SB0056 – Boat Size Fox Waterway

SENATOR MORRISON has proposed SB0056 which would outlaw boats for personal use over 40 feet on the Fox Waterway. Her feeling is that these boats are unsafe for such a congested area during the season.  When asked why this was only being advocated on the Fox Waterway, she suggested that she wasn’t aware of any other waterway in the state that has the level of congestion that this one does.  She said that other waterways could be considered in the state and perhaps this would be a model for that possibility.

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocTypeID=SB&DocNum=56&GAID=15&SessionID=108&LegID=114493

She said that point ii. is in the process of being amended along the following lines:

no person shall operate a boat or watercraft that exceeds 40 feet in length on the Fox Waterway, with the exception of boats or watercraft that: (i) are used for dredging, construction, lake maintenance, or similar activities; and (ii) carry passengers for hire. 

After hearing of this legislation’s filing the Agency did reach out to Senator Morrison’s office and had a discussion with staff and Senator Morrison.

The Fox Waterway Agency Act does provide a process to affect changes such as these by the locally elected FWA BOD’s, please see the following:

 

WATERWAYS

(615 ILCS 90/) Fox Waterway Agency Act.

(615 ILCS 90/7.1) (from Ch. 19, par. 1208)
Sec. 7.1. The Agency shall implement reasonable programs and adopt necessary and reasonable ordinances and rules to improve and maintain the Chain O Lakes – Fox River recreational waterway from the Wisconsin State line to the Algonquin Dam for the purposes of boating, sailing, canoeing, swimming, water skiing, rowing, iceboating, fishing, hunting and other recreational uses, to help prevent or control flooding of the waterway, to improve recreational uses of the waterway, to prevent pollution and otherwise improve the quality of the waterway, to promote tourism, and to create and administer a procedure for establishing restricted areas

Please reach out to Senator Morrison’s office to share your thoughts and feedback on this bill:

Senator Morrison’s Office

Springfield Office (Deni):
M115 Capitol Building
Springfield, IL 62706
Phone: (217) 782-3650

Deerfield Office (Jo-An):
700 Osterman Avenue
Deerfield, IL 60015
Phone: (847) 945-5200