Boat battle: Marina tells 900 houseboaters they have to go

[Wheres my refund]

The 30 year contract is a large part of the problem here. It's too long. Frank believes that he's an untouchable permanent entity. Retire Frank, it's way overdue.

[Long Time Houseboat owner]

This is the stupidest decision I have heard of in a long time. Yes, Frank needs to do some up-grades to the Marina but his people also should be given credit for the good job they do in maintaining the system during the water fluctuations. Every since the large boats have come on the lake they seem to be under the impression that it is their lake and everyone should jump to accommodate them. Now their big mouths have caused a big problem and hopefully their big money will fix the problem.

[Sailfish]

Im for Frank all the way! Johnson started the battle!
Thats what you get for whining and complaining!!! LOL

[Lake Oro Stake Holder]

I'm not sure whether to be happy or angry about how not one of you people posting all these comments actually live here. I'm glad you have been able to park your vaction homes in our lake and occaisionally spend a few bucks in our economy while you're here. It would be nice if those of you who live elsewhere and call this "your" lake would get vocal and active when we are trying to get those, who made us so many unkept promises back when they wanted to put this mudhole in our back yard, to actually make our lake the place they promised it would be. More than 40 years have gone by and very few of the rec-facilities the DWR and State Parks were going to bring us are here. A lot of people have waited a career-life for the alleged recreation industry to arrive. We could all have a great place here if we could keep he water level up; if some of the huge income from the power plant and water source could be brought back here for Rec-development and if promises would be kept.

[boat owner]

I don't understand why the state would gamble with revenues, losses for the next 3-4 years for sure until a new marina and facilities are built. Right now Oroville is the 8th largest revenue generating park in California, believe it or not! I wonder why that is? Something must be going right!! Why would the state fore go revenues when the state can't even pay their own bills. This is really about Frank pissing someone off big time at the state obviously. I've been at the lake 25 years and when I moved here I accepted it the way it was. If I wanted bigger and newer I would have settled some where else, maybe that is what the LOBO folks should do and all the new boat owners that have arrived the last 5 years or so and are the complainers. We've got them to thank!!! Leave so we can get back to the way things were, happy, fun, and houseboating, instead of being dry docked waiting for some 3.5 million dollar facility!! By that time I won't be able to afford to be there.

[Limits of Available Water]

There needs to be a lowest legal level established for the water in the lake, even in dry years. We are probably going to have lots of dry years. Without a limit established, no Marina will be able to stay in business. This State has an exponentially increasing population, and there will be increasing demands, and less water for boating. Already the lake is consistently too low, and San Joaquin wants more and more of Oroville water.
Locally we already use more water than we have. The water table in our aquifer keeps getting lower.
Enough is enough. Enough people already. Life is good, and we can go boating, but it won't be any good with many more people draining our lake every year. The State Water Project gives empty promises.
Locally we we would be better off with our rivers as they were and no Lake Oroville.

[Brenda]

boat owner wrote:

I don't understand why the state would gamble with revenues, losses for the next 3-4 years for sure until a new marina and facilities are built. Right now Oroville is the 8th largest revenue generating park in California, believe it or not! I wonder why that is? Something must be going right!! Why would the state fore go revenues when the state can't even pay their own bills. This is really about Frank pissing someone off big time at the state obviously. I've been at the lake 25 years and when I moved here I accepted it the way it was. If I wanted bigger and newer I would have settled some where else, maybe that is what the LOBO folks should do and all the new boat owners that have arrived the last 5 years or so and are the complainers. We've got them to thank!!! Leave so we can get back to the way things were, happy, fun, and houseboating, instead of being dry docked waiting for some 3.5 million dollar facility!! By that time I won't be able to afford to be there.

I think that you are somewhat misinformed when you identify LOBO as all of the huge houseboats that have come onto the lake in the last 5 years. We have been on the lake for almost 30 years, don't have a huge boat nor huge bucks,but still believe that the marina should be responsible to provide the services that their contract obligates them to.

[LWright]

No one is going to enforce an eviction order, some of the more expensive boats may want to employ a full time watchman living on board. What bothers me is using the acronym "LOBO" for the boat association. since 1996, "LOBO" has stood for the Lake Oroville Bicyclists Organization. The boat people should use "LOBOA"

[Wake Up]

Lake Oro Stake Holder wrote:

I'm not sure whether to be happy or angry about how not one of you people posting all these comments actually live here. I'm glad you have been able to park your vaction homes in our lake and occaisionally spend a few bucks in our economy while you're here. It would be nice if those of you who live elsewhere and call this "your" lake would get vocal and active when we are trying to get those, who made us so many unkept promises back when they wanted to put this mudhole in our back yard, to actually make our lake the place they promised it would be. More than 40 years have gone by and very few of the rec-facilities the DWR and State Parks were going to bring us are here. A lot of people have waited a career-life for the alleged recreation industry to arrive. We could all have a great place here if we could keep he water level up; if some of the huge income from the power plant and water source could be brought back here for Rec-development and if promises would be kept.

I have heard this before from residents who were here when the dam was being built. Does anyone remember what those promises were? What facilities were supposed to be built?
One thing I have heard is that locals were to have free access to Lake Oroville. True?

[Harry]

The concessionaire, Moorhart is just that; the concessionaire. That means he is not the owner of the facility, only the manager. When he is gone, another person will take over. Perhaps then the marina will be able to make needed repairs on the moorings at the marina.

I have not kept a boat at the marina for quite a few years but from way back, the docks were in terrible shape and that was fun time full time. They always managed to raise the fees continually but the facilities were a hazard and you had to watch your step to avoid tripping over the deterioration.

Let's hope that the new concessionaire will be a little more into service and maintenance mode than into how much cash he can extract from his captive milk cows. Our lake needs to have the best people we can find to handle it as it is a real treasure.

[Harry]

And, by the way, I LIVE HERE!

[Tim Pro]

Want to get involved? We are currently setting up a website at http://www.savebidwellmarina.com . Until content is added, you can also participate in the Facebook group at: http://www.facebook.com/group.php... , or check Save Bidwell Marina out at MySpace here: http://www.myspace.com/savebidwellmarina . We'll be putting scanned documents online from the state. You won't believe what the state is planning!

[Sarah M]

Mr. Frank Moothart is one of the kindest and most generous people you will ever have the pleasure of meeting. He is not only a successful businessman but a truly caring human being. A loving and compassionate family man. Frank should be applauded for running and keeping the Bidwell Marina in the best shape possible for the thousands of boaters who have had the opportunity to frequent Lake Oroville. Given the extreme drought conditions, it is commendable that the lake has remained accessible. Mr. Moothart is fully aware of the negative impact that not having the marina available on not only we as boating enthusiasts, but on the local economy as well. To put people out of work will weigh heavy on his heart.
The State of California should rethink its position.
Mr. Johnson et al could learn a lot from Mr. Moothart. Give him a few hours of your time on the docks to help understand the situation and be part of the solution and not the problem.

[Ghone Phisin]

I just received notice that After this year the facility at Bidwell Marina will cease operations. I am not quite sure how one of the few bright spots it the way this state is operated is being forced out. My family has been going there for years and I remember what it was like before the current operators took over and I know what it is like now…this facility is truly like going to see family every year and they are all too happy to accommodate folks on their stay on the lake. Could you please try and explain why they are being forced out. To be truthful the facilities are more than adequate in as much as they are safe and clean and well maintained. When we go to the lake we cannot ask for any more than that. Given the new requirements for any future operator, it seems as though there will be some rather hearty price increases which will make the annual trip to the lake far too costly for the average person. Once again the little guy gets the short end of the stick. It is incomprehensible that given the condition of the state’s finances that anybody could come up with such a stupid set of standards, I guess you plan on fixing this like the other bureaucrats fix all of the other problems in this state. This is a sad day and hopefully somebody comes to their senses before it is too late. A little common sense, is that too much to ask?

[Bill H]

Ladies and Gentleman,
I am never surprised when I witness man’s inhumanity to man no matter how flagrant. However I still can’t get used to the idea or accept it as business as usual! Such is the case with the state vs. Bidwell Marina! I don’t want to accuse anyone of anything here that they do not deserve but I can’t help but wonder what would motivate someone, and/or the state to push one business owner out for another? In other words, who’s backing this idea financially? Who stands to profit? This needs to be investigated and investigated hard if we can possibly find any investigative reporters left alive that are actually interested in the truth.
Here we have a financially stable business which has built incredible relationships with their customers and the public in general, financially solvent enough to stay afloat,(no pun intended), who also provides jobs in a terrible economy, yet somebody wants them out of there! If this makes sense to any of you reading this, you’re probably comfortable with clubbing baby seals.
These are good people, hard working Americans just trying to get by like everyone else who not only run the business but patronize it as well! People who want to get away from the city and find some serenity and spend time with friends and family on the water. My mother and father owned a houseboat on the Mississippi river for 15 years. They stayed at the same marina and paid there slip rent the entire stay. Why? Because the people that ran that business made them feel like family, and treated them like family. That’s what good businesses like Bidwell are best at! This is not just a recreational facility ladies and gentleman; this is a community on the water! These folks know each other and look out for each other boats and property for one another. They know each other’s occupations, children, history, and favorite beverages! They grill together and their kids play together and they drink together! This equals a community! A close knit one at that!
So I ask you again, who stands to profit from this? Whose interest is it in to destroy one good community in the interest of developing a better paying one? This has to be about money does it not? If there has always been one sure way to run the average working man out of a community a rich man wants to take over for him and his comrades, it’s to price them out!
To add insult to injury, they don’t even want to give fair market value to the current owners for everything they have worked for! They just want to run them out! Does this ring a bell? Have you noticed that Enron got away with stealing people blind? Those folks are broke ladies and gentleman and the story has died! Does this not completely reek of greed and arrogance?
Edmund Burke said “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing”. So what are you going to do? It’s not such a long drop from the sidewalk to the dirt in the gutter folks; this could be any of us! Get busy and sound off for the trains about to run you over!
Be sure and capture all the necessary email addresses and sign up for you free 30 day trial at www.hatecards.net ! Pick out the cards of your choice and bury them with them!
Does the state want to be right or do they want to be successful? Timothy McVeigh, Sadaam Hussein, David Koresh and Adolph Hitler all thought they were right!
Were they successful?

Sincerely,
Bill Hardwick

[jusme]

gary wrote:

<quoted text>
Yeah, that will happen....have you seen the current releases? they are up to 9,000cps, about 1-1/2 feet of lake per day...southern calif will never allow the lake to be drained!

You are right..there are swimming pools to be filled, and cars to be washed, and lawns and orchards to be watered..what was I thinking???

[bee bop]

Wheres my refund wrote:

<quoted text>
Frane never accepts and never has accepted any responsibility of any damage or loss of property, including damage caused by marina workers. They flat lie about knowledge of the incident, even after you talk to workers there that can tell you what happened to your boat. If you complain to the office you get moved to a worse location. This was even worse when Sherry was up in the office. And the contract we were forced to sign puts it in writing that he has no liability for anything. Hostages

You know, after reading these posts I am left wondering something..why don't you all just move your boats to somewhere where you are welcome. The lake (and the town) seemed doomed to forever be a second class desination.. the "powers that be" have never wanted any growth of industry and now they don't want any growth of tourism. I know it is not their fault (this time) but, ifI had a boat on the Lake, I for one would not spend another dime in this backwater town.. I have been here since 2nd grade (I am beyond 60)and I am sick and tired of the same ol' crap... Oroville just can't get ahead, no matter what.. Get rid of the boats, the marina and the lake. Screw So. Calif, let them find their own water somewhere else. I am done!

[bee bop]

Lake Oro Stake Holder wrote:

I'm not sure whether to be happy or angry about how not one of you people posting all these comments actually live here. I'm glad you have been able to park your vaction homes in our lake and occaisionally spend a few bucks in our economy while you're here. It would be nice if those of you who live elsewhere and call this "your" lake would get vocal and active when we are trying to get those, who made us so many unkept promises back when they wanted to put this mudhole in our back yard, to actually make our lake the place they promised it would be. More than 40 years have gone by and very few of the rec-facilities the DWR and State Parks were going to bring us are here. A lot of people have waited a career-life for the alleged recreation industry to arrive. We could all have a great place here if we could keep he water level up; if some of the huge income from the power plant and water source could be brought back here for Rec-development and if promises would be kept.

You are so right.. a lot of promises were made before the dam was built.. campgrounds, marina's, etc..were going to mushroom up all around the lakeshore... then after approval to build the dam was reached, all the promises were forgot. Not to mention the real estate speculators who bought the rattlesnake and manzanita brush infested property around the lake in anticipation of making a killing.. what a joke this whole lake-thing has been..

[gary]

bee bop wrote:

<quoted text>
You know, after reading these posts I am left wondering something..why don't you all just move your boats to somewhere where you are welcome. The lake (and the town) seemed doomed to forever be a second class desination.. the "powers that be" have never wanted any growth of industry and now they don't want any growth of tourism. I know it is not their fault (this time) but, ifI had a boat on the Lake, I for one would not spend another dime in this backwater town.. I have been here since 2nd grade (I am beyond 60)and I am sick and tired of the same ol' crap... Oroville just can't get ahead, no matter what.. Get rid of the boats, the marina and the lake. Screw So. Calif, let them find their own water somewhere else. I am done!

While the marina issue is a serious one, it would appear that for the last few of your 60 years you have been walking around with your eyes closed. Had you been keeping them open, you would have seen the Oroville has progressed considerably over the last few years, with the new Riverbend Park, and landscaping at the foot of Montgomery, the new Holiday Inn Express, the beautification of Montgomery Blvd.....my goodness, need I go on? Okay; Home Depot came to town, Denny's is going in the old Wards center, Big Lots, and several smaller businesses have also come to town. Open your eyes and look around, and you will see that you are blinded by a hate of just living here, and that, unfortunately, only you can do something about.

[Phil D]

The state is a bunch of arrogant jerks. I am both a houseboat owner and home owner overlooking Bidwell Marina and the state has not upheld their promises. I stand to lose a lot if they do not allow Frank to exercise his 10 year option because the new marina does not have to be completed until 2012. If Frank leaves, his moorings go as well since he owns them. It was Frank personally who tied my houseboat to the marina gas docks when we had a medical emergency 4 years ago. It was a busy 4th of July weekend and I am sure he lost plenty of gasoline sales while I was tied up there taking someone to Oroville Hospital. The water in the lake represents revenue to the state, both for the sale of water and the megawatts it creates. It doesn't pay to keep the water in the lake. If drought restrictions were in place all could be better but nobody at the state wants to say or hear that. Allow Frank to exercise his 10 year option and resolve the issue in the open so we can all see what the state's agenda is really all about.