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The coast offers a bountiful, seemingly infinite number of wonderful recreational opportunities. Although these activities provide relaxation and bring pleasure, they can harm the coast if we're aren't careful.
BOATING
Boating directly impacts the health of our waterways. By understanding the potential negative impacts of boating activities and observing precautions associated with boating, boat owners can help ensure the health of the coast and help preserve it for future generations.
You can greatly reduce the impact of your boat's wake on shoreline erosion if you slow down before, rather than at, the speed limit marker.
Keep out of seagrass meadows; protect and preserve this habitat which is critical to our economy.
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Boat wakes can increase shoreline erosion. Erosion is a particular problem in narrow creeks, canals, the intercoastal waterway, and inlets where wakes wash heavily against the banks.
The extent of shoreline erosion caused by a boat's wake depends on the energy of the wave, which in turn, is related to the hull size, boat speed, the distance from shore, and the depth of the water the boat is operating in.
The other major problem associated with boats has to do with the release of chemical pollutants into area waters.
Fuel, cleaning agents, and chemicals used in boat maintenance are toxic and contribute to the degradation of bay waters.
Cleaners contain acids, alkalies, and petroleum distillates. Paints, paint removers, lacquer thinners, and solvents contain substances such as chlorinated hydrocarbons, ketones, toluene, and xylene, which are not only toxic to aquatic life, but present health risks to humans as well.
Fuels and chemicals used in the operation, cleaning, and maintenance of a boat should be used with extreme care.
Boat Operation
- Observe posted wake speeds and NO WAKE signs. There may be some narrow areas that should be navigated through at low idle.
- Operate your boat in appropriate water depths. Leave adequate clearance (at least 12 inches) between the boat propeller and the submerged bottom. Avoid shallow areas to keep from churning up the bottom. The turbulence caused by a propeller will exceed beyond the depth of the motor's lower unit, causing damage to benthic communities.
- Avoid cutting through seagrass beds. Become familiar with areas where seagrass beds are abundant. If you inadvertently enter a seagrass area, follow these steps: cut your engine and back out of the vegetation with a pole or an oar. Seagrass beds are vital to the health of the estuary. They suffer extreme damage from propeller scarring and take years to recover.
- When fueling the boat, avoid spilling fuel or overfilling the gas tanks. Learn to estimate fuel consumption relative to your boat's tank capacity. Tighten the cap and clean up any spilled fuel. Fuel overflow is dangerous to people as well as aquatic life.
- Discharge bilge water offshore in deeper waters when possible. Fuel, oils, and chemicals that are spilled in a boat are discharged with the bilge water. It is important to keep your boat lean and free of spills.
When you must soap, choose one that is biodegradable and phosphate-free.
1) maintain the native vegetation and
2) maintain the natural slope of the shoreline.
Restoring the vegetation and improving the shoreline may be possible in some cases.
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Boat Maintenance
- Avoid products that remove stains and make your boat shine. These are toxic to fish and aquatic life. Avoid products with WARNINGS on the labels; they can kill marine life if washed overboard.
- Maintain your boat engine to avoid any oil leaks. Many area marinas recycle motor oil. If you change the oil in your boat, bring used oil to a marina which provides a used oil drum for recycling or a hazardous waste center. Never dump oil into a waterbody, a storm drain, or roadside ditch.
- Many of the cleaning, dissolving, and painting agents used for maintenance are toxic to humans and aquatic life. When working on your boat, be conscious of the materials used and the toxicity of each. Take care in following the manufacturer's directions. Take hazardous wastes and their containers to a recycling center when you're finished.
- When scraping or sanding the bottom of a boat, place a drop cloth underneath for safe disposal of the scrapings. Anti-fouling boat paints, which contain copper or tin and which inhibit the growth of barnacles, are extremely toxic. Use of tributyltin (TBT) bottom paint is now restricted by federal legislation.
- Thoroughly clean the boat's hull, propeller, and trailer after using the boat in other waters. Never discharge bilge or ballast waters from foreign waters into harbors or marinas. Boats have been responsible for the accidental introduction of nonnative aquatic plants and animals into U.S. waters, causing stress and damage to native species and changing the ecosystem.
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