Protect our City Tidelands from Unregulated Jet Skis

I support a City ordinance closing the tidelands owned by the City of Homer to jet skis, except for a corridor out of the harbor. Additionally, the city should require education for jet ski riders, set a minimum age for riders, and prohibit jet ski use after sunset.

Our sensitive tidelands are the habitat of migratory waterfowl, marine mammals, and salmon. The high-speed maneuvering and jumping characteristic of jet skis is not compatible with sport fishing, set netting, stand up paddle boarding, surfing, kayaking, and birding. The shallow draft and high power of the vessels threatens the rich ecology of the mudflats.

Since the city has little to no enforcement capability on the tidelands, this is the best approach to management.