For Your Information

So, we were supposed to have the annual Missouri-Arkansas Marina Owners Association (a.k.a. MAMA) meeting in Harrison, Ark. today, but an apparent ice storm in Little Rock made it too difficult for the colonel and other officials from the Little Rock Corps office to get up here. So, it was postponed until sometime in January. I usually try to report back to you all about what is discussed at the meeting after it happens, and I will do that once this one is rescheduled.

In the meantime, I thought I'd tell you a little bit about why we have this meeting. Basically it's our once-a-year chance to talk to the colonel face-to-face, as a group, about issues we feel are important. For example, last year the primary topic was the encapsulated foam issue. I am sure most of you are aware of the encapsulated foam policy that was signed and sent out by the outgoing colonel last year. The policy stated that within 10 years all commercial and private docks must be completely converted to encapsulated foam. Encapsulated foam isn't cheap, and many dock owners feared it would put them out of business. Yikes. A lot of dock owners were not happy about that little farewell. So, at last year's meeting we shared our concerns with the new colonel, and that resulted in a new policy being written - one that was much more reasonable and one we could all live with.

We also discussed the Corps implementing a policy that would regulate recreational activities inside commercial zones - the idea being that such a policy would promote safety and also help protect docks and the boats and personal property within them. That policy actually took effect earlier this fall. What does this mean to you? Well, it means the Corps now prohibits swimming, fishing, scuba diving, etc. within commercial zones - a.k.a. the PCM cove and other marina coves on the lake. For years, we at PCM have posted signs warning against the dangers of swimming and fishing from or near the docks, as we have underwater fuel and electric lines running all over the place. So, really this is nothing new. It's now just an official Corps policy, and the Corps will be the ones enforcing it.

Questions? Ask me, and I'll try to answer them!