[LRSLA]

Just thought you might want to hear the truth of this matter.

The LRSLA videos are still on the server at a private url.
We made the decision to take them private so that we could
fight certain boaters attempts to spread rumors and lies about
our activity. Our board felt that our Quiet Lakes activity was
overshadowing the other great Boating Safety work we were
doing.

As for the accusation that we pulled the videos due to bandwidth costs.
Were as we did see a large increase in the bandwidth usage on our server
it was still very minimal compared to the amount of bandwidth we are alloted.

Just as in New Hampshire, Southern Maine is experiencing a substantial
increase in boating activity. Offshore type boats are only one of the new
impacts being placed upon our surface waters. LRSLA is working to address the great need for boater education and safety awareness in our region.

As for our noisy boat issue, Maine's Boating Noise Regulations are now being enforced. The boats cited this season were operating illegally. LRSLA not only purchased sound meters this season for The State Warden's, we also sponsored training for the Wardens in noise enforcement. Our state warden's are highly professional and are committed to enforcement of Boating regulation.

Finally, LRSLA acquired 28 sound traces this season of boats that were in violation of Maine's noise regulation. Every boat was a high performance boat and every trace was at least 200% above the legal noise level.
Maine's noise regulations are 75db operational at 50feet and 95db stationary. Fines are $300>$500 per incident. Boats must be measured
with and with out cutouts in place. LRSLA will be petitioning the
legislature for an increase in the fines for next season and noise enforcement activity will increase on Long Lake and be initiated on Sebago
Lake also next season. There have not been any operational tests performed in the region to date. LRSLA is working to see that operational
testing begins next season. Boaters that failed the noise testing failed
stationary tests.

99% of the residents and boaters of the region are supportive of these efforts. LRSLA made many attempts to warn High performance boaters that enforcement was going to ramp up this year. Actually enforcement has been increasing for the last three years.

Noise violators in the region seemed to just blow off the whole issue
crying foul with out every attempting to understand the impact they were
having on the region.

Long Lake is not like Winni. LL is 12 miles long but it is only a mile wide at
it's widest point. With hills on all sides the lake forms a perfect amphitheater. Noise travels very efficiently in this environment.
Long Lake nor Brandy Pond are lakes that can handle extreme noise
levels without suffering great impact.

Yet the violators did not make any attempt to understand the impact.


Civilized society is not about doing any thing you please. Living in a community is about being a good neighbor.

LRSLA has recently formalized a very close relationship with Sebago's SWSW. The two organization are preparing to work together in support of Safe Boating and Quiet Lakes in the Lakes Region of Southern Maine.