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A Kings Bay Shoreline Idle Speed Kayak/Canoe Corridor

A Kings Bay Shoreline Idle Speed Kayak/Canoe Corridor

1 signatures 49 to reach 50
M
Matthew A. signed
Started by Anonymous 20 years, 2 months ago
With the increased recreational use of Kings Bay, the potential for fatal or life threatening watercraft collisions has greatly increased. Watercraft use of the bay has changed significantly since the original speed zones were established over 10 years ago. There are now many more slow moving non-motorized vessels which must transit a high speed, shoreline to shoreline, watersport zone in order to reach most destinations on the bay during the summer months. Given that all users have the right to enjoy the natural beauty of the bay in a reasonable manner, we ask that an idle speed corridor be created around certain shorelines in the bay to allow safe transit. All of the public access launch facilties are located on the north end of the bay, while most of the destination are located on the south end. The watersport zone is located on the north and middle portions of the bay. This petition seeks to create a 100\' shoreline idle speed \"safe\" zone for non-motorized craft on the edge of the Sport Zone and around Buzzard Island, which is owned and managed by the USFWS as part of the Crystal River NWR. Non-motorized craft now greatly outnumber PWCs and other powerboats that use the watersport zone for high speed recreation. Note that this petition does not seek to exclude any user from the safe zone, but merely establishes a reasonable speed in a corridor comprising a small portion of the existing watersport zone. The petition will be delivered to both the Board of County Commissioners of Citrus County and the Crystal River City Council in early August of 2006.

Updates

July 4, 2006

I spent the morning kayaking near Buzzard Island and the near misses with high speed boats are only getting more frequent. My heart races every time I see a paddle craft trapped in those wakes. I am currently gathering detailed accounts of these dangerous encounters to present to the refuge managers.

July 4, 2006

Seeing this kind of momentum feels like a weight lifting because it confirms that I am not alone in fearing for my family when we paddle out into the bay. We finally have the attention needed to push for these safer corridors.

6 Comments

S
Sarah Fisher
20 years ago Featured

PLEASE!! I love kayaking here but I am terrified to go out with all the jet skis flying around everywhere. It just takes one idiot to end someone.

J
Jessica Karimi
20 years ago Featured

Buzzard island is a nightmare on saturdays. cant even paddle out there without worrying about some boat speeding right next to me.

B
Brian Ortega
20 years ago Featured

TOTAL CHAOS ON THE WATER LATELY. ADRENALINE JUNKIES DONT CARE BOUT KAYAKERS. CHANGE THE RULES BEFORE SOMEONE DIES.

M
Mike Becker
20 years ago Featured

it is getting way too busy out there. almost got hit twice last weekend. people need to slow down near the shore.

L
Linda Ortiz
20 years ago Featured

Keep the non motorized stuff safe. Just a small corridor is all we are asking for.

D
Dave Nair
20 years ago Featured

Been boating here 20 years and its never been this bad. way too much traffic for the speed zones we have now.

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