Community Redevelopment agency
Slowing down for safety
Port St. Lucie offers a unique opportunity to live and play in one of the best locations in the country. As residents and visitors have flocked to the City and our signature waterway, the North Fork of the St. Lucie River, there has been a significant increase in the number of boaters on the river and canals.
The City of Port St. Lucie offers several popular access points to the North Fork, including the C-24 Canal Park and Veterans Park at Rivergate boat ramps. In addition, The Port District’ s newest park also includes an ADA-accessible canoe / kayak launch which encourages non-motorized access to the river.
Canoe / kayak launches also are located along SE Coral Reef Street under the Crosstown Parkway bridge and at Savannas Preserve State Park / Evans Creek just south of Crosstown Parkway, along the eastern shore of the river. These access points to the North Fork have increased the number of motorized and non-motorized vessels into the waterway, resulting in potential hazards where launching vessels can conflict with high-speed boating on the river.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission( FWC) authorizes jurisdictions to regulate vessel traffic and operation on waterways by providing standards and statutes for when and how restricted zones and markers can be installed to protect boaters from hazards.
This past fall, the FWC, Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers approved the City’ s application to install boater safety markers at or near:
• The C-24 Canal Park Boat Ramp
• Veterans Park at Rivergate Boat Ramp
• Canoe / kayak launch near the City’ s iconic banyan tree
• Bridge abutments at the Port St. Lucie Boulevard and Southbend Boulevard bridges.
The restricted zones were established, and marker installation was completed in December.
The City’ s Police Department Marine Unit maintains jurisdiction over the North Fork of the St. Lucie River and the C-24 Canal. The department enforces boating laws using specialized vessels and dedicated Marine Patrol Officers who conduct routine patrols at varying times throughout the week, year-round. Marine Patrol Officers also respond to calls for service, boating crashes, calls for distress, investigate reports of dangerous debris or hazards in the waterways and much more. In addition to the City, the FWC occasionally patrols these areas, focusing on conservation and maritime safety.
Marine Patrol Officers primarily monitor speed violations by observing a vessel ' s wake, bow lift and overall speed within restricted zones. Idle Speed( No Wake) requires the slowest possible speed to maintain steerage with zero wake.
www. CityofPSL. com / CRA
PSL
ON THE
PULSE
17