My Thoughts on Idle / No Wake Zones There has always been a lot of confusion whenst it comes to Idle Zones on our local waterways. With boating season fast approaching, I thought it might be a good idea to share what I have learned over the years about Idle Zones. First: Idle Zones primarily exists for one reason only: BOATER SAFETY. {Well, maybe, except in Florida where they got that "Save The Manatee" thing going on}. Boater Safety! NOT to prevent land erosion, NOT to protect your boat from banging against the bank or your bulkhead, NOT so you can swim in the middle of the river in front of your camp, NOT because you do not like loud and fast boats going by your place on the river, etc. Second: Nationwide, there are no hard and fast rules for establishing an Idle Zone. Throughout Louisiana, there is no rhyme or reason whenst it comes to idle zones. Nothing consistent about them from parish to parish. Many years ago, the state (LA. Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries) was in charge of idle zones. Later, parishes took over that responsibility and whenst we had local elected politicians and police juries running the show, well then ........ Back in

the day, if you knew somebody that knew somebody, it was easy for you to get an idle zone sign stuck up in front of your place. Hats off to Livingston / Ascension Parishes for establishing a very good criteria used for consideration of an idle zone. In my opinion, they have done the best job in the state. If you keep that "boater safety" goal in mind, their requirements actually make a lot of sense. Waterway Commissions in both parishes worked with river patrol law enforcement (parish and state) and whenst it was all said and done, elected politicians signed off on it. I'd like to see other parishes throughout the state adapt the criteria used for establishing idle zones that Livingston and Ascension Parishes came up with. Standardize. Here's the criteria that was agreed upon: By authority of the Parish Council, an area must include one or more of the  following, in order to be considered for establishment of an official "idle/No  Wake Zone" on waterways of this parish. Once created, the nominal distance  within the zones shall be no less than three hundred feet in all directions, or  further distances deemed appropriate for the prevailing circumstances.

1. Bridge crossing a waterway  2. Public boat launching facility  3. Public boat docking facility  4. Public docking facility with boat refueling (gasoline, diesel) capabilities  5. Intersections of major waterways  6. Any area with a history of boating related accidents  7. Any area that, by nature, necessitates establishment for the purpose of      providing a safe passage for boaters    All 7 of the above make perfect sense to me and I support them. Important to remember, when you ENTER an idle zone, you should ALREADY be at the idle / make no wake speed. Not "just starting to slow down". I see 5 mph a lot. Cool if you have a GPS and know when you going 5 mph. Play it safe and go "minimum speed to maintain steerage" and you will always be good. A "polite idle", where you slow down a bit, plowing through the water, pretending like you making an

effort to go slow will draw negative attention AND a hefty fine from our Water Patrols. The following areas are hereby declared Idle/No Wake zones for Livingston Parish: (remember we have 4 other parishes within our local waterways).   Amite River at Port Vincent at the Hwy 42 Bridge: Three hundred  free up current of Fred’s (or current named establishment)  to three hundred feet down current of Smuggler’s Cove (or current name of  establishment).  {Note from Rob, Smuggler's Cove is now One Life Church}.  Highway 16 Bridge at French Settlement: Three hundred feet down  current of bridge to three hundred feet up current of The Dock Restaurant and  Lounge (or current name of establishment).  {Note from Rob, The Dock is  currently closed}.  Unless and until the idle zone sign is legally removed, I suggest  you still observe this as an idle zone}.  Old River Bridge: Three hundred feet on either side of bridge.    Old River: Three hundred feet up current of Red’s Seafood Restaurant or  current name of establishment to five hundred thirty feet on the Chinquapin  Canal down current of the Hwy 22 bridge over the Chinquapin Canal.  {Note from  Rob, not sure why 530 feet.  The End of Idle Zone Sign is posted much further  than 530 feet at this location.  Swamp Waters is closed}.      Diversion Canal: Three hundred feet up current and three hundred feet  down current of Hill Top Inn or current name of establishment.    Area known as the Weir: Three hundred feet in all directions to the boat‐ way where the Amite River and Diversion Canal Intersect.    Diversion Canal at the Highway 22 Bridge: Three hundred feet up  current of Canal Bank Club or current name of establishment dock to three  hundred feet down current of Kevin’s Restaurant or current name of  establishment.    Diversion Canal: Three hundred feet up current and three hundred fee down  current of Pier 13 Restaurant of current name of establishment.  {Note from Rob,  Pier 13 is now The Riverfront Tiki Hut (currently closed) and a restaurant has  opened in this same location, Sarita's Mexican Grill and Cantina}.   

  Blind River Landing/Warsaw Landing: Three hundred feet down  current of Blind River Landing or current name of establishment to three hundred  feet up current of Warsaw Landing or current name of establishment.    Tickfaw River: Three hundred fee on either side of Leisure Landing or current  name of establishment.    Tickfaw River: Three hundred fee on either side of the Prop Stop or current  name of establishment.    Tickfaw River: Three hundred fee on either side of Mak’em Wet Marina or  current name of establishment.    Black Lake Club: or current name of establishment. Three hundred feet on  either side of the boat launch and fuel dock.  {Note from Rob, Black Lake Club no  longer has fuel; this is still a legal idle zone}.      Colyell Bay: Three hundred feet on either side of the Hwy 16 Bridge.    Hwy 22 Bridge over Amite River at Clio: Three hundred feet on either  side.    Amite River Carthage Bluff Landing: or current name of establishment,  three hundred feet on either side.    Amite River at junction of Old River: Three hundred feet in all  directions.    Note from Rob, at some idle zones the 300 ft rule was extended.  This was done  based on inputs from various people involved at the time and I will just leave it at  that.  NOTE: In addition to Livingston Parish, Lake Maurepas and tributaries has 4 other parishes that also have idle zones. Ascension / St. James / St. John / and Tangipahoa. West of Lake Pontchartrain, Livingston and Ascension contain the majority of navigatable waterways. Quite often, one bank of a waterway is in one parish and the other side is in another. In many cases, the waterway is the boundary for the parish

line, thusly, the Idle Zone is maintained by two different parishes. On some waterways, the parishes do not agree and the Idle Zone (depending on which side of the waterway you are on), are different. {Tangipahoa and St. John Parishes are that way}. As a responsible boater it is important that you know the location and obey all LEGAL Idle / No Wake Zones. You can view a map that displays the location of all the current legal idle zones at www.RiverRatRob.com. Now for the bad news: A lot of our idle zones are not accurate. The signs have been moved, some relocated entirely. In the past counterfeit signs have been made and put up. The floating PVC Pipe idle zones have drifted (or been pulled) to a new location, ALWAYS extending the idle zone, NEVER decreasing it. A lot of the floating PVC Pipe signs have been hit numerous times by boats and don't resemble Idle Zone Signs anymore. In some areas the size of the sign is on the small side and hard to see, especially in developed areas on wide waterways, such as Diversion Canal. (Hard to spot for new or inattentive boaters). Some of the idle zones were established for businesses that are now closed and yet, the Idle Zone is still in effect. SUGGESTIONS: Update the wordage in the parish ordinance and make it current. New, bigger, easier to spot Idle Zone Signs on pilings. Put the signs back were they go (and not where they have been moved to) using a GPS or laser range finder, or similar accurate distance measuring device. Engrave a serial number on the sign and the latitude and longitude on the back of the sign. Hefty fines for stealing or relocating signs. Remove any counterfeit or home made idle zone sign. {Perhaps signs 'requesting' that boaters "Please Idle or Go Slow" might be exempted, but that's not my call}. Consider what to do about Idle Zones in areas where the business is now closed. It would be great if parishes throughout the state adopted the above criteria for establishing idle zones and established their own Waterway Commissions made up of people with knowledge of their respective

waterways. I'd suggest including local river patrol law enforcement, business and land owners on the water, and perhaps members of established boating clubs on their Waterway Commissions (NOT just friends of police jurors /councilmen). Appoint people with a vested interest in our waterways. Just so you know, our local parishes continuously receive requests for new idle zones for numerous reasons. Usually their reason for wanting an Idle Zone is the waterway is narrow where they live and / or a sharp curve. They attempt to get their Idle Zone with #7 above. A vague area and subject to interpretation about safe boater passage. There are people that actually want the entire Diversion Canal to be an Idle Zone. I kid you not. Many landowners on the water want their own personal Idle Zone AND will try to get it anyway they can. A while back, Livingston Parish received a request for an Idle Zone where I did not think one was deserved. Being facetious, I posted on my website I wanted an Idle Zone in front of "Ratland" and was going to use my semi awesome power and influence to get it. I stated I wanted "my" Idle Zone to be unique and different (like me). I only wanted boats with pretty ladies onboard required to idle by. We actually had people show up at a Council Meeting, some to oppose it and others wanting to request one, too. Alrighty then. BTW, I am NOT ANTI-IDLE ZONE. For example, down Blind River, I'd like to see an Idle Zone established at the I-10 Interstate Bridge. Then again, I'd also like to see the red / green navigational lights on this bridge, as well. I'm not holding my breath waiting for either to happen, but they should. A concern of mine is boater confusion. Some of us know where the signs were (and should be) and others do not. Easy for me to take off whenst I'm at the end of where the idle zone sign should be, passing someone that idles unnecessarily for several hundred more feet. Another example, some boaters slow down, sometimes abruptly, at

what they think is an Idle Zone, whilst another boater passes them and slows down later on. Confusion. Frustration. Educate yourself. Have a current copy of The Parish Idle Zone Ordinance on your boat. Read it. Know it. Again, Idle Zones are established and supposed to be maintained by the respective parish {not the state}. Request the parish pay a little attention and maintenance to our Idle Zone situation. We have the most unique waterways in the nation, with two major lakes {Maurepas and Pontchartrain}, access to the Gulf of Mexico, numerous rivers, canals, and bayous. Boat traffic increases every year as more people discover our special and vast waterways with many fun places to eat, drink, and listen to music. Our Idle Zone Signs should be a reflection of how special our waterways are. Want to discuss Idle Zones (or other waterway issues)? Email me [email protected] and / or hang out with me on Facebook as RiverRatRob. Thanks for noticing. Sincerely,

All my articles are dedicated to the memory of Jonathan.