Boat Sinks In Lake Casitas
By Logan Hall
Lake Casitas officials are scrambling to protect one of the valley’s water sources after a recreational boat sank in 80 feet of water at an unknown location in the lake.
According to Ron Merckling, spokesman for Casitas, a boat sank sometime on Sunday evening, and the owner, who has not been named by Casitas, left the scene without notifying Casitas personnel. “Another individual of unknown relation to the owner called in yesterday (Monday) and indicated that a boat had sunk,” said Merckling. “The owner of the boat is cooperating at this time.”
Merckling says that protecting the water supply is at the forefront of Casitas’ priorities and specialists will be monitoring the water for any signs of fuel or oil contamination. “We are working to recover the boat as quickly as possible,” he said. “There is no indication that there are water quality concerns and it’s unlikely that it will become an issue. We are going to get our water quality person out there though. We’re just taking the necessary steps at this time.”
Abandoning a vessel in a waterway is illegal according to state harbors and navigation code, but Casitas has not yet indicated if there are any criminal implications for the boat’s owner. Merckling indicated that few details are available at this time, but Casitas employees are working to resolve the issue.
His name is Luke Branham. Not the brightest bulb in the box!
Uhhh Huh…
The guy was probably not drinking after a day at the lake. The poor guy, he just couldn’t find any help!?!
Ha-Haaa!!! What he did save himself of was a possible D.W.I. Leaving the scene, possibly an additional felony…Yet he was sober by morning to help out. Poor guy, he just couldn’t find any help after the incident…Ha-Ha, really?
Give him credit though he was smart enough to try and cover his tracks. Let’s see how it pans out with the Ojai P.D. By my check, $1000 out of pocket is sure better then what a D.W.I. costs these days! Plus tack on the environmental charges with oil leakage/gas in the lake, and pulling the craft up.
We can’t swim in there, but the boats are still allowed to spew more then any human could. But who said common sense was the rule?
Seems like he got away with the perfect crime, at least so far. Ignorance, like our government, seems to be bliss.
Well put Kevin and Rich! The pollution from gas powered boats, accidents like this boat sinking, makes the new one-mile long six foot high chain-link fence with three tiers of slanting barbed wire on top, with no animal-friendly opening at the bottom, even more ludicrous! A waste of money and barrier to wildlife that does nothing to make our water supply safer.
http://www.ojaipost.com/2011/07/second-request-for-permit-review-of-new-lake-casitas-fence/
Well put Kevin! It’s like on one hand they’re scrambling to protect the water, and on the other they’re making a lot of money in rec. fees (which keep going up) and allowing much more severe pollution. Can someone tell me which has been scientifically proven to be more ‘toxic’; bio waste, or petroleum based chemicals???
Guess I really feel that some of these people in charge of the water supply don’t think to highly of the public’s intellect, and their good intentions are polluted with money making…
The most irresponsible act of all is allowing gas powered boats on our drinking water supply in the first place!
Even when boats don’t sink, they still pollute the water with oil spills, gas spills and exhaust fumes.
Of course, no amount of chlorination will eliminate fossil fuel toxins from our drinking water. In fact, chlorination only creates more toxins.
By the way, when is the last time a boat owner washed off his boat and then drank the rinse water?
Every boat with any type of internal combustion engine will vent it’s exhaust into the water. In that exhaust, oil, unburned gasoline, and other toxic chemicals will come in contact with the water. On top of that there is a hiway (150) which runs around the lake and again pollution makes it way into the lake via water run off. Yet people can’t swim in the lake, or come in contact with it. By the time the water reaches the consumers it has cleaned in the same way your swimming pool water is kept clean. I really don’t get it, and think all this hype is more politics, money making and people trying to make a name for themselves then protecting the water, or the public. The public ALWAYS ends up with the short end of the stick on so many levels when it comes to the people making decisions!
when the boat sank how did he get back to shore?
What is the secrecy about? Why isn’t the boat owner’s name stated? That makes this even more a item of curiosity. Of course, the owner should be fined for the cost of pulling the boat out of the water and any water testing that may have to be done. Otherwise, the cost will somehow be taken out of the pockets of the citizens who rely on the water or the fees will go up (gulp) again to use the lake for recreation. Do the right thing.
Drinking water and pollution from any source is a bad combination. Sure there are claims regarding purification, yet only time will show long term results such as cancer, birth defects, etc. My opinion is: drinking water sources should be protected and preserved in the most pristine way as possible – ’cause ya never know…
How irresponsible can you get? Not reporting that you’re boat had sunk? Was this guy BUI? No insurance? I think they should press charges. He behaved irresponsibly.
I am curious though. If the location is unknown, how do they know it’s in 80 feet of water?