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heavily used by the public who walk and jog around the lake on the trail <br />that is part of the City's Healthy Streets program. The SOA intended to <br />close off this park access in 2019, but did not realize that the entrance <br />existed. Those (including my wife and me) who entered here were <br />entering into the pit area, behind the fencing that the SOA erected, <br />without the required screening. Note the newer, long dock at the right. <br />This dock is heavily used by the public, mostly for fishing, but is closed for <br />the race event. <br />Photo: "Silver Lake park beach -swimming" This photo shows the only <br />beach segment open to swimming during the event —the area between the <br />last two dock ramps. The race course is relatively close to shore in all <br />these areas, restricting swimming and other public use. The shore is <br />closed to the right of the nearest dock ramp, as shown by the yellow tape. <br />Photo: "Noise measurement 2019" This photo shows the sound level of a <br />passing boat at over 100 decibels, at a distance of about 240 yards. <br />Purdue university, quoting a Temple University Civil Engineering study, <br />describes 100 dB as "Jet take -off (at 305 meters), use of outboard motor, <br />... jackhammer, garbage truck... Bell J-2A helicopter at 100 ft. (100 <br />dB)."and notes that it is 8 times as loud as 70 dB. This noise makes it <br />difficult for others to use the park, even in areas which are not closed due <br />to racing. <br />Photo: "Hydro races Silver Lake 2019" This is another picture to show <br />the amount of the Thornton Sullivan Park swimming beach closed to the <br />public during the event. A significant portion of the swimming and <br />sunbathing area is closed to the public even though it is not needed for the <br />race pits, apparently because the race course is set too close to the beach. <br />Photo: "Eaglet on nest 6-8-2020" A pair of bald eagles has been <br />successfully nesting on Silver Lake in recent years, including in 2020. As <br />of April 19, 2021 I have verified that they are on the nest again. A <br />question was raised by a Parks Board member last year about the status <br />of the eaglets at this time, and it was suggested that they have left the <br />nest by the time of the race. This is not the case, and this picture shows a <br />young eaglet on that nest (directly in front of the tree) in early June. <br />From reliable wildlife sources, the eaglets typically begin their first flights <br />around the time of the races, and their parents keep feeding them until <br />they finally leave the nest about 8 weeks later. The proposal is to create <br />a loud disturbance of their nesting and feeding area for two days <br />instead of the previous single day, at an important time in their <br />development. The lake is also now home to one or two groups of River <br />Otters, which also raise young here. <br />Notes from the permit request: <br />SOA is requesting "All beach areas & lower park grounds + parking lot, <br />docks, & Silver Hall." They are asking for exclusive use, but I do not think <br />