Our thanks to Roger Long for sending these latest updates on the restrictive anchoring regulations in Georgia.

1/5/20 The official DNR map has been posted. All of Brickhill Creek is excluded due to leased oyster areas not shown on the map I was working from in my earlier comments. There is now no well protected legal anchorage for visiting the northern part of Cumberland Island.

The southern part of the island is all shown as open. The DNR may be recognizing National Park Service control of those waters. However, other areas on the southern portion of the map are not excluded which would be if the same standards were used as farther north. I suspect the map is simply incomplete at this point and we will gradually see it filled in.

Roger

Click here for Coastal Anchoring & Discharge

GEORGIA 

DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES 

BRIAN KEMP GOVERNOR 

MARK WILLIAMS COMMISSIONER 

ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER 

BY THE COMMISSIONER 

WHEREAS: The General Assembly declared though the Coastal Marshlands Protection Act, 

O.C.G.A. 12-5-280 et seq. that the coastal marshlands of Georgia comprise a vital natural resource system and that the coastal marshlands provide a natural recreation resource which has become vitally linked to the economy of Georgia’s coastal zone and to that of the entire state. It further stated that coastal marshlands are costly, if not impossible, to reconstruct or rehabilitate once adversely impacted by man’s activities and that activities in the coastal marshlands must be regulated to ensure the values and functions of coastal marshlands are not impaired; and 

WHEREAS: O.C.G.A. 52-7-3 (25) defines vessel as every description of watercraft, other than a 

seaplane on the water or a sailboard, used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on water and specifically includes, but is not limited to, inflatable rafts and homemade vessels; and 

WHEREAS: O.C.G.A. 52-7-8.4(b)(1) defines anchorage areas as those areas established by the 

department within estuarine areas whereby a vessel may anchor at night; and 

WHEREAS; O.C.G.A. 12-5-282 (7) and 52-7-8.4(b)(3) define estuarine areas as all tidally 

influenced waters, marshes, and marshlands lying within a tide-elevation range from 5.6 feet above mean tide level and below; and 

WHEREAS: O.C.G.A. 52–7-8.4(b)(5) defines night as between the hours of 30 minutes after 

sunset and 30 minutes before sunrise; and 

WHEREAS: O.C.G.A. 52–7-8.4(d) authorizes the Department to establish anchorage areas within 

the estuarine areas of this state as well as areas where anchoring is not allowed. 

NOW THEREFORE, based on the foregoing, the Commissioner hereby ORDERS that anchorage areas for the purpose of overnight anchoring are established throughout all the estuarine areas of the state EXCEPT FOR THE FOLLOWING estuarine areas that are specifically excluded as anchorage areas: 

1) Within any marked navigational channel; and 2) Within 1,000 feet of any Department approved marked shellfish lease area or 

public shellfish picking area; and 3) Within 1,000 feet of any structure, such as wharfs, docks, piers, pilings, bridge 

structures or abutments, except for areas within Marina Zones. A Marina Zone shall be delineated as the area between 300 feet and 1,000 feet of a marina or facility providing fuel, dinghy access, provisions, vessel maintenance or other 

2 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, S.E.. Suite 1252 | Atlantil. Georgia 30334-9000 

404.656.,7500 Fax +44,656.0770 | www.gadar.org 

boating services, regardless of whether other structures exist within the marina zone. Overnight anchoring is allowed within Marina Zones. 

FURTHERMORE, the anchorage areas established by this Administrative Order shall not be considered “designated anchorages” for the purposes of O.C.G.A, Section 52-7-11(d). 32-point white stern lights are required to be displayed during hours of darkness or low visibility when anchored in anchorage areas established by this Administrative Order. 

FURTHERMORE, it is the sole responsibility of the vessel operator to determine a safe anchorage area for their vessel depending on current environmental factors and the Department has no responsibility in this part. 

FURTHERMORE, this ORDER does not authorize the placement or installation of mooring balls within the estuarine area of the state. 

This 30% day of December 2019. 

Marklillas 

MARK WILLIAMS COMMISSIONER OF NATURAL RESOURCES 

See also Latest Georgia Anchoring Regs

New coastal boating laws take effect in Georgia

BRUNSWICK, Ga. (Jan. 3, 2020) — The new year brings with it new coastal boating laws. House Bill 201, passed by the 2019 Georgia legislature and signed by Gov. Brian Kemp, became effective Jan. 1, 2020.

The new law mainly affects waste discharge from vessels with marine sanitation devices (MSDs) and overnight anchoring in coastal waters.

Also during the 2019 session, the legislature passed groundbreaking shellfish laws which, when fully implemented, will enable the state to develop an oyster industry similar to surrounding states.

“Maintaining good water quality by minimizing waste discharged into estuaries is fundamental to a successful oyster industry,” explained Doug Haymans, director of the Coastal Resources Division (CRD) of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

“Waste, whether chemically treated or not, can be harmful to sensitive marine environments such as Georgia salt marshes,” Haymans said. “The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) recognizes such, and through the Clean Water Act, allows states to regulate the use of MSDs on houseboats, or as defined in this bill, ‘liveaboards.’ Short of the USEPA creating No-Discharge Zones in coastal Georgia, the state chose to regulate the discharge of all waste from liveaboard vessels, whether treated or untreated, from any Type I, II, or III MSDs.”

The boating law and shellfish law are bound together by water quality. Vessel owners with MSDs are now required to secure the device in such a manner that they can only be pumped out.  There are 19 sanitary pump-out stations along Georgia’s coast.   A map of coastal Georgia’s pump-out stations is available at https://coastalgadnr.org/Pumpout.

Examples of proper securing of MSDs include closing the seacock and padlocking it, using non-releasable wire ties or removing the seacock handle with the seacock in the locked position.  Vessel owners may also choose to dump their holding tanks three or more miles from Georgia’s shoreline.

H.B. 201 also authorizes DNR to establish where overnight anchoring may occur.  On Dec. 30, 2019, DNR Commissioner Mark Williams signed an Administrative Order (AO) establishing restrictions in some sensitive areas. 

The AO restricts overnight anchoring within 1,000 feet of marked shellfish beds, whether commercial leases or public-picking areas. 

“The idea is to protect submerged oyster gear from anchor entanglement and to reduce the likelihood of waste being accidentally discharged near the oyster beds, again tying the two new laws together,” Haymans said.

The AO also restricts overnight anchoring within 1,000 feet of any structure, such as public and private docks, wharfs, bridges, piers and pilings, except in areas near marinas. Commissioner Williams has created “marina zones,” which allow boaters to anchor as close as 300 feet to marinas or facilities that provide fuel, dinghy access, provisions, vessel maintenance or other services, regardless of whether other structures exist nearby. Boaters may anchor overnight within these marina zones.  It should be noted that the 1,000-foot exclusion zone applies to the vessel’s swing circle.

This law change, and the associated administrative order, is not intended to restrict or impact boaters engaged in fishing and other recreational activities in Coastal Georgia. The intent of the change and enforcement will be to prohibit overnight anchoring in locations that could degrade shellfish production, cause navigation hazards, or create conflicts between waterfront homeowners and the boating public.

 “We want everyone to know that Georgia’s coastline is open to all boaters while we work to provide clean, quality resources for everyone to enjoy,” Haymans said.   

Anyone with questions may contact CRD’s communications specialist, Tyler Jones, at tyler.jones@dnr.ga.gov or by calling 912-264-7218. For more information, including interactive and downloadable maps of prohibited anchoring areas, visit www.CoastalGADNR.org/Liveaboards.

To view this press release online, visit click here. 

To view the administrative order, click here

To view the Georgia law, click here.

Our thanks to James H. Newsome of Save Georgia’s Anchorages, a group whose aim is to prevent unreasonable restriction to Georgia’s anchorages. See Anchoring Restrictions in Georgia.

Much thanks for Larry and Cruisers Net for publicizing the ongoing issue with infringement on anchoring rights in Georgia. Please visit Save Georgia’s Anchorages on Facebook for the latest news in our efforts to have HB201 rewritten in the next legislative session starting in January.

Since publication of proposed rules for HB201 in late May, many individuals and boating groups have voiced strong opposition to the intent of the law and subsequent rules. Following a public meeting in June, a record number of public comments submitted to GA’s Coastal Resource Division of DNR, and a Stakeholders’ Meeting at CRD headquarters in Brunswick in late July, it became apparent that changes were needed in HB201. Following weeks of review and exchange of ideas between several boating stakeholder groups and individuals, areas of concern in HB201 were identified and suggested revisions were developed.

Stakeholders representing Waterway Guide, a coalition of membership organizations (including America’s Great Loop Cruisers’ Association (AGLCA), Seven Seas Cruising Association (SSCA), Marine Trawler Owners’ Association (MTOA), and Defever Cruisers), National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), and Save Georgia’s Anchorages contributed to the Suggested Revisions for GA’s Anchoring Law – HB201.

This document was submitted to key GA legislators, DNR Commissioner Williams, and Coastal Resource Division Director Haymans in November, and now has been sent to the Legislative Council for review and to be drawn into a bill for submittal to the 2020 General Assembly.

A complete copy of the Suggested Revisions for GA’s Anchoring Law is now uploaded to files here on Save Georgia’s Anchorages for your review.

While we do not know what changes will be made in the final bill, we are pleased that GA legislators, DNR Board members, DNR Commissioner Williams and Director Haymans are working with us to find a solution to the problems in HB201.

And a special thanks is extended to GA Representative Ron Stephens from Savannah District 164 who has been instrumental in helping our coalition of boating groups move this process through the negotiation and filing process. Representative Stephens is also a Great Loop Cruiser.

We will keep members informed here on SGA when any developments arise. Please visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/SaveGeorgiasAnchorages/ where you can download a complete copy of Suggested Revisions to Georgia’s Anchoring Law, HB201.