May 6. By Dave Yochum. After 65 years of promoting safe boating and public recreation on Lake Norman, the Lake Norman Marine Commission will be dissolved. Lincoln County commissioners voted unanimously to leave the LNMC last night, and legislation requires the Marine Commission to be dissolved if one county leaves.
“No good will come of this,” said LNMC Chair John Johnson, a Cornelius resident.
John Johnson
The LNMC had a goal of zero fatalities for the 2025 season, after only one boating-related fatality in 2024.
“Safety will suffer and deaths will go up,” he said.
Quotable
“Lincoln County and the supporting “back room” group that began and encouraged the dissolution of the Marine Commission are like the dog that finally catches the car – now what are they going to do with it?” Johnson said.
What’s next
Jeff Tarte, former Cornelius mayor and state senator, is mediating the various parties involved in the the Lake Norman Marine Commission dispute which will dissolve at the end of June.
That said, Lincoln County may come back—to a newly constituted marine commission.
Jeff Tarte
“If the LNMC goes away by action of Lincoln County, it is not going away permanently, merely taking a brief staycation,” Tarte said.
He was asked to bring the parties together by NC Sen. Vickie Sawyer, chair of the Senate Transportation Committee.
Tarte, who previously said police services on the lake would not be affected, could not be reached for comment.
Perhaps some good can come of this. The LNMC should have been called the Lake Norman business development committee.
When asked to address the damage and risk caused by wake boats. These boats are different from traditional boats because they are engineered to maximize wake, not minimize it, for a better water sports experience. Those wake damage piers and cause undue expense for lake property owners – the people the LNMC was called to protect. The large wakes can capsize a small fishing or pleasure boat.
If a new LNMC is formed, please include safety as one of the goals.
Posted by Bruce Andersen | May 6, 2025, 3:41 pmWake boats are destroying docks and shorelines. Huge wakes and property owners have zero recourse. They need to be reined in. Having a pleasant day on the Lake is no more as the wake boats plow the Lake leaving huge waves. They are designed to build a large a wake as possible and they succeed. We NEVER see any enforcement on the Lake.
Posted by Lou Dietrich | May 6, 2025, 3:50 pmWake surfing should only be allowed in the main channel.
Posted by Clark | May 6, 2025, 4:21 pm100% AMEN Totally agree with you on that. They have damaged my pier and property for years in Lucky Creek! I personally think everyone who drives a boat jetski sailboat should be required to have a boating license. I’ve seen many near misses out on the water and from my front porch. All boats need to respect wake rules cause I’ve seen pleasure boats jet skis and fishing boats break the rules.
Posted by Lee W | May 7, 2025, 3:24 pmGoing backwards on time when going forward is of the most importance
Posted by Gary Caldeell | May 7, 2025, 7:20 am