New Laws Impact GA Anchorages from Save Georgia’s Anchorages
Our thanks to Ted Arisaka for sharing this work that Save Georgia’s Anchorages is doing on boaters’ behalf. See New Boating Laws.
We’ve been busy today here at SGA inventorying “all” the anchorages in Georgia and assessing the impact of HB 201. Previously we published map overlays on some of the more popular anchorages, but we wanted to be more comprehensive. The task is a difficult one as GA DNR continues to add / grow no-anchor zones seemingly on a daily basis. Two good examples are the area around Savannah Yacht Club as well as the anchorage off Cumberland Island.
In summary we inventoried 124 recognized and popular anchoring locations using detailed information obtained by Garmin, the world’s largest navigation charting service, Waterway Guide, and Cruisers Net. We will continue analysis in order to evaluate the impact of HB201 and Commissioner Mark Williams Administrative Order on anchoring in Georgia.
IMPACT ON KNOWN AND POPULAR ANCHORING LOCATIONS
22 (18%) anchoring locations were negatively impacted (area reduced or increased congestion due to closed nearby anchoring locations).
51 (41%) anchoring locations are essentially eliminated.
So a total of 73 (58%)of known and popular anchoring locations are impacted or eliminated out of a total of 124!!! All the state’s coastal water are (were) open to anchoring prior to HB201 and the establishment of setbacks or restricted areas, so the full impact on anchoring in areas not designated as “known and popular anchoring locations” is immeasurable.
A spreadsheet will be in the FILES section. The 2nd sheet has hyperlinks to these anchorages on the ActiveCaptain web viewer if you’d like to see where they are. Alternatively you can copy the Lat/Long into Google Maps.
We intend to review Waterway Guide and Cruisers Net to augment our data in the coming days.
Please contact Georgia legislators and DNR officials if you feel these regulations go too far.
Comments from Cruisers (3)
We boaters need a proactive program to address the issues perceived by the Georgia legislature, not just rail against the solution to the concerns they have. The concerns seem to be pollution, How about providing convenient pump out facilities and possibly pump out boat services, with a method of funding the cost of the latter.
Thomas G McGarry
It’s simple. If you have enough fuel avoid GA. Don’t do business in GA or use any services in GA. Don’t go where you are not wanted. Spend money where you are wanted.
Thank you for all the work. I intend on reviewing your spreadsheet and updating my Blue Chart which will require some lengthy editing looking at this GA disaster.