Due to concerns regarding Zebra mussels, Wheeler Branch Reservoir will only allow kayaks, canoes and john boats without bilges, live wells or raised floors that can conceal water. No boats with gas powered motors are allowed.

Further information can be found at www.scwd.com

Might get to see Bill Wilcox in a kayak--Honey Hole likes to go there to film in the summer

So... the way I read this is a typical 'fishing' kayak with a raised floor will NOT be allowed at this lake. Is that the way you understand the new policy? If my interpretation is correct I see this eliminating maybe 50-75 % of the people/boats/kayaks who have used it in the past.

No. SOT kayaks are NOT excluded. Water is typically not trapped in the compartment or transferred from lake to lake.

This is funny. Like kayaks,birds,or the paluxy that they draw water from can't carry zebra muscles.

I hope your are right, Hancock. but read this carefully: I think it says the opposite:

new policy-
On June 13, 2016 the Board of Directors passed a resolution that only allows canoes, kayaks and
open hull john boats without bilges, live wells or raised floors that can conceal water.

This says kayaks WITHOUT raised floor are allowed; kayaks with raised floors are not allowed. What am I missing here? I agree that water is typically not trapped inside a SOT kayak. But the policy states if the boat "can conceal water." Not sure of the intent, possible worded awkwardly.

The Board did NOT exclude SOT kayaks. The intent was to not have john boats with raised floors that did not drain all the water from a previous lake enter Wheeler Branch.

I saw this coming some time ago; in fact I got the number for the manager and spoke with him at length, this when some changes were being considered.

John and Dave at the entrance had mentioned that anyone in a small bass buster boat, or a kayak/canoe, or a jon boat with a trolling motor would soon have to pay $25 (whatever the boats pay). The jon boats may have been paying this already, I am not sure.

My argument was that they'd lose some business if trolling motor -only vessels were charged the same as large boats. I won't go into the whole discussion, can't recall it all anyway, but the manager said that they were very concerned about the significant costs of eradicating/controlling zebra mussels, that this was their main concern.

He went on to say that since full size boats didn't utilize the lake that often, that this might be the way things would end up --- no boats.

Revenue? He said there was no net profit from the boat ramp operations anyway so that was of no concern, just the huge liability related to their water source.

*** I agree with the side that says they are not trying to exclude SOT kayaks with scuppers . . . though I concede that it could be an avenue to transfer one of those pesky zebras.

As regards kayakers, this will actually make the lake even better I would suppose. Less time at the ramps, more fish, you get the idea.

Brad

Diagram the sentence like you did back in the fourth grade. raised floors modifies john boats, not canoes and kayaks.

Good thing I have a hybrid style kayak

Was thinking the same thing.

So sots with hatches are a no go?

I think the "raised floor" they are refering to is like the kind you find in a Jackson Kilroy. It is a seperate piece from the hull and does make removing water from the inside very difficult.

Quit guessing and read the rules:

4. Boat/Watercraft:
a. Allowable: A vessel that is considered to be a canoe, kayak, paddleboard or open hull type boat.
b. Non-allowable: A vessel that contains a bilge, live well, bait well, raised floor or outboard motor. Any vessel that has potential to transport concealed water.

The guy manning the gate will just see it as a kayak and let you in.

Now if they would just add some campsites out there!....