Our thanks to Wally Moran for sharing this article from Save Georgia’s Anchorages and to James H. Newsome, Ted Arisaka and others who are working diligently to correct a bad piece of legislation. See Anchoring Restrictions.

Hello Larry – hope all is well out your way. Some news for you – a Georgia rep has brought up a new bill on anchoring, as he had promised us he would do.
It’s not everything, but it’s a big step in the right direction and most importantly, it takes the setback and codifies it, meaning the DNR can’t just change it. Still, there’s lots to do to make this happen, such as co-sponsors and a companion bill in the Senate. We’ll be looking for a big push from everyone soon to encourage letter writing and phone calls in support of these goals.
Boat US will be weighing in next week btw. Stay tuned, one of us from SGA will be sure you get the message as soon as we can.

Here’s a press release for your readers –
Some great news about Georgia’s anchoring situation – which is posted on Save Georgia’s Anchorages by James H. Newsome, who along with Jack White have done some amazing work to protect our rights to anchor. This bill will need a lot of support to get it through – we’ll be counting on our fellow boaters to make this happen.

Rep. Ron Stephens has submitted HB833 in the GA General Assembly. Rep Ron Stephens has been working with SGA and other boating stakeholders and groups to negotiate with DNR about the rules and regulations of HB201 which passed during the last session of the General Assembly.

It appears that HB833 will fix the primary issues with the previous law. In particular, setback distances will be written into law and the power to set them taken away from DNR. The definition of ‘anchoring area’ has been corrected. Also, the entire state’s waters will no longer be declared illegal to anchor in unless DNR gives permission. This is a major achievement.

It’s early in this game, but HB833 appears to have a great deal of promise. But we will need the help of every concerned boater to make it a reality, with emails and phone support. Here’s the link: http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/en-US/display/20192020/HB/833?fbclid=IwAR1nPksFnSLTOHJBTB9R0eUWpJ6RV2DQNLx6-fzxM4EWKzO7Cxua4faBMrs

Join us at Save Georgia’s Anchorages and learn what you can do to help protect Georgia’s anchorages for boaters, at https://www.facebook.com/groups/SaveGeorgiasAnchorages/