2011 Bullhead City River Regatta

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From: Toby CotterSent: Monday, August 15, 2011 6:51 AMTo: Steve JohnsonSubject: Fw: Debris left behind from 2011 River RegattaAttachments: P8130309.JPG; P8130312.JPG

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From: Jack Hakim <[email protected]> Date: Mon, 15 Aug 2011 13:27:47 +0000 To: Toby Cotter<[email protected]> Subject: FW: Debris left behind from 2011 River Regatta Toby, Please have steve issure a press release regarding the trash...forward it to the same cc's that Bridget sent her release out. The two pictures she sent were from the same location at the launch ramp at Rotary Park. We need to respond, do not mention her name. Perhaps a few pictures? I would not respond to her questions, but rather check with officials down stream. I'm doing T.V 2 this morning.

From: Bridget Lewison [[email protected]] Sent: Monday, August 15, 2011 12:41 AM To: Jack Hakim; Steve Johnson; Toby Cotter Cc: [email protected]; Associated Press; Bob Moore; Brian Wedemyer; Bruce Clark; Bullhead Bee Newspaper; Buster Johnson; [email protected]; Darryle Purcell; Dave hayes; Frank Costigan; Gary Watson; George Knapp; havasu point of view; Kingman Daily Miner; [email protected]; Tom Sockwell; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected] Subject: Debris left behind from 2011 River Regatta

Re: Trash from 2011 Bullhead City River Regatta held Aug. 11-13, 2011 (See attached photos for reference.) Dear Bullhead City Leadership: I am writing to you both as a journalist and a concerned citizen who was saddened to see the aftermath in and along the Colorado River following the city's annual River Regatta. Attached you will find two photos, only a small representation of the debris seen at 7 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 14, 2011, in and near Rotary Park in Bullhead City. Not shown are the hundreds, if not thousands, of Styrofoam coolers, flotation devices, plastic bottles, plywood and other debris that found its way to Needles, Topock and other areas downriver from Bullhead City. As you know, Bullhead City completed an Environmental Checklist as part of the Categorical Exclusion Determination (CED) approved by the Coast Guard in the issuance of a Marine Event Permit for the 2011 Regatta. Bullhead City answered NO to the following questions on The Environmental Checklist: Land Use Issues: (1b.) Will any wildlife of waterfowl refuge ... be directly or indirectly affected by activities related to the proposed event? At the time of this communication, debris from the 2011 Regatta has reached the The Havasu National Wildlife Refuge south of Bullhead City. Water Resources Issues (7c.) Will the event and related activities result in a decrease in water quality? How do body oils, suntan lotion, bodily waste and other substances from 29,000 human bodies, plus all the debris left behind, not affect the water quality? Wetlands, Habitats and Wildlife Issues (8a) Will the event and related activities cause damage to or require the removal of any marine of aquatic vegetation?

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How can the accumulation of debris, especially aluminum cans, sinking into the riverbed not cause damage to plantlife? Debris obstructs light and interferes with growth. It also interferes with spawning activity of native fish species by blocking access to the riverbed. Public Concerns: (10d) Have public interest groups or others not directly affected by the proposed event raised objections? For at least two years, KTOX 1340-AM radio out of Needles, and callers to its programs, have regularly expressed objections to the River Regatta. Concerns have been expressed about the safety of participants, especially the fact that people aren't warned about pollutants/organisms in river water verified by state and federal agencies (chromium, perchlorate, nitrates, uranium, giardia, etc.) Public comments expressing safety concerns regarding the regatta also have appeared on several Internet sites since at least 2009, including http://www.bullheadcityblog.com/bullhead-city-river-regatta/ (10e) Are there controversial issues? The Mohave Valley Daily News last year attempted to get a detailed accounting of Bullhead City expenditures related to the 2010 regatta but was not able to get specifics. Public comments in Bullhead City Council meetings have brought up dangers of participants drinking beer before, during and after the event, combined with the inherent dangers of the Colorado River's swift current. Anyone whose heritage is linked to the Colorado River, and for anyone who cherishes the natural beauty of this area -- they deserve an explanation as to why this was allowed to happen, and why their beautiful river has been allowed to be defiled by 29,000 participants of the Bullhead City River Regatta. Please, leadership of Bullhead City, if you will, answer this question: WHAT IS BULLHEAD CITY GOING TO DO ABOUT CLEANING UP THE MESS? Thank you, Bridget Lewison Concerned resident of Fort Mohave, Ariz. Freelance Journalist and Volunteer for KTOX 1340-AM This message has been prepared using resources owned by the City of Bullhead City, Arizona by: Jack Hakim, Mayor Department.

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2011 Bullhead City River Regatta

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