of people swimming down open shore line. Not because they might be swimming in my favorite spot (I agree, share the resources) but because I would never be able to enjoy the lake and boating again if I ever ran someone over because the sun was low in the sky and creating a glare on the water and I didn't see the little flag a swimmer was pulling behind them.
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Posts: 406
Location: Stones throw away...finally!! | I say let them swim, but they have to wear firetiger swimsuits and flashy silver fins...big baits=big fish  |
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Posts: 431
| Swimmers have just as much right to the water if not more right-I mean people could swim before boats existed right? I feel the same way I do about this as I do about seat belts. Nobody should be able to tell me I can't swim in a public lake and nobody should be able to tell me I have to where a seat belt. I should be able to choose for myself. |
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Posts: 2865
Location: Brookfield, WI | Marshall - 2/3/2009 8:00 PM
I say let them swim, but they have to wear firetiger swimsuits and flashy silver fins...big baits=big fish :)
I have a buddy that lives in San Diego. He paddles out a mile or so and fishes off his surf board. Does pretty well, too.
I tell him he's nothing but a big friggin' topwater for the Great Whites that migrate from the Farrallon Islands down to the place off Mexico where they filmed that Shark Week show where they get out of the cages and swim with the sharks and where the girl from the cruise ship had her leg bitten off on video and they showed it on Shark Week.
He seems unconcerned. Apparently there is more danger in cutting off another surfer as some can be quite confrontational.
Me? I don't swim. Or wear sandals. Ever. Sandals are for chicks and Slamr.
Kevin
Valentines Day Musky Show. |
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Posts: 402
Location: Eagle River, WI | I only have 2 questions:
Where can I get one of these triathlete lures?
Will they be making one with a DCG attached to the front of it? |
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Location: Grinnell, Iowa | Marshall - 2/3/2009 8:00 PM
I say let them swim, but they have to wear firetiger swimsuits and flashy silver fins...big baits=big fish :)
Marshall,
Didn't I see you at Big Creek last year fishing in a firetiger Speedo?
Edited by rocket 2/4/2009 6:47 AM
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Posts: 344
Location: Musky Country | welldriller - 2/3/2009 9:39 PM
I only have 2 questions:
Where can I get one of these triathlete lures?
Will they be making one with a DCG attached to the front of it?
Good One |
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Posts: 2361
| Interesting thread, I didn't realize there were lakes you couldn't basically swim anywhere. We have regs about not swiming within X feet of the boat landings down here, but every lake I have been to in WI, SC, NC and KY I have always had the idea, and I think the correct idea, that I could swim anywhere I wanted. |
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Location: Grinnell, Iowa | I think there are some regulations in State Parks and such about swimming in designated areas only. IAJustin touched on it earlier; it just isn't enforced. |
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Location: Grinnell, Iowa | I found this on the Iowa DNR Web site:
Swimming/Beach Use
Swimming must be done in the designated beach area within the boundaries marked by ropes, buoys or signs. Unless otherwise posted, persons may swim within 10 feet of a vessel anchored not less than 100 yards from the shoreline or the marked boundary of a designated beach. All vessels, except those being uprighted or repaired, must be attended at all times by at least one person remaining on board. Scuba diving may occur outside of the designated beach area, provided the divers flag is displayed as specified in rule 571-41.10 (462A).
Inner tubes, air mattresses and other beach toy-type items may be used only in the beach areas.
Possession or use of glass or other breakable containers, fragments of which could cause injuries, is prohibited within the designated beach areas.
At Brushy Creek State Recreation Area, located in Webster County and Pleasant Creek State Recreation Area, located in Linn County, swimming is prohibited from 10:30 p.m. to 6 a.m. daily.
Animals are prohibited within the designated beach area.
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Posts: 227
Location: New Brighton, MN | I believe most lakes are subject to the rights of the state and the public up to the high water mark. Where safe, I can't imagine asking people not to swim. |
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Posts: 485
Location: On my favorite lake! | maybe they can were a flag on a pool attached to their swim caps. like the go carts and big wheels. |
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Posts: 406
Location: Stones throw away...finally!! | rocket - 2/4/2009 6:46 AM
Marshall - 2/3/2009 8:00 PM
I say let them swim, but they have to wear firetiger swimsuits and flashy silver fins...big baits=big fish :)
Marshall,
Didn't I see you at Big Creek last year fishing in a firetiger Speedo?
If I thought that it would help my chances to catching a fish in that hole, I would throw the banana hammock on in a second... |
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Posts: 406
Location: Stones throw away...finally!! | Lightning - 2/4/2009 10:25 AM
maybe they can were a flag on a pool attached to their swim caps. like the go carts and big wheels.
Soft water tip-ups...I love it. |
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Posts: 1530
| maybe they can have spotters like nascar. they can look for muskies stalking swimmers lol. |
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Posts: 956
Location: Home of the 2016 World Series Champion Cubs | rocket - 2/3/2009 5:44 PM
I ever ran someone over because the sun was low in the sky and creating a glare on the water and I didn't see the little flag a swimmer was pulling behind them.
Somehow I dont think that would fly in a court during a trial for Criminal Negligent Conduct or God forbid Wreckless Homicide. Take responsibility for the way you (speaking in general) operate you vessel on shared waterway.
Rocket, please dont take this as a personal attack. Now would be the time for everyone to take a voluntary boater safety class before the waters soften up and the lakes/rivers get busy and theres no time for anything but fishing.
Edited by KARLOUTDOORS 2/4/2009 12:47 PM
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Location: Grinnell, Iowa | I know "the sun was in my eyes" wouldn't hold up in court. So why should I be put in that situation. This would be the same as the fact that if a bicyclist is riding in the roadway and they are struck by a car, it is generally the drivers fault not the bicyclist.
All the boater safety courses in the world will not prevent such an accident. In my vehicle I always wear my seat belt and I never drive drunk, I consider myself a safe driver, but that doesn't mean it's not possible for me to be in an accident. I agree, safety awareness helps, but it wont prevent.
I did not take your comments personal. Your comments reflect one of the main points of this discussion. Liability. Who is going to be liable when an accident does happen? The boater? The swimmer? The State? Marshall in his banana hammock?
Edited by rocket 2/4/2009 2:18 PM
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