A speed limit for Chain O' Lakes?
On the Chain O' Lakes, the tranquil sound of the water lapping against a seawall is becoming more frequently replaced by the roar of a high-performance boat.
The noise -- and the safety hazard -- from boats traveling the busy waterway at top speed has people living and boating on the Chain looking for some changes.
Those changes could include establishing a speed limit to help curtail accidents and reduce noise.
Fox Waterway Agency officials will hold discussions in the coming months regarding speed restrictions on the Chain O' Lakes.
"The thought is slowing boats down would not only increase safety but reduce noise," Executive Director Ingrid Ruttendjie said. "It's no secret: The more the boats are revved up, the louder the boat is."
She said a 45 mph speed limit has been bantered about, but added that number is just a starting point. Lake and McHenry county sheriff's departments would be responsible for enforcing the speed limit, she said.
There is no speed limit on the Chain now. Typically, boats travel between 25 and 50 m.p.h. Some are capable of reaching speeds above 100 mph.
Agency officials wouldn't be the first to restrict speed. Lake Geneva in Wisconsin employs a speed limit of 45 miles an hour on weekdays and 35 miles an hour on weekends.
The agency will review options during the next meeting, at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 13 at the McHenry municipal building, 333 S. Green St.
They could face some opposition from marina owners and boaters.
Boater John Vileta of Fox Lake said adding more restrictions on the Chain could drive boaters away and hurt businesses.
"It's like people moving next to an airport, then asking the airplanes to quiet down," he said. "They bought their homes on the lakes and knew about the noise issues. They should live with them."
Fox Waterway Chairman Howard "Bud" Scott said he's all for trying to reduce noise and making the lakes and river safe, but said the speed limit proposal won't get his support.
"I can see why they are looking at all kinds of things, and noise is a big issue for people, but they'll have to wait until I leave to put a speed limit on there," he said. "I'm all for safe boating, but we have enough laws in place right now. Besides, I think the guys with the fast boats know when to drive fast and when to take it easy."
Scott said the owners of faster boats are pretty good at policing themselves.
"We should just wait and see what comes of it," he said. "Right now, there's only a minority of people asking for a speed limit, but there are a lot of boaters out there who we haven't heard from."