The purpose of this amendment is to protect vessel traffic safety on the Florida Intracoastal Waterway. The effect of this rule will be to reduce vessel speeds over specified portions of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway in Martin County where ...

 

FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION
Vessel Registration and Boating Safety

RULE NO: RULE TITLE
68D-24.143: Martin County Boating Restricted Areas
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The purpose of this amendment is to protect vessel traffic safety on the Florida Intracoastal Waterway. The effect of this rule will be to reduce vessel speeds over specified portions of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway in Martin County where necessary to manage and promote the use of this state waterway for safe and enjoyable boating.
SUBJECT AREA TO BE ADDRESSED: Amendment addresses vessel speed limits within and adjacent to portions of the Florida Intracoastal Waterway in Martin County.
SPECIFIC AUTHORITY: 327.04, 327.46 FS.
LAW IMPLEMENTED: 327.46 FS.
IF REQUESTED IN WRITING AND NOT DEEMED UNNECESSARY BY THE AGENCY HEAD, A RULE DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP WILL BE NOTICED IN THE NEXT AVAILABLE FLORIDA ADMINISTRATIVE WEEKLY.
THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT AND A COPY OF THE PRELIMINARY DRAFT, IF AVAILABLE, IS: Ms. Tara Alford, Management Analyst, Boating and Waterways Section, Division of Law Enforcement, 620 South Meridian Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1600, [phone], extension 17169

THE PRELIMINARY TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT IS:

68D-24.143 Martin County Boating Restricted Areas.

(1) For the purpose of regulating the speed and operation of vessel traffic on and adjacent to the Intracoastal Waterway in Martin County, Florida, the following Boating Restricted Areas are established for vessels 35 feet or more in length:

(a)1. Jensen Beach Causeway – A Slow Speed Minimum Wake zone bounded on the north by a line drawn perpendicular to the centerline of the Florida Intracoastal Waterway 300 feet north of the centerline of the Jensen Beach Causeway (State Road 707A) Bridge and on the south by a line drawn perpendicular to the centerline of the Florida Intracoastal Waterway 300 feet south of said bridge, as depicted in drawing A. Gleason Street Boat Ramp – A Slow Speed Minimum Wake zone from shoreline to shoreline, in and adjacent to the Intracoastal Waterway, bounded on the north by a line drawn perpendicular to the centerline of the Florida Intracoastal Waterway 600 feet north of the Gleason Street Boat Ramp and on the south by a line drawn perpendicular to the centerline of the Florida Intracoastal Waterway 300 feet south of said boat ramp, as depicted in drawing A. If the Gleason Street Boat Ramp is closed and its use as a transportation facility discontinued, the zone established in this paragraph shall no longer be in force or effect.

2. Jupiter Island – A Slow Speed Minimum Wake zone from shoreline to shoreline, in and adjacent to the Intracoastal Waterway, bounded on the north by a line drawn perpendicular to the centerline of the Florida Intracoastal Waterway 4,350 feet south of the Hobe South (State Road 708) Bridge (at marker number 33) to the centerline of the Florida Intracoastal Waterway 8,295 feet south of said bridge (at marker 35), as depicted in drawing A.

(b) N.E. Ocean Boulevard – A Slow Speed Minimum Wake zone bounded on the north by a line drawn perpendicular to the centerline of the Florida Intracoastal Waterway 300 feet north of the centerline of the N.E. Ocean Boulevard (State Road A1A) Bridge and on the south by a line drawn perpendicular to the centerline of the Florida Intracoastal Waterway 300 feet south of said bridge, as depicted in drawing B. The Town of Jupiter Island is authorized to install and maintain appropriate regulatory markers as directed by the Division of Law Enforcement within such boating restricted area.

(c) Hobe Sound Bridge – A Slow Speed Minimum Wake zone bounded on the north by a line drawn perpendicular to the centerline of the Florida Intracoastal Waterway 300 feet north of the centerline of the Hobe Sound (State Road 708) Bridge and on the south by a line drawn perpendicular to the centerline of the Florida Intracoastal Waterway 300 feet south of said bridge, as depicted in drawing C.

(d) Jupiter Island – A Slow Speed Minimum Wake zone from shoreline to shoreline, in and adjacent to the Intracoastal Waterway, bounded on the north by a line drawn perpendicular to the centerline of the Florida Intracoastal Waterway 4,350 feet south of the Hobe South (State Road 708) Bridge to the centerline of the Florida Intracoastal Waterway 8,295 feet south of said bridge, as depicted in drawing D. The zone established in this paragraph is applicable only to vessels 35 feet or more in length.

(e) Blowing Rocks – A Slow Speed Minimum Wake zone bounded on the north by a line drawn perpendicular to the centerline of the Florida Intracoastal Waterway 500 feet north of the centerline of the fuel dock located at 26°58.749'N/80° 05.354' W and on the south by a line drawn perpendicular to the centerline of the Florida Intracoastal Waterway 500 feet south of said fuel dock centerline, as depicted in drawing E. The zone established in this paragraph is applicable only to vessels 35 feet or more in length and in effect only from November 1 through April 30 each year. If the fuel dock is closed and its use as a public fueling facility discontinued, the zone established in this paragraph shall no longer be in force or effect.

(2) The boating restricted areas described in Rule 68D-24.143, F.A.C., are depicted on the following drawings:

DRAWINGS WILL BE INSERTED HERE WHEN DEVELOPED.

Specific Authority 327.04, 327.46 FS. Law Implemented 327.46 FS. History–New 2-25-96, Formerly 62N-24.143, Amended________.