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 MWCD Revises Rates for Events on Lakes Fishing tournaments are one of the most popular activities on the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District lakes. Because of their popularity and in an attempt to address congestion at the boat launch ramps for tournament participants and all other boaters, the MWCD began charging fees for fishing tournaments and other organized group boating activities through a marine event registration process many years ago. In 2006, rates were updated for the first time in several years and took effect as part of the policy for the fishing tournaments and other events held on the lakes. However, MWCD officials identified that the new rate structure was placing a disproportionate financial burden on the smaller fishing clubs and groups, which hold the largest number of events on the lakes each year, said Mark Jukich, MWCD manager of operations. According to the terms of its newly revised policy approved recently by the MWCD Board of Directors, clubs and groups no longer will be charged fees on a per-event basis. Instead a fee will be paid by all event organizers based on the total number of tournaments, events and/or activities they hold at the lakes during the year. “Following the changes made to the policy last year, several clubs contacted us and explained the potential financial hardships they were facing,” Jukich said during the meeting held on the campus of Marietta College. “We worked with these clubs to better understand how their events function and how these fees affect them. We promised them that we would review their concerns and the new policy changes reflect those concerns.” According the revised rates, clubs and groups that hold one to 10 tournaments and events in a year will pay a total administrative fee of $25, while 11 to 20 events will cost $75, 21 to 30 events will be $125 and 31 or more events will cost an additional $25 per event. Open tournaments, which are not limited for participation by a particular club, group or organization, will pay fees for individual events based on the number of boats entered ($50 for one to 25 boats, $75 for 26 to 50 boats and $100 for 51 or more boats). Smaller club fishing events, which feature as few as five participating boats and include some clubs that hold weekly events, make up the vast majority of fishing tournaments held on the MWCD lakes each year, Jukich said. The changes will be in effect for the 2007 season. In another matter, rates for 2007 for the family vacation cabins the MWCD operates at four of its lake parks were approved by Board members. Slight rate increases were approved for cabins at Pleasant Hill, Seneca and Tappan lake parks, while a rate decrease was approved at Atwood Lake Park. The cabins, which are located at each park within easy access to the lake shoreline, have two bedrooms, sleep up to six people and feature their own bathrooms and other amenities. The cost of a nightly stay at Pleasant Hill and Seneca parks will be $90 next year, with a weekly stay to be $525. A nightly rate of $133 was set for cabins at Tappan Lake Park, which offer heating and air conditioning systems for year-round occupancy. The weekly rate at Tappan is $835. At Atwood Lake Park, rates were reduced for the nightly and weekly costs. The nightly cost will be $110 in 2007, which is a reduction from the current charge of $124. A weekly cost next year will be $675, or a $75 reduction from the $750 charged this year. Rates reflect the maximum costs, with parks offering various specials during the year. For more details or to learn how to make a reservation, contact the park of your choice or the MWCD office toll-free at (877) 363-8500 or online at www.mwcdlakes.com.
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