Summary


The majority of the existing manatee protection zones were established in 1993. The proposed changes would revise the zones in and around portions of the ICW, mostly in the northern section of the county and mostly during the cold season (Nov. 15 – Mar. 31). The existing cold season weekend-only Slow Speed zones between the Palm Beach County line and the vicinity of Atlantic Boulevard, and from north of Sunrise Boulevard to Burnham Point, would be changed to be in effect all days during the cold season, while the zones in the general vicinity of Hillsboro Inlet to south of N.E. 14th Street would be changed to year-round Slow Speed. The existing cold season Slow Speed zone just south of Dania Beach Boulevard would also be changed to year-round Slow Speed. Holidays would be added to the cold season weekend-only Slow Speed zone between Atlantic Boulevard to north of Sunrise Boulevard, with the Lake Santa Barbara area added to this zone (for both cold season and warm season regulation). The existing No Entry zone in the discharge canal of the Port Everglades power plant would be expanded to include the entire canal system west of the ICW. The maps accompanying this notice show only those geographic areas where zones would change. Other changes to the rule would amend the preamble language to make it consistent with current statutory and rule language and otherwise clean up zone descriptions to improve accuracy and make the descriptions easier to understand.