RE: Table Rock Lake Master Plan and Shoreline Management Plan

Dear Committee,

I am writing to add input to your public comment process. There are a few areas of particular concern that I want to bring to your attention:

Carrying Capacity- The Corps of Engineers is proposing in the new plan a maximum total number of access opportunities on Table Rock Lake. In 2009 the number was 19,254 and the proposed cap would be 30,806. This includes private docks, commercial marinas, and launch ramp parking. This cap would mean property owners who have acquired lakefront property with dock zoning and had not used it by this time would no longer be able to put in a new dock. This would greatly reduce the value of these properties. This would effectively shut down the lake without public input. I think the same committee structure that is overseeing this process should be re-convened to help oversee this process after the next carrying capacity study is performed as called for in the proposed Shoreline Management Plan and before the Corps can adjust the number of boat slips and ramp parking spaces or cease development on the lake.

Remote Service Dock Program (Satellite Docks) is a program where the Corps allows Marina Operators to install “Satellite Docks” within the marina buffer zone and lease slips within those docks to the public. The Corp is looking to eliminate this program and not replace this with Limited Development Area and red line zoning (dock zoning). By eliminating the program, it would limit and restrict the publics access to the lake. I am in favor of keeping this program for the following reasons:

Public access to the lake
The Corps claims they have received “increasing objections” regarding traffic increases into the areas where these docks are located, However, the vast majority of slips in these docks are leased by members who reside in that immediate area. In some cases, members of the public who commented against the remote service dock program wrongly assumed that they would gain LDA red line zoning in its place.
Most of the slips leased are to residents in the area of the satellite dock, who would not have the availability to a boat slip due to the marina buffer zone.
Marina owners maintain their docks at a high standard.
I also recommend the restrictions placed on this program be eased. Currently the restrictions and studies which are required by the Corp make this program cost prohibitive on a marina owner.

Vegetation Permits- Allows owners of property which adjoin Corps property to mow and clear property from the foundation of their home 200’ onto the Corps property if they obtain a permit. Property owners are allowed to remove vegetative growth which is less than 2” in diameter (restrictions based on the type vegetation applies) at shoulder height (approx. 4.5’ high). The Corps wants to change this for most vegetation to 2” in diameter at ground level and 3” in diameter at ground level for cedar trees, there are restrictions based on the type of vegetation. The reason for this change is so the Corps can tell how big the vegetation was when it was removed. The 200’ distance would also be limited if it would cross a road, creek, stream, or other natural changes in the topography.

I recommend the cutting of vegetation to be changed to ground level and the diameters to be 3” for most vegetation and 4” for cedar trees. This would allow the Corps to tell the size of vegetation removed and would also allow for the approximately same size vegetation to be removed as the current regulation. I also recommend that no changes be made to the 200’ distance. The current regulation for vegetation permits has helped keep our lake beautiful and clean, the only issue appears to be the Corps ability to determine the size of vegetation removed and my recommendation accomplishes this.