While Acton will be opened up to unlimited horsepower engines, nearby Cowan Lake in Clinton County will continue to operate under the 10 horsepower limit, at least for another year.
“There was more support for raising the horsepower limit at Acton than there was at Cowan,” said Eileen Corson, spokesperson for the Division of Watercraft. “This doesn’t mean either decision can’t change. Both lakes will continue to be observed and studied.”
She said the decision at Cowan was to keep it 10 horsepower for at least the rest of this year and then it will be revisited. And the unlimited horsepower/no wake plan at Acton is considered a pilot program which will be tested and evaluated during the 2014 and 2015 boating seasons.
Mostly, than means the lake will be patrolled to make sure the no-wake law is strictly enforced.
“We will add patrols,” Corson said. “There will be park rangers, wildlife officers and the Butler County Marine Patrol (sheriff’s officers) out there making sure the law is followed.”
“We don’t anticipate any problems,” she added. “We are doing this at other lakes and it has been a success. We realize this is a big change for some people, but like any change you have to give it a chance. This will allow many more people to take advantage of the good fishing at Acton Lake … those fishermen who have larger motors and haven’t been able to fish there.”
Acton will join seven other lakes with the unlimited horsepower/no wake designation in Ohio. Cowan is one of 40 lakes with a 10 horsepower limit. In southwest Ohio that list includes Clark Lake in Clark County, Grant Lake in Brown County and Rush Run Lake in Preble County.
Kiser Lake in Champaign County does not allow motors of any kind, including electric. That was in the agreement when the lake was deeded over to the state in the 1930s. There are three such lakes in Ohio.
Lakes allowing electric motors only number 97, including, in southwest Ohio: Adams Lake, Tranquility Wildlife Area and Mineral Springs Lake in Adams County, Darke Wildlife Area in Darke County, Indian Creek Wildlife Area in Brown County, Fallsville Wildlife Area and Oldaker Pond Wildlife Area in Highland County, Stonelick Reservoir in Clermont County and Spring Valley Wildlife area in Warren County.
There are 24 Ohio lakes with unlimited horsepower and no speed limit. In southwest Ohio they are: Grand Lake St. Marys, Indian Lake, Lake Loramie, Eastwood Lake (Hydrobowl), Caesar Creek Lake, C. J. Brown Reservoir, Paint Creek Lake, Rocky Fork Lake and Harsha Lake at East Fork State Park.
Corson said in addition to public comments, public safety, recreational opportunities, regional economics and environmental factors are considered when changing horsepower limits at Ohio lakes.
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