Anchoring ban in Biscayne Bay

To my fellow young, twenty something, boaters/partiers/day time drinkers. The National Park Service has released an assessment/plan on limiting the number of boaters that can anchor in Biscayne Bay and sandbars (Elliott Key, Stiltsville, Sands Cut, etc. etc.) They are proposing that a few buoys be anchored in these areas which will only allow a few boats to anchor to the buoys rather then anchoring in the sand (and causing harm to the sealife below). There is a section of their PDF which explains the damages caused by us human folks: boating under the influence, controlled substance possession, minors with possession of alcohol, littering, boating accidents, assualt/battery, etc. This to me sounds like something that the police should be worrying about rather then the park service, but what do I know...

So basically...they want to stop (limit) the anchoring and tie-ups of the partying boats in our bay. I can't speak for everyone, but if you grew up in Miami, you've had many boating experiences, and most likely in these areas...I understand the NPS's desire to want to environmentally take care of the park and the animal life, but at the same time, this hampers Miami boating experiences and the companies who support us in all our boating needs..There is a comment section link at the bottom of this page, where you can leave your comments/ideas on how this will affect you, your lifestyle, and the environment in which we all live and play in. 

Mooring Buoy and Marker Plan

Biscayne National Park » Mooring Buoy and Marker Plan» Document List

The National Park Service (NPS) has released an environmental assessment (EA) for a proposed Mooring Buoy and Marker Plan at Biscayne National Park. The purpose of this EA is to assist the NPS in analyzing the impacts from different alternatives to manage its embedded and floating marker system, as well as to determine criteria for adding or relocating markers and mooring buoys. Waters within Biscayne National Park are marked to assist boating navigation by a system of aids to navigation (ATONs). This system employs a variety of markers using a simple arrangement of colors, shapes, numbers and light characteristics to mark navigable channels and hazards to navigation. Buoys are installed and managed by a variety of agencies to denote sensitive areas and closures; these aids are installed with the concurrence of the U.S. Coast Guard to ensure that their placement does not present a hazard to safe navigation. Aids found within the park include embedded markers such as lighted structures, day markers (both lighted and non-lighted), poles and pilings, as well as floating buoys. Markers are in place to assist navigation through routes or around hazards, or to give information such as the presence of scientific sites or swim areas. Some markers within the park are managed by other agencies (such as the U.S. Coast Guard or Miami-Dade County) or private entities (such as Florida Power and Light). The park also manages several mooring buoys to prevent anchor damage to resources while allowing boaters easy access to dive, snorkel, or fish at reefs and historic shipwrecks. The purpose of this plan is to increase the protection of marine natural and cultural resources while enhancing visitor enjoyment of these resources, as well as to protect human health and safety through the appropriate use of mooring buoys, aids to navigation, and informational signs. Vessel groundings can be dangerous. Vessel groundings, improper anchoring, and visitor crowding in or near sensitive habitats can cause considerable damage to seagrass beds and coral reefs. It can take years and even decades for seagrasses and corals to recover from grounding and anchoring damage, and in some areas, they may never grow back; instead forming sandy areas, such as by the Sand Key sandbar. The park is reviewing its current navigational and mooring system to determine whether moorings and navigational markers should be removed, relocated, or increased in number to protect marine resources and provide for the enjoyment of park resources such as reefs and shipwrecks. The park is proposing appropriate criteria and standards for establishing future mooring sites, as well as defining desired conditions for mooring sites and navigation. The park is also proposing to formalize and expand the Maritime Heritage Trail in order to facilitate access to historic shipwrecks and other submerged archeological sites, by installing mooring buoys and providing diver cards and brochures for each of these sites.

Contact Information
If you have any questions about the process or public meetings, please contact Elsa Alvear, Chief of Resource Management, at (305) 230-1144 ext 002. 

http://parkplanning.nps.gov/projectHome.cfm?projectID=26660

http://parkplanning.nps.gov/commentform.cfm?parkid=353&projectid=26660&documentid=35247
We welcome your comments on this project. 
The comment period closes on ' 09/03/2010 at 11:59 PM.'
Your comments must be submitted or postmarked by midnight Mountain Time on ' 09/03/2010 by 11:59 PM.'

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