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63 °F Forecast | Road Cams Friday, September 17, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend August 26, 2004 Boaters should be cautious on Lost Creek Lake By MARK FREEMAN Mail Tribune Lost Creek Lake is dropping about six inches a day, and the daily surfacing of new boating hazards has park rangers there warning boaters to be cautious. Boaters need to be aware that new stumps, boulders or land forms are becoming potential danger points for boaters, water skiers and others who use the popular lake along Highway 62 about 30 miles northeast of Medford, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Many of these hazards can be just a few inches under water, threatening to harm boats and skiers. Hazards are generally marked with white cylinder-shaped buoys with an orange diamond emblem. A series of these buoys may indicate the length and location of a boating obstacle. Corps park rangers advise boaters to reduce their speed and navigate around these markers and to motor as much as possible in the middle of the lake when driving fast and towing skiers. Advertisement Under a water-release plan crafted annually with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and other state and federal agencies, the Corps releases water constantly from the lake into the upper Rogue River. The main beneficiaries are Rogue fish, downstream irrigators and some municipalities that purchase stored water from the Corps. Lake recreation is considered a secondary benefit and takes a back seat to flood control and downstream fisheries needs under the congressional act authorizing the building of Lost Creek dam. A recent spate of serious boating accidents involving towing of "pull toys" has Oregon State Marine Board officials warning boaters to take extra caution while using these items. Recent fatalities involving power boats pulling inner-tubes on the Columbia River and Foster Reservoir, plus an accident on Klamath Lake, have prompted Marine Board law enforcement coordinator Tony VanMeter to issue the following series of basic rules for boats pulling any type of water toy: Make sure no one is near the prop when the motor is started. The driver must keep a sharp eye for hazards, such as other boaters, floating debris and rocks. Don’t turn around to watch the person getting pulled through the water. Circle slowly when picking a person up from the water. Turn off the motor while that person boards the boat. Avoid congested areas like beaches, docks and swimming areas. Reach reporter Mark Freeman at 776-4470, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities