Future Of Silver Glen Boating To Be Discussed Monday

    As the future of boating in Silver Glen Springs Run continues to be debated, two separate groups dedicated to keeping access open have joined forces to host a community meeting on the subject. The public is invited to attend a special gathering on Monday, January 22, at the Astor VFW, where leaders are expected to discuss the efforts to keep the Glen open to motorized boating.
   The US Forest Service has requested the Glen be closed to motorized boating, with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reviewing the request. Citizen groups, including The Friends Of Silver Glen Run and SOBR (Save Our Boating Rights) are fighting to keep the run open to motorized boating, and have organized the upcoming meeting.
   Closing Silver Glen run to boats has been an on and off again topic for years, with a variety of actions, including mooring restrictions, navigation lanes, alcohol bans, and more being enacted at varying times in an attempt to balance public use and environmental protection.
   Beginning at 7 p.m., the public will hear input regarding the effort to keep the run open, as well as costs associated with procuring the necessary legal and lobbying services required to fight the issue at the state level.
   The meeting's agenda was released this past Tuesday, and includes updates on the FWC's process, what the groups are doing to fight the closure, how people can get involved, and a question and answer session.
   “We are in a huge fight,” said Millissa Angle with The Friends of Silver Glen Run.
   “This meeting is going to allow us to give out information we have found out from the attorneys and lobbyists.”
   Angle said there are increased costs in fighting the closure this go around.
   “I don’t feel we can win without a much bigger fight than we’ve had in prior years,” Angle said.
   The groups are pushing two different points of argument as to why the run should remain open. One point raises the fear that closing the run to motorized boating will have a negative impact on the Astor area economy, which relies heavily on boating traffic and boaters who come and stay in the community for weekends or extended stays. The other point focuses on boater safety, as storms often come up quickly on Lake George, and can be dangerous due to the lake’s shallow depth and large expanse. The run currently provides a safe haven for boaters needing to get off the lake in a hurry.
   “Even now, they tell boaters to go there when there’s a storm,” Angle said. “Often, there isn’t time for people to pull anchor and get to safety if they can’t go to the Glen.” Angle said she believes that if the run is closed to boats, it would only be a matter of time before boating deaths rise on Lake George.
   The VFW is located at 55620 Veterans Drive in Astor.

- USFS Image