Bismarck, North Dakota News

" Since I wrote my letter that was published by the "Bismarck Tribune," I have learned much about river issues, especially with the help of some fellow concerned citizens, and some wonderful, involved people in numerous local, county, and state agencies.

There is a concerted effort underway, headed by Game & Fish, to establish a coordinating position by the 2009 boating season to...well...coordinate all the various local, county, and state agencies with jurisdiction to: 1) raise awareness about river issues, especially safety and litter (Pack out what you pack in) awareness; 2) dramatically step up law enforcement and presence, including law enforcement on the sandbars, possibly including video surveillance; 3) employ those who are sentenced to serving community services hours for regular sandbar clean-ups.

I am most encouraged by the fact that many of the Bismarck-Mandan Legislators were in attendance last week at a meeting on this subject at Game & Fish. These legislators will be key to making sure the position is created and the programs are funded. I urge you to contact them with your concerns and suggestions.

In the mean time my committee of volunteers will conduct a sandbar clean-up at 5:00 PM on Monday, September 8, leaving from the courtesy docks at Southport (located just south of the bridge). The intent is to do a litter clean-up before the fall rise, so the trash that may be there does not find its way to our neighbors downstream. If you would like to join us, we need boats, volunteers, and big trash bags. At the end of the evening I will do my best to see that everyone who participated (adults only!) enjoys one of my company's fine beer products on me! If you are interested, you can reach me at 701-471-2846. "

" SPECIFICALLY which laws are being broken? Is this a matter of laws actually being broken or is it a matter of people being irritated by the behavior of others? I don't know the answer. Does anyone? "

" Why can't we get seasonal water enforcement officers like they have in MN? Many people use it as a stepping stone into either law enforcement or working as a Game Warden... should be an easy position to fill and it would be a real presence on the river to curb bad behavior... It is obvious that self policing is not working... "

" I refuse to believe it's a population problem. It's a respect problem. No one, especially Gen Why, respects anything or anyone anymore. "

" It used to be that you could take a relaxing ride down the river and not worry about running into much but a tree stump or a sandbar. Now days it sounds like the river has become a polluted dumping grounds for lack of better words.
If you really think about it, the river provides the Bismarck Mandan area with more than just a place to run our boats, jet ski's and to park our docks.
The Missouri River is a natural resource that just happens to provide many communities with their MAIN AND ONLY source of drinking water. When its gone then what?
The Missouri River is here for all to enjoy, the fact that some people made a choice to live on it, well that is their choice. Others use it as a recreational area. As long as everyone respects the River for what it is, a natural resource we should all get along right? Wrong....... It sounds like everyone needs a lesson in that respect. We ALL need to understand that it is a priviledge to have this beautiful natural resource in our backyard and it is something we are all responsible to take better care of or some day, it won't be there to take care of us.
I think that all a person needs to say about that.. "

" I have to agree with Old river rat. Times have changed from when we were kids, and young parents 20-30 years ago! (right B Beach?) Back then there wasn't a population problem on the river, and everyone respected the land and each other. There was always a "friendly little river wave" when you passed a boater. Now with more people on the river, and less knowing the laws. This won't change, and people will keep coming to the river on beautiful summer days. It makes sense to have something in place to protect the people, and enforce respect of the water, and the land. (Maybe then I would feel safe to venture down south to visit B Beach!) "

" Bono asked: "Who said anything about "noise ordinances? Blaring music and a huge party at 2 am is disturbing the peace no matter where you are. River or not."

Yes; simple courtesy and respect for others on the part of both boaters and homeowners would ensure that these problems didn't happen. But the laws and ordinances draw the line in the sand so that everyone knows what the rules are. Otherwise, one person's 'quiet time is 2:00 AM' becomes another person's 11:00 PM and then another person prefers 9:00 PM, etc. Or, one person decides the property line goes to the edge of the grass, the other person decides the property line goes to the high water mark, and the next person decides they like the property line to go as far out as low water happens to be that hour.

The best starting point for resolving problems is that everyone understands and agrees on what the basic rules of the game are and works from there. If everyone is playing by their own set of rules, it's hard to find a solution. "

" Who said anything about "noise ordinances?" Blaring music and a huge party at 2 am is disturbing the peace no matter where you are. River or not. I guarantee if your neighbor was having a blow out loud party in the middle of the night you'd have the cops there. Nobody is talking about the noise during the day. It's not an issue then. "

" Okay, okay, I've read the same arguments now for the past couple weeks. Whenever I go over the bridge I take a look at how many boats and water toys I'm going to see in that little section that is deep enough to drive a boat. I think the problem is not really anybody's fault. You have a large number of people now living down by the river compared to a few years ago, and you have more and more people on the water. But the amount of water space has not grown. You have that little corridor of space to fit your pontoons and jet ski's in. Maybe they should excavate an area for more room for boaters. Seems like both sides have the same argument-trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. "

" So much misinformation, so little time! Noise ordinances on the river? If you move next to public sandbars or beaches and recreational water, expect to hear boat engines, loud music and people making noise while they play. Or drive yourself crazy trying to change the world. "

" Once again a lot of this comes down to choice. Unfortunately, the river is a point of 'recreation' and we don't have to use it if we choose not to. It serves several economic needs however, we do not 'have to be on the river.' Just as one of the previous posts commented, they are not going to be on the river for the next two weekends until it slows down. They solved their own problem. Another choice would be to simply drive somewhere North or South where there is less traffic.

We all want to have it our own way, like Burger King. Some like pickles, some don't, some like ketchup, you get the drift. If you like to drive fast, drive fast. If you want to drive a wave runner, drive a wave runner. The common theme from every single post here is respect for others on the river, and use a little common sense when boating in traffic. Show common courtesy to others around you, just like Tony said.

I for one would hate to see any kind of laws controlling anything on the river, because once you open that can of worms, eventually nobody will be boating on the river. What might start out as some simple boating laws may turn into restrictions that take the fun away from boating. Just think about how you feel when you pull up to a sandbar that has a sign on it about some bird nobody's ever heard of nesting there, to 'Keep Off'. More ridiculous ordinances than that would most likely be enforced. "

" To Bisman people love to crackdown - your post makes no sense. According to you - if someone "chooses" to live on the river -they should expect lawbreakers and should be fine with everything and anything that happens there.

Disturbing the peace, boating under the influence, urinating in public - it's all breaking the law. Would you expect this blatant law breaking to happen on your street just because you "chose" to move on a street? NO.

Sounds to me like you are jealous of those who can live on the river. "

" Good Post Tony.
I don't think we need more patrol on the river as a solution. If we allow 12 and 13 year old's to drive a motor vehicle, would it be safe if we patroled every street corner...personally I don't think so.

I think the common sense may kick-in if we added education aka testing, required safety courses, etc.

Also, I think if the G&F implemented a 10 mph rule from Fox Island to Merriweather's, there would be a lot less frustration. "

" In the Game and Fish handbook, you'll find that there are a few lakes and rivers that have a speed or motor size limit. The River here in Bismarck has no speed limit, it is open to everyone. Just because someone puts up a no wake sign does not mean the G&F will enforse it, just like someone living by I-94 puts up their our speed limit sign, the HP won't enforce it either. If it is not in the G&F rules or laws, there is nothing they can do.

The common courtisity of boating seems to be a thing of the past, with boats comming and going in all directions at the same time. It's not uncommon to see 3, 4 or more boats going north almost side by side with just as many going south doing the same thing, while in the middle there will be a speeding boat or wave runner going in and out of the floating mess.

Unless some regulation is in place by the G&F or the Corp, nothing can or will be done. Its always because of a few that there will be a reason a law or rule is needed. Most donn't know what side to pass on or how far apart a boat should be to pass antoher. Maybe a boater saftey cource should be required for a boat licence. I don't know what the answer will be, but for now there is not much the G&F or county's can do to enforce laws that aren't there. "

" Kudos for a great letter! I grew up boating on the river back when you knew just about everyone who had a boat and you could spend an enjoyable weekend on the water and at the sandbars. I still own waterfront property with a dock and boat, but you take your life into your own hands if you venture out on a weekend. I can't agree more that there is a desperate need for visible, active enforcement on the water. I have seen Game and Fish and the Morton County Sheriff's Patrol once all summer. Game and Fish actually stayed in the area for about 10 minutes, but the MCSO was speeding through. Like another poster, my neighbors and I have taken down registration numbers, photos, etc. and called G&F with no response whatsoever. The number of intoxicated boaters, young children on PWC's or rafts, loud parties, and people who feel the need to see just how close they can get to you at 60mph is way out of hand. There has already been at least one accident I know of this year where some young people crashed their PWC into a docked pontoon. I would hate for there to be an actual fatality before local law enforcement pulls their heads out of the sand and addresses this problem that is only getting worse. "

" This is Nuts asked - " Waterboy, what does this have to do with the people living on the river, other than we get to witness the obnoxious and irresonsible behavior more than others."

Mr. Bruan's letter does a good job of pointing out that many problems on the river are a matter of finding balance between the desires of boaters and the desires of homeowners and other users. That's a good place to start. "

" Fascinating. The author speaks of people with no class, then resorts to name-calling (idiots and slobs) and commanding language in which he tells people what they SHOULD or should not do. And people respond "great letter!"
Really? "

" Waterboy, what does this have to do with the people living on the river, other than we get to witness the obnoxious and irresonsible behavior more than others.

It really requires enforcement, where I live on the river I have not seen enforcement all summer! To expect people to act civil and responsible when they have a few beers in them is nuts. Times have changed and there needs to be a speed limit around the bridge area and others. If people want to fly like a bat out of hell they can go to the big lake and have at it. A fixed patrol on the hill looking over the river with a spotting scope/video hookup and a boat unit would do wonders.

Operating watercraft on the river is more difficult than operating a motor vehicle "between the lines" on the road, therefore, the blood alcohol limit for operating watercraft should be less than driving a car on the road. This should make mcquade happy!! Sam how about a ten cent deposit on cans!



. "

" As usual, the real deal is somewhere in the middle of all of this. There are way too many people operating watercraft recklessly on the river, and there is no shortage of people who live along the river who act like they live on a private lake and their property extends far out into the channel.

Reminds me of the posts this spring on ORV's except it's on water this time. The solution is still the same - mutual consideration and respect for each other and an understanding that everyone wants and likes something different. Or, everyone can lock horns. I'll go for everyone mellowing out a bit on this and I'll bet that would resolve a lot of the 'problems'.

See ya' on the water! "

" Proud American and What do you care. You can teach and implore the public until you are blue in the face but some will still do what they want. There is always someone who will go up the down stairway, or speed, or be careless. That is why society has laws and has people to enforce the laws and then punish the offenders. What do you care, start thinking about consequences. A jet ski hitting a pontoon or large boat will damage both the pontoon and large boat causing injury or death to people on both craft. I am staying off the river this weekend and next weekend as well. Maybe I will venture out after Labor Day; it should start getting both quiet and sane then. "

" The real problem is not the law enforcement but it the rudness of and lack of consideration of the public and public things. The river and sand bars are not theirs to trash. If you bring it then you take it with you. "

" Oh please, spare us the righteous declaration of concern. If someone hurts themselves on a personal watercraft, what business is it of yours? Surely, a little jetski will lose in a collision with your dock, yacht or pontoon (that resembles an industrial barge.)

What this is really about is a few whiners that have the idea in their head that they own the entire river. "

" You folks should have considered the possibility of traffic, noise and trouble when you chose to live by a recreation area near a city. The attitude of many of these so-called "river rats" is that they own the river, just because they were here first, or because they bought some crackerbox from Turnbow.

Hope you enjoyed the constant clang of that bridge pile driver for the last couple years. That's pretty noisy, and we can hear it all the way outside of town. Ha ha ha. "

" So many people now days have nothing but blatant disrespect for anyone and everything. Thats not going to change, because we are taught now days by many many people there is no such thing as shame or disrespect. Very sad society we now live in, in my view. "

" I grew up on the lakes of Minnesota where most kids know how to drive a boat before they even attempt to get behind the wheel of the family jalopy. In my time on the river here I, too, have had a number of concerns about watercraft safety and operation, especially in the areas near the southern bridges (Expressway, Main/Strip). There's a really great online boating/watercraft Safety Course and Certification Test (available at http://www.boatingbasicsonline.com) that might be worth checking out. The littering I've seen is also of concern, but as the author and posters point out, there would have to be a law enforcement presence to guarantee any adherence to statutes and ordinances that carry the penalty distinction of being "B" misdemeanors and simple infractions. Public complaints, unless verified by law enforcement investigation, rarely go anywhere. The most we can hope for is that we use common sense out there and others follow. Lead by example. Teach your kids how to properly manage a craft. Have fun on the water, but be safe. "

" I will write about it again. I think we need a permanent summertime law enforcement presence on the river. Yes, it will be expensive. Forget about the Game and Fish Department, this presence, on the river, needs to part of Mandan and Bismarcks police or sheriffs departments or a combination there of. The officers will need to be trained in marine law. Their boats will need to be clearly marked, have radios, sirens, and red flashing lights, and contain everything the typical squad car contains. Two boats equipped with two officers on each boat sounds like the right formula. These law enforcement personnel can enforce the nautical rules of the road and perform boat inspections to see if proper life preservers are on board, navigation lights are working; a proper fire extinguisher is onboard etc. What if a boater or sandbar user is injured, gets sick or is involved in a serious altercation with another boater or sandbar user? Currently there is no way ambulance or law enforcement personnel can reliably and quickly get to the site of the accident or altercation. Currently, the river is becoming a lawless no mans land, a place, especially on a weekend, where nonsense, stupidity and high speed rein supreme and accidents or other problems are just waiting to happen. Perhaps, before someone can pilot a boat anywhere in North Dakota, they should be required, at the minimum, to pass a written test covering the nautical rules of the road. "

" Excellent letter. From what I can gather from the comments, the real problem is not lack of law enforcement, but lacadaisical law enforcement. What can we as citizens do about that? I for one have no interest in forming citizen river vigilante groups. One hand gun in a boat glove box would bring an explosive end to such a venture. "

" I was born and raised a River Rat and my family has owned property on the river for close to 50 years.

As property owners and boaters, the things that I and my family have witnessed in the last 10 years is nothing short of unbelievable. Boaters with no concept of wake laws or general safety, children as young as 10 and under being allowed to operate wave-runners without an adult, FISHERMAN (whom should know better), barreling past kayakers at unheard of speeds, drunk high school kids floating the river at night in a $20 raft with no life jackets or survival gear, and the list could go on.

As landowners, the blatant lack of respect for private property never ceases to amaze me. Almost every weekend we have groups of boaters that park right next to our cabin and let their dogs run loose which causes us to have to tie ours up. They play their music at ridiculous volumes. They trespass through our manicured property to relieve themselves, and then, if thats not enough they stick around and make themselves dinner. Obviously our private property signs and glaring stares all day long must make them feel welcome.

I do not in any way want to restrict anyone's right to have a good time on our beautiful river, but safety, responsibility, respect and common sense NEEDS to be addressed.

It is time for all TRUE River Rats to organize to help solve these problems. It has become obvious that the problems have grown too big for Game and Fish and the local authorities to handle. Anyone SINCERELY interested please contact me at 701-426-2750.

After reading the lengthy posts in response to Mr. McQuade's letter to the editor a month ago, I would expect my phone to ring off the hook. But sadly, as I am sure Mr. McQuade found out, people's concern subsides when they realize may have to play an active role in the solution. "

" Bill Engvall does the comedy routine, "Here's your sign". Bill and Jeff Foxworthy do some comedy stuff together, but it's Bill's phrase, not Jeff's. Other than that detail - great letter! People are getting less and less respectful of their environment and their fellow recreationists. It is truly a shame! "

" Nice write up Mike. I agree with you. If game and fish were out like they are supposed to be, it would be more manageable. I have a slip in Marina Bay, and I can tell you, they are NOT out like they should be. Where are all of our tax dollars going? I should have went to school to be a game warden. I would be all over this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "

" Good article. Although I'm not sure the words "pontoon" and "speed" should be used in the same sentence. "

" It wasn't Foxworthy who coined that phrase. Some people need to fact check before writing a letter to the editor. "

" I what youare trying tosay. But, when was the last time you reported anyone to G&F and saw anthing done. My Family and I video taped some of these activities. We contacted G&F and told them we had video. They did not seem to care. My Friends and I wrote down boat numbers and turned them in. Saddly to say nothing was done. How do I know we ran into the same people about a month later. We told them we were going to turn them in agian. They laughed and said "OH GEE another letter!" We did not turn them in for that reason. So, you tell me how we can all get something done. I for one think that it will not get done. The G&F have enough trouble with inforcing the fishing laws. They do not seem to care or want to help. Why not get volenteers that have the athority to enforce some of the boating laws. Put them on the river. I for one would be glad to do this If the G&F would just pay for the gas. I have small boat but I could get around the area of Bismarck. We need to all help but so does the Game and Fish. "