River Law-Breaking

So did you know you can't put a boat in the San Lorenzo? It's against the law. Incredible.

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A few years ago, I decided that I wanted to paddle my rubber raft down the San Lorenzo so I called around to see if it was ok. I called Parks and Recreation, and they said it was ok, but I should check with Fish and Game. Fish and Game said we don't have a problem with it.

So we carried the raft down to the bank near the Soquel bridge and paddled up to the pedestrian bridge near San Lorenzo park, and then paddled down to the Laurel/Broadway bridge and had a great time.

When I visited the exhibit at the museum a few weeks ago, I read about the businesses that once rented boats to tourists for messing around in the river, and also read that boating is now prohibited by statue. What? I wrote to Parks and Rec, and received this in reply a Word Doc which I won't bother you with because here isthe ordinance right here (9.66.090):

Boats Prohibited
No person shall drive, propel or navigate any boat within all of that portion of the San Lorenzo River which lies within the boundaries of the city of Santa Cruz or within three hundred yards of the mean high tide line within the boundaries of the city of Santa Cruz, except when specifically authorized by the director of parks and recreation or designated agent for the purpose of landing and launching any boat.
(Ord. 85-63 § 1, 1985: Ord. 85-62 § 1, 1985)

Now that's just wrong. I'm going to try to find out if there are plans to repeal this in the new river plan. I think they are supposed to release the latest sometime this month.