Subject: COLORADO RIVER EMERGENCY! (fwd)
Date: Sep 30 01:07:41 1994
From: Michael Totcky - Birdphreak at AOL.COM

"Birdphreak at aol.com"

Dear CHATters,

I have a matter of grave concern to discuss with you, and I would like to
solicit your support [if I may use that phrase after the RBS incident ;-) ].
My concern is for the Colorado River, more specifically, a small area of the
Havasu National Wildlife Refuge on the river. I speak of the Topock Gorge,
an environmentally sensitive area which harbours Yuma Clapper Rails (an
endangered species), Black Rails (heavily pressured, being considered for
listing), many migrant waterfowl, and, (maybe not of specific interest to
birders) along the banks of the river, breed the rare Desert Mountain Bighorn
Sheep (recently re-introduced).

The reason for my great concern is a Personal Watercraft (Jet Ski's) Race.
The race is planned (Oct 14-15) to run from the city of Lake Havasu, through
the gorge and up the Co. River to Laughlin Nevada (a gambling mecca in the
desert). The race is in conjunction with the International Jet Sports
Boating Assn.'s (IJSBS) World Championship jet-ski races (on the lake
proper).

I personally have no beef with the World Championship races per se, however,
jet-ski's are notorious for causing damage in shallow-water areas such as
those found in various areas of the Topock Gorge section of the HNWR. In
fact, the US Fish and Wildlife Service is soon to be defending themselves in
a lawsuit which loosely states that they are responsible for allowing
personal watercraft into sensitive areas of the Refuge, (where habitat damage
is occuring) thereby further endangering already heavily pressured wildlife!!

The race promoters have quietly (in the last two weeks!) set up this 60 mile
race, not bothering to examine the impact of
their actions on the wildlife or their habitat. Neither have they asked the
USFWS's permission to traverse the Refuge. Their answer to questions about
permission are to say that the US Coast Guard told them it was ok, because
the River is covered by their jurisdiction (The Navigable Waterways Laws).

This is an outrage! The Coast Guard makes a unilateral decision which
affects the habitat of an endangered species?!?!? How can this be? We need
more co-ordination between governmental agencies! Moreover, something needs
to be done to stop this travesty now!

May I please, humbly impose upon those of you who care about our dwindling
habitats to call on the phone, send fax messages, and write letters (quickly
sent!) to any and all of the following:

Sorry I don't have numbers for all these suggestions, I'm still looking and
will post them in the future. (If anyone knows how to contact any of those
listed below, Please e-mail me or post on BIRDCHAT)


Race Promoters-
BP Racing/Baja Promotions
P.O. Box 8938
Calabasas, Ca 91302
Ph# (818)-340-5750
Ph#(818)-992-6355
Fax#(818)-348-4648

USFWS Director
Mollie Beattie
Washington, DC
fax#(202)-208-6965

Brian Higgins
Nat. Audubon Soc.
Washington, DC
Ph# (202)-547-9009(Voice)

Ecological Services Office(Dept of Interior)
Phoenix, AZ office
Director: Sam Spiller
fax# (602)-379-6629

Arizona Game and Fish

US Coast Guard

IJSBA
International Jet Sports Boating Assn.

Harrahs Casino Hotel
Laughlin Nevada

THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST AND SUPPORT!!!!

Michael Totcky
"Birdphreak"
Birdphreak at aol.com