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Coast Guard wants to kick boats off 2 miles of the Potomac River when Trump is golfing
Retweeted by David Fahrenthold: https://twitter.com/Fahrenthold
New: Coast Guard wants to kick boats off 2 miles of the Potomac River when Trump is golfing
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Coast Guard wants to kick boats off Potomac River when Trump is golfing
With the Trump National Golf Club clubhouse in the background, Camp Calleva kayak instructor Steve McKone helps one of his campers while teaching a lesson on the Potomac River on Monday. (Toni L. Sandys/The Washington Post)
By Peter Jamison July 17 at 3:56 PM
RILEY’S LOCK, MD. — The Trump family has offended many sectors of establishment Washington since their arrival in the nation’s capital, from Langley’s spymasters to mansion-dwellers in the District’s Kalorama neighborhood. ... But 30 miles north of the White House, a conflict is now brewing on the banks of the Potomac River that pits the president’s interests against those of a very different — if no less zealous — constituency. This one is armed with paddles.
Citing security concerns, the U.S. Coast Guard says it is adopting a policy of periodically cutting off access to roughly two miles of the Potomac where it borders Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Va. ... The restrictions would clear the water of canoes, kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, sailboats, jet-skis, motorboats and anglers when Trump or other senior officials of his government decide to spend a day on the back nine.
The buffer zone is stoking intense concern and opposition among recreational users of the river, who range from Olympic athletes to injured soldiers. The proposed shore-to-shore security area includes Riley’s Lock, the embarkation point for a popular summer camp and a kayaking program for wounded and disabled veterans.
“It’s just heartbreaking,” said John Deitle, 41, a former marine who served a combined five tours in Afghanistan and Iraq and receives treatment at Walter Reed for lung problems he says are related to chemical exposure. ... Deitle paddles on this stretch of the Potomac with Team River Runner, a nonprofit that caters to wounded vets. On Sunday afternoon, he stood in a life vest at his put-in point on Seneca Creek, a faded Teufel Hunden tattoo showing on one of his bare upper arms. ... “Granted, it’s his golf course,” Deitle said. “But he has other golf courses.”
....
Peter Jamison writes about politics and government in the District of Columbia. Before joining The Washington Post he worked at The Los Angeles Times and The Tampa Bay Times. Follow @petejamison
With the Trump National Golf Club clubhouse in the background, Camp Calleva kayak instructor Steve McKone helps one of his campers while teaching a lesson on the Potomac River on Monday. (Toni L. Sandys/The Washington Post)
By Peter Jamison July 17 at 3:56 PM
RILEY’S LOCK, MD. — The Trump family has offended many sectors of establishment Washington since their arrival in the nation’s capital, from Langley’s spymasters to mansion-dwellers in the District’s Kalorama neighborhood. ... But 30 miles north of the White House, a conflict is now brewing on the banks of the Potomac River that pits the president’s interests against those of a very different — if no less zealous — constituency. This one is armed with paddles.
Citing security concerns, the U.S. Coast Guard says it is adopting a policy of periodically cutting off access to roughly two miles of the Potomac where it borders Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Va. ... The restrictions would clear the water of canoes, kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, sailboats, jet-skis, motorboats and anglers when Trump or other senior officials of his government decide to spend a day on the back nine.
The buffer zone is stoking intense concern and opposition among recreational users of the river, who range from Olympic athletes to injured soldiers. The proposed shore-to-shore security area includes Riley’s Lock, the embarkation point for a popular summer camp and a kayaking program for wounded and disabled veterans.
“It’s just heartbreaking,” said John Deitle, 41, a former marine who served a combined five tours in Afghanistan and Iraq and receives treatment at Walter Reed for lung problems he says are related to chemical exposure. ... Deitle paddles on this stretch of the Potomac with Team River Runner, a nonprofit that caters to wounded vets. On Sunday afternoon, he stood in a life vest at his put-in point on Seneca Creek, a faded Teufel Hunden tattoo showing on one of his bare upper arms. ... “Granted, it’s his golf course,” Deitle said. “But he has other golf courses.”
....
Peter Jamison writes about politics and government in the District of Columbia. Before joining The Washington Post he worked at The Los Angeles Times and The Tampa Bay Times. Follow @petejamison
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Given Trump's Golf Habits, The Coast Guard Plans To Cut Off Potomac River Access
BY RACHEL SADON IN NEWS ON JUL 17, 2017 6:14 PM
Attorney and competitive kayaker Adam Van Grack was paddling up from the Seneca Breaks on the Potomac River earlier this month when a motor boat sped up to his side. Two armed men told Van Grack that he needed to get to the other side of the river—immediately.
Every time that President Donald Trump decides to play golf at Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Virginia, one of the river's most popular kayaking and canoeing spots—used by children all the way up to Olympians—is disrupted. As the Coast Guard moves to implement a permanent security zone in the area, boaters fear that it will severely curtail enjoyment of the area for hundreds of people at a time.
"Shutting down the river so Trump can play golf is impacting a lot of people, not only us recreational paddlers who are out here for fun," says Susan Sherrod, the chairman of the Canoe Cruisers Association, a club and advocacy organization in the area. Several members of the U.S. canoe and kayak team use it regularly for training and Team River Runner paddles in the zone with wounded veterans. A boating school sits on the Maryland shore, and dozens of groups come from outside of the area come to teach kayaking on this section of the river, which offers both flat water and Class 1 and 2 rapids. Motorboats, stand-up paddle boarders, and fisherman are also common sights.
But when the president or other high-ranking officials decide to play golf at Trump National, the Coast Guard sets up a temporary security zone at the request of the Secret Service that places about two miles of the river off limits. ... Since March 24, they've already done so five times. Given the president's voracious golf habit, it seems all but certain that he'll return. ... Foreseeing the need for future security zones, the Coast Guard has implemented an interim rule in the Federal Register, effective July 10, that allows for a complete shutdown of the river to any use, motorized or non-motorized, between Sharpshin Island and Violette's Lock. The Coast Guard is currently taking comments before making it a permanent rule.
....
The permanent security zone proposed by the Coast Guard, above. The Canoe Cruisers Association is proposing a less restrictive area that would still allow for use of the river closer to the Maryland shore. (Courtesy of the CCA)
BY RACHEL SADON IN NEWS ON JUL 17, 2017 6:14 PM
Attorney and competitive kayaker Adam Van Grack was paddling up from the Seneca Breaks on the Potomac River earlier this month when a motor boat sped up to his side. Two armed men told Van Grack that he needed to get to the other side of the river—immediately.
Every time that President Donald Trump decides to play golf at Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Virginia, one of the river's most popular kayaking and canoeing spots—used by children all the way up to Olympians—is disrupted. As the Coast Guard moves to implement a permanent security zone in the area, boaters fear that it will severely curtail enjoyment of the area for hundreds of people at a time.
"Shutting down the river so Trump can play golf is impacting a lot of people, not only us recreational paddlers who are out here for fun," says Susan Sherrod, the chairman of the Canoe Cruisers Association, a club and advocacy organization in the area. Several members of the U.S. canoe and kayak team use it regularly for training and Team River Runner paddles in the zone with wounded veterans. A boating school sits on the Maryland shore, and dozens of groups come from outside of the area come to teach kayaking on this section of the river, which offers both flat water and Class 1 and 2 rapids. Motorboats, stand-up paddle boarders, and fisherman are also common sights.
But when the president or other high-ranking officials decide to play golf at Trump National, the Coast Guard sets up a temporary security zone at the request of the Secret Service that places about two miles of the river off limits. ... Since March 24, they've already done so five times. Given the president's voracious golf habit, it seems all but certain that he'll return. ... Foreseeing the need for future security zones, the Coast Guard has implemented an interim rule in the Federal Register, effective July 10, that allows for a complete shutdown of the river to any use, motorized or non-motorized, between Sharpshin Island and Violette's Lock. The Coast Guard is currently taking comments before making it a permanent rule.
....
The permanent security zone proposed by the Coast Guard, above. The Canoe Cruisers Association is proposing a less restrictive area that would still allow for use of the river closer to the Maryland shore. (Courtesy of the CCA)