Lake Worth, FL ... projected NO anchoring

[RichH]

Lake Worth, near Palm Beach FL, is a highly popular for anchoring salt pond for transient boats traveling the AICW. Lake Worth has been a very popular 'staging' place before crossing to the Bahamas. The US Army Corps of Engineers is planning to dredge and 'fill' most the lake to levels suitable so that they can plant 'seagrass'. The proposal also includes the areas at the bridge at the north end of the lake where countless boaters use the bridge as a dinghy dock when getting provisions from town. Such 'work' by the USACOE would make it impossible for just about all sailboats and other deep drafted boats to anchor there ever again, .... you cant anchor on designated 'seagrass beds' because of the ultra-horrendous fines involved that are charged for any 'repair and restoration' etc.

From notices in the Waterway Guide website:
At the north tip of Lake Worth, also called Turtle Cove, cruisers often anchor to provision and wait for a good weather window to cross to the Bahamas and beyond. An Army Corps of Engineers project would fill the 14- to 17-foot depths of the anchorage to 6-foot depths, with the intent of encouraging sea grass growth and improving the water quality. The North Palm Beach Council and nearby marine businesses think the project may have the opposite effect, killing the existing sea life, hampering navigation and silting in channels and docks. Cruisers would lose this popular anchorage temporarily, and worry that they will lose it permanently. .... .

 

[Bob J.]

Will there be a public comment period or is this a done deal?

 

[Rick D]

I doubt the USACE initiated this on their own; any idea who the promoters are? There should be a public comment period in this process. If we 'restored' all our waterways within the USACE jurisdiction, we wouldn't have any ports or marinas, flood control and would even lose a lot of man-made lakes.

 

[BillyK]

what is it with Florida and their seeming hatred of boats? My wife and i are considering moving down there to the palm beach area for new work.. but i gotta say, everything i've seen on the boards here have me thinking otherwise.. Boating is a large part of our recreational life.. and if moving there increases the season, but also the frustration of mandates and the MP checking my seacocks for discharge all the time, i'm not sure its worth it.

 

[gettinthere]

Fla loves boats, they just passed a sales tax limit on purchase of boats.

SOME municipalities & their voters hate boats that anchor in front of their homes. They are 'stealing' the view, spoiling the environment, freeloading, whatever. Those few bad apples, with a lot of money, are making a stink. They are in a very small minority and have been fairly well curtailed so far. But as with any long term effort, they are chipping away.

Boaters are partly to blame. I used to own waterfront property. Never again; too frequent dealings with tresspassing, garbage, rude behavior, etc.

Everybody is to blame!

 

[MrBill_FLL]

spot on, 'gettingthere'

I could understand, If I were buying a house for 3m, and then having a liveaboard parked out front for months or years. lots of derelict boats ruin it.

 

[Robert 47]

It doesn't necessarally have to be in Florida. Our harbor is full of derralick boats. People get excited about sailing. Go out and buy a boat cheap or otherwise, then put it in the water at a harbor. After the first season, or second you never see them again. To much work and maintaince. But the boat stays there and collects wasps, water, mosquitos, mole, and basically rotts. We have been in our harbor for over 17 years, and never see anyone on them. But they pay the slip fees. Now I can find other things to spend $1500.00 a year on.
Florida does seem to not want boaters around much. I have heard of some real unfriendly laws being put on the books in the last 10 years towards boaters. Marina's selling out to condo developers seem to be the way to go for a long time. Don't think so anymore with the housing market dead like it is. Was in Boca last Oct. for a convention, and saw several multi story conds sitting empty. Florida lawmakers may see the error of their ways here very soon. Who knows. We all know the laws to apply to some of the boaters who just are not respectfully of other people and property. Just my 2 cents folks. I have a suggestion, come up to the midwest and see what the Corp of Engineers do for us here on the MIssissippi River. Maybe the new project will be as successful as they are in keeping the river in its banks. :dance: