TAMPA, Fla. – On December 21, 2020, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (Commission) received a complete application from the City of Tampa requesting approval of an adopted ordinance to establish multiple Slow Speed Minimum Wake and Idle Speed No Wake boating-restricted areas within the Hillsborough River.
The boating-restricted areas would be within the Hillsborough River to include the waters south of Sligh Avenue Bridge out to Seddon Channel (see attached map for details).
The City of Tampa contends that the boating safety zone is needed to protect public safety from hazards such as vessel traffic around the bridge fender systems, vessel traffic under bridges with less than a 25 foot vertical clearance, protect vessels and users at public docks or launching and landing facilities, and to close “gaps” of less than 500 feet between regulatory zones.
The City of Tampa is required to provide competent substantial evidence that the ordinance establishing the boating-restricted area is necessary to protect the safety of the public.
As a part of the City of Tampa’s ordinance review application, they have provided evidence in support of the proposed zone to the Commission. At this time the adopted ordinance has been approved by the Commission based upon the evidence submitted.
The public may provide written comments, recommendations, requests, inquiries, or other correspondence to the Boating and Waterways Section at 620 South Meridian Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399-1600; or by email at waterway.management@myfwc.com. The Commission will conduct a public hearing within the City of Tampa if a written request for such a hearing is received within 21 days following this notice.
DUE DATE: Monday, January 25, 2021 (5:00 PM EST)
