Offshoreonly.com - Brevard County asking boaters questions....

County looking for boat answers

More public marinas possible

BY JEFF SCHWEERS
FLORIDA TODAY
WEB EXTRAS

Brevard Marine Advisory Council

Related news from the Web
Latest headlines by topic:
• US Coast Guard
• Boating
• US News
• Outdoor Recreation
Powered by Topix.net

ADVERTISEMENT

Marine meeting
The Marine Advisory Council will meet at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Brevard County Parks and Recreation Central Area Parks Operations Office, 840 Forrest Ave., Cocoa. Call 633-1874.
For information about the boating survey, call Jim Fletcher, director, Agriculture and Extension Services Office at 633-1702.

COCOA - Brevard County is beginning a plan this month to create more boating opportunities for the public.

The county is sending out a boating survey to find out how people spend their time on the water. That information will be used to create a comprehensive maritime management master plan to build more public marinas and boat ramps, said Liz Alward, administrative assistant for the Boating and Waterway section of the Department of Natural Resources.

The Marine Advisory Council will meet Thursday to put that advisory committee together. The committee will come up with regulations, ordinances, anchorings and a funding plan for the county's waterways to present to the Marine Advisory Council, which in turn will pass on its recommendations to the county commission.

The committee will consist of two branches:

A regulatory advisory group including representatives from the Department of Environmental Protection, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, St. Johns River Water Management District and the U.S. Coast Guard.

A users group including commercial boaters, working waterfront people, contractors, environmental groups such as Save the Manatees, eco-tourism companies, academic and research facilities like Hubbs-SeaWorld, rowers clubs and city governments.

"We want to include everybody," Alward said.

Surveys are being mailed to boat owners. The survey packet includes an introductory letter, questionnaire, Boating and Angling Guide to Brevard County and postage-paid return envelope.

Boaters are being asked to identify departure origins, destinations and travel routes on an accompanying map.

Survey answers will be cross-referenced with environmental information, such as the location of sea grass beds and manatee habitats to provide Brevard County with a science-based, accurate map.

Contact Schweers at 242-3642 or [email protected].

Can't wait to fill out my questionaire! :drink:

Dean