January 5, 2006
Some of the New Year Wishes One Year Ago Came True In 2005
Thirteen months ago I wrote of a likely wish list most Ohio boaters had shared as 2005 was about to begin. In reviewing marine news from this past year, some of the hopes and wishes came true in 2005, one was slightly in error, another hope was dramatically in error and two items perhaps will always remain unchanged. Here’s the scorecard with a few remarks on what boaters might expect in 2006:
Wishes That Came True For Ohio Boaters In 2005
- Better boating weather on Lake Erie did occur, particularly in the western basin. Boaters enjoyed one of their finest summers in recent memory as boating opportunities largely were enhanced by excellent conditions June through September over much of the lake. In 2006: boaters always hope for good weather every year.
- More boating access remains a high priority for the Division of Watercraft, which succeeds in helping to create more boating access facilities each year. ODNR’s highlight in this area was dedication of the first Ohio Waterways Trail along a portion of the Kokosing River last June. In 2006, more than $3 million will again be awarded to local communities for construction of boating access facilities and the Ohio Waterways Trail system will continue to grow.
- A third wish that came true was keeping interest alive in recreational use of the Ohio River. Work is underway to one day attain Ohio Waterway Trail status for the Ohio River and new boating access projects are in various stages of planning and construction. In 2006, the Ohio River will remain a viable opportunity for boaters to enjoy Ohio’s waterways.
- A fourth wish that is slowly emerging as a truism concerns having more time to enjoy boating. The first wave of the Baby Boom generation is now turning age 60 and more Boomers will begin enjoying their retirement years. In 2006, this emerging trend will be gaining in strength over the long term.
- One item that was slightly in error, but still commendable for its 2005 outcome concerned boating fatalities. Coming off a year in 2004 when a record low of seven boating fatalities occurred, Ohio had eleven fatal boating incidents that claimed twelve lives in 2005. The figure was significantly below the annual average of eighteen fatalities. In 2006, the goal remains to have no boating fatalities and to certainly remain well below the annual average.
There was no change in two of the wish list items and it’s likely they will never change. Boaters want to see more accurate weather forecasts and more respect and politeness demonstrated by fellow boaters. In 2006, these wishes will never change over the long term.
And finally, the one wish list item from a year ago that really backfired for everyone concerned was the hope for lower fuel prices. Just the opposite occurred as record high fuel prices negatively impacted some of Ohio’s recreational boating activities. In 2006: While the wish for steady or lower fuel prices remains high on everyone’s list, we are again likely to see higher fuel prices.
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