Captain Hall reminds us how easy it is to forget to look for those small floats out in an open body of water. The AICW enters St. Catherines southbound from the Bear River near Statute Mile 618 and departs the sound when it enters the North Newport River near Statute Mile 621.

Subject: St. Catherines Sound
Watch for crab pots along the AICW magenta line that crosses the sound.
Captain Larry Hall

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position Along the AICW’s Passage Across St. Catherine’s Sound

Even though 5+ feet of water at low tide in Georgia waters is considered by most to be “good water”, we have had earlier reports of touching bottom in the AICW’s run through Creighton Narrows, which lies at the south end of Front River and just north of the intersection of Crescent River and Old Teakettle Creek.

Georgia AICW mile 642, between markers 155 and 157. Our friends on “Ever After” passed through this afternoon near low tide. They have a 5′ 9″ draft, and were touching bottom going through. “Ever After” recommends favoring the red side through this stretch.

We found very shallow water between 155 and 157 and before that the channel leading up to 155. We draw 5′9” and had 00 showing, so we must have been ‘dredging’ but did scoot through. We were about a half hour before low tide.
Sami and Barry aboard s/v Ever After

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position In The AICW/Creighton Narrows

The Waterway intersects the Altamaha River at mile 656 and runs in the Altamaha until entering Buttermilk Sound at mile 660. ALL cruisers traversing this section of the AICW need to be on maximum alert for the obstruction reported below! The Cruisers’ Net is declaring a Navigational Alert for these waters!

Cruising News:
On August 2, 2011 while traveling North there was a large piece of concrete with rebarb partially exposed about mid tide on the Altamaha River between daymarks 204 and 206.
Susan aboard s/v September Song

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position On the AICW As It Passes Through the Altamaha River

Buttermilk Sound connects the Altamaha and South Altamaha Rivers south of where the Waterway crosses Altamaha Sound. As you will see by following the Chart View link below, there are already a number of Navigation Alerts due to shoaling through the area. The range markers Roger mentions begin at Mile 660 and take you very close to the missing marker, so caution is advised, especially at high tide.

16 Feb 2012
Green 211 is missing. N31 18.966 W81 21.761
Stay tight to the range in case the broken off stub is just below the surface.
Roger Long

2 Apr 2012 – The Coast Guard has placed Green Can #211 in the approximate location of missing Daymarker ‘G’ 211. At low tide the broken daymarker piling was not visible.
M/V Emerald Lady

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position at Missing Marker #211

The shoal reported below is a real concern for any cruiser contemplating dropping the hook on otherwise delightful Frederica River. There have also been reports here on the Net about shoaling on this stream’s southerly mouth.
Frederical River cuts into the western shores of St. Simons Island, and both its northern and southern mouths connect directly with the AICW channel.
Has anyone else tried to anchor on Frederica River lately. If so, please click the “Comment on This Posting/Marina/Anchorage/Bridge” link below, and share your experiences.

Don’t even think of mooring [cruising] through the north end of the Frederica River. There is now a shoal at the entry G229 almost right the way across at around 3ft 6ins lowish tide – maybe 6 ft high tide. I was lucky to get off it since the falling current quickly put me on it sideways at a 20 degree angle. Not shown on charts.
Captain Arnold

Click Here For The Cruisers’ Net’s Georgia Anchroage Directory Listing For Frederica River Anchorages

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Section of the AICW and Northern Frederica River

The primary mouth of Umbrella Creek, with anchorages close to the alternate Umbrulla Cut AICW Passage, lies off Jekyll Sound west of the Waterway, departing statute mile 687. Umbrulla Creek’s entrance should not be confused with the Umbrella Cut AICW route, which lies north and west of Umbrella Creek. Our nearby recommended anchorages for these waters can be reached via Umbrella Cut, thereby avoiding the shoaly entrance to Umbrella Creek, from Jekyll Sound, as described below.

May 7th, 2011
We tried to enter the umbrella creek to drop the anchor, the sandbar at the entrance is not 8 feet as shown on the chart, our echo sounder showed us less than 5 feet . Further north, the area is shoaling as well, care should be taken!
Manfred

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Georgia Anchorage Directory Listing For Alternate Route Anchorages

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position at Umbrella Creek

St. Marys River flows into the northern tip of Cumberland Sound and the path of the AICW, just north of Fernandina, FL, and serves as the coastal state line between Georgia and Florida. The town of St. Marys is an easy trip up the St. Marys River, departing the Waterway at flashing green marker #29, statute mile 713.

GEORGIA AND FLORIDA-ST MARYS RIVER: Temporary Aton Established.
Due to shoaling, St Marys River Temporary Buoy 6A has been established in position 30-42-51.900N 081-32-00.600W. Mariners are advised to exercise caution while transiting the area.

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position in St. Marys River

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To St. Marys GA

The St. Marys River flows into the northern tip of Cumberland Sound just north of Fernandina, FL. This reported shoaling should be of concern for anyone making a sidetrip from the Waterway to St. Marys, GA.

GEORGIA-FLORIDA-ST SIMONS SOUND TO TOLOMATO RIVER-ST MARYS RIVER: Shoaling. Week 45/11
Mariners are advised that shoaling extends 15 yards channelward between St Marys River DBN 6 (LLNR 6805) and St Marys River DBN 8 (LLNR 6810) with minimum depth reported at 2ft MLW. Chart 11489

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position at St. Marys River