Lake Whatcom AIS Inspectors are gone

It looks like September 28 was the last day Bellingham Public Works conducted inspections.  I went out the 30th and found the kiosk all locked up.  Here are some of my observations:

1.  According to the official press release, boat use on the lake is up; according to the inspectors who actually do the counting, the boat use of the local ramp is down by as much as fifty percent.

2.  The AIS inspection sticker is good for a year, which of course runs from January through December.  However, the inspectors are only on duty from the end of April through the end of September--a period of five months.  An annual permit for motorized boats costs $50 with a $10 discount if you take an online test; non-motorized boats are charged $10 which is waived if you take the online test.  There is no distinction between resident and non-resident boats.  Lake Mead, which has a zebra mussel infestation, charges $10 for residents with powered craft, $5 for non-powered craft, and $20 and $10 respectively for non-residents.  The inspections are conducted year-round.  

3.  Besides boat and trailer registration and insurance, anglers have to buy fishing licenses, another expense of at least $29.50.  This is an expense that other pleasure boaters don't have.

My conclusions (might be prefaced with a giant "DUH"):  The AIS program is achieving its desired purpose--getting boats off the water by adding a layer of regulation and fees before one can access the lake.  Access is regulated less than 50% of the year, so protecting the lake from infestations via AIS inspections is akin to having the Border Patrol on duty at the Canadian border five months out of the year to protect the country from illegal immigration.  The state of Nevada conducts inspections year-round at 20% of the price we pay.  I suggested the non-resident boaters pay a higher fee, but Public Works said that would be too difficult to determine.  I guess they don't realize that different states and provinces have different license plates and Coast Guard numbers.  I have no figures to back this up, but I have heard this particular program loses about $125,00 annually.

Personally, I see a future of two possible scenarios:  As the program continues to lose money, the county (Whatcom County actually pays Bellingham to implement the program, since most of the lake is county property, but the ramp is on city property) will be forced to either increase the fee or ban boats from the lake all together.  There is at least one group--Lake Whatcom Stewardship Association--that is working towards that end.   Personally, I'm not sure what more can be done.  I've griped at city councilmen, county councilmen, most of whom would much rather see us all off the lake.