ENP to close Snake Bight to combustion motors
October 30, 2009 - 2:57pm
Everglades National Park News Release October 30, 2009 For Immediate Release Linda Friar 305-242-7714 Park Seeks Comments on Proposed Pole and Troll Zone in Florida Bay Background Everglades National Park proposes to implement a pole and troll boating zone in Florida Bay to help protect seagrass and wildlife habitat, and enhance a range of visitor experiences including shallow-water fishing, wildlife viewing and paddling opportunities. The park is seeking public input on the proposed action, alternatives being considered, and potential implementation strategies. The idea for this project emerged following General Management Plan (GMP) meetings earlier this year when new scientific and visitor use information, along with a new set of preliminary marine area alternatives, was presented to the public. That effort resulted in meaningful public input on the ways to improve future management of Florida Bay. Superintendent Dan Kimball was impressed with the depth of public input and notes, “Among the many great ideas we heard from stakeholder groups and long-time users of Florida Bay, was the suggestion for park managers to consider an initial pole and troll zone in Florida Bay before completing the GMP. The park is now pursuing this idea and over the summer my staff and I visited several pole and troll zones in Florida to learn first-hand about implementation and management options. The value of these zones for protecting shallow-water resources and providing better visitor use opportunities has been demonstrated, and we plan to use these lessons learned to better inform our efforts to improve resource protection and visitor experiences in Everglades National Park.†Project Startup and Preliminary Recommendation An interdisciplinary team from the park was recently established and began working on the proposed project, developing project objectives and criteria for evaluating potential sites in Florida Bay. Field trips in the Bay refined the team’s understanding of the project’s issues and challenges, and four alternative areas were identified and evaluated (Snake Bight, Garfield Bight, Peterson Key Bank, Shell Key Bank). The team’s preliminary recommendation is that Snake Bight, a popular area immediately east of Flamingo best met the project objectives and ranked highest among the four sites based on the criteria evaluation. The new zone would remain open to the public, but combustion motor use would not be allowed inside the zone. Inside the zone, boats would only be permitted to use push poles, paddles, or electric trolling motors. Implementation of the zone places a heavy emphasis on education and outreach. The park would develop and widely disseminate maps, brochures, and other materials in an effort to communicate the new zone to the public. In addition, the park would implement a monitoring plan to help assess the zone's effectiveness over time in protecting seagrass and wildlife habitat, enhancing fishing and other recreational experiences. If a decision is reached to implement the Snake Bight pole and troll zone, access to the zone would be enhanced through on-plane transit via the Snake Bight and Tin Can Channels while adjacent Jimmie’s Lake would allow idle-speed transit in waters deeper than 2 feet. Relationship to the GMP The proposed zone is not associated with future decisions to be made in the GMP; however, public input on the GMP earlier this year demonstrated public interest for this idea in advance of completing the GMP. Dan Kimball noted, "Our stakeholders have clearly communicated support for a pole and troll zone in Florida Bay to enhance resource protection and visitor experiences. This zone should result in increased protection of seagrass, higher quality fishing opportunities, better wildlife viewing, and better paddling trips, in a very popular area. If this project is implemented, I expect that its monitoring activities would provide valuable information to support GMP implementation and adaptive management strategies in the years ahead.†The draft GMP is scheduled for public review in early 2011 and completion in 2012. Public comment period continues through November 30, 2009 Comments are welcome on all aspects of the proposed project including objectives; alternative locations in Florida Bay under consideration; the boundary of the proposed Snake Bight zone; activities to effectively mark, educate the public, and enforce the zone; and monitoring activities to determine the success of the zone. A slide presentation describing the project and questions the park would like feedback on about the project is available for review at the park website link below and will be presented at two upcoming meetings. Public input can be provided in several ways. At the public meetings: Monday, November 9, 6:00 to 7:30 P.M., John D. Campbell Agricultural Center, 18710 SW 288th Street, Homestead, FL Tuesday, November 10, 6:00 to 7:30 P.M., Key Largo Holiday Inn, 99701 Overseas Hwy, Key Largo, FL At both meetings, park staff will be available to discuss the project, answer questions and record public comments. At 6:30 P.M., there will be a presentation about the project, followed by a formal public comment session. Through the park’s website: http:www.nps.gov/ever and the homepage link under “Everglades National Park Planning Proposed Florida Bay Pole aand Troll Zoneâ€. By mail: Superintendent, Everglades National Park Re: Proposed Florida Bay Pole and Troll Zone 40001 State Road 9336 Homestead, FL 33034-6733 For more information or questions about the proposed pole and troll zone contact David Hallac at david_hallac@nps.gov or 305-224-4239; or Fred Herling at fred_herling@nps.gov or 305-242-7704.
© 2010 Intermedia Outdoors, Inc.- |
- Site Map
- |
- Terms of Use
Florida Sportsman; the nation's leading sport fishing magazine, is now the web's best resource for information on sport fish, conservation issues, regional fishing within Florida and all fishing gear including fishing tackle, fishing rods and reels, and boating equipment of all kinds. Florida Sportsman Online also has the most active fishing community on the web - share your fishing tales with new friends today.
On the surface this does not look like such a bad thing to me. I think it shows the park willingness to test this out rather than indiscriminately make huge parts of the park poll and troll. As I understand it the channels will not be subject to this rule. I would love to hear what others think about this. Here is a map of the areas being considered.
Ovi
NOAA Buoy Data for iPhone
Fish ID and Regs for iPhone: (FL,GA,NJ,NY,SC,TX) Available now.
I think it will depend on how well the areas are marked, how well the zones are enforced, a marked understanding and change in angler behavior, and whether or not a few folks decide to take the behavior that got us into this mess to "other areas" that aren't P&T zones.
If they mark the channels into Snake Bight, and pole and troll outside the channels I am in favor of it. Pole and troll seems to be working up in the Indian River.
this was my first summer fishing in the park ,the channel to snake bight is marked and thats about all we would do is pole out of the chanell . didnt seem that bad .
Here is a link to the park page where you can download the actual pdf showing the proposed P&T area along with the access area through Jimmy's Lake: http://parkplanning.nps.gov/document.cfm?parkID=374&projectId=28305&documentID=30267
This is supposed to be a 3-year plan to evaluate the viability of this management startegy. The preffered alternative draft for the GMP is supposed to be released in late 2010, with implementation in 2011. If this is a 3-year study, what does that mean for the other proposed P&T zones???
The real question right now is, what is the plan for upgrading and/or adding markers in the park? This trial P&T plan will be flawed and destined to fail from day one if they don't include a substantial upgrade to the current marker system in Florida Bay. The seagrass study presented in the last round of meetings was a real eye-opener, but it also made a claim that scaring was equally high around marked channels and "unmarked" channels without recognizing that the markers themselves in most places are part of the problem. I know this is much less of a factor when you look at areas like the crown of Snake Bight and "The Wall", but I have a feeling "navigational aids" will be the next flashpoint in this process. Read the new rhetoric from some of the other groups in this process and you'll realize they now want to get rid of as many markers as they can. What do you think that will mean down the road fishing/boating community in the park?
For the most part, I think this is potentially a good idea. Proper execution is key. I fish the Snake Bight area every summer. I plan my track so that I can pole into and out of the area as efficiently as I can. I don't have a micro-skiff and my buddy poles in circles, so I get a good workout. I hope the guys that still run-and-gun the flats finally get the point.....
Don't get put to sleep on this, show up to the meetings and express your ideas. See you in Homestead....
Where did it all go
I usually stay away from Snake Bite because there is a lot of traffic there.
Hopefully, this is not the beginning to an end. I've never seen them give up anything after taking it away; I hope that I am wrong. What is needed out there is more education, more enforcement and better NAV aids!!!
1992 Hewes 18' Redfisher - 115 Yamaha - 6' Powerpole - Garmin 545s
Radi... I'm with you. It's a fishy area but too crowded for my tastes. To me, this is a reasonable proposal. The only question is how do they enforce Jimmy's Lake and the eastern boundary without adding markers or signs. We should be posting comments on the NPS planning page to point this out (I did). The other obvious thing for me is to get training for the rangers. Twice I've seen them tearing up the bottom in a bay boat trying to get into skinny water. I don't think they have a boat that can give chase outside of the channels so they need to be idling in or waiting in the channel to do the enforcement.
shallow thinker
Is it me or does it seem like the only idea that park rangers/managers can come up with to manage any area is to propose closures. They want to close areas of biscayne bay and flamingo and I just found out that dove hunting is closed in miami this year. I imagine one day we fishermen/hunters will find other hobbies.
The turnout for the meeting was low, with as many people there from the Park Service as there were from the public. Probably 15 members of the public including RainerS, Pucker Factor, Capt. Erick Herstead, Jason Bennis (NPCA) and several members of the Tropical Anglers Club. I hope the turnout in Key Largo was better. The mood was good, and the park staff were very generous with their time. After the prepared presentation, they answered every question from the group and gave everyone who wanted to speak the opportunity.....
The Park is turning Snake Bight into an experimental or pilot Poll & Troll zone. This is a fact. However, this is not a closed and finalized subject. The Park NEEDS and WANTS our feedback and recommendations for implementation, management and monitoring of this new regulatory area. Alot of great points and suggestions came up during the Q&A and I added a few to my list. That's one great thing about these meetings and sharing ideas on a forum like this, if you participate, you might get new information that will help you reconsider or strengthen your point of view. Over the next couple of days I'll submitt my comments on-line at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/document.cfm?parkID=37...
and I hope everyone else does the same before Nov 30. I'll post a copy here.
My personal opinion....when the first round of alternatives for the GMP came out, there was a huge outcry from the angling community as to how they came up with those options and what data/research they had to backup what were drastic and exclusionary measures? Why no adaptive management? Why not enforce what is on the books today? Why not improve navigational aids and boater education? Why not all of the above and more before we break out the shotgun approach, and in effect turn the park into a defacto no-motor zone??????
Well.....The Park came back with extensive data in the form of the Seagrass Study, and new alternatives that in my eyes were a "do-over" for the Park. I don't think any one of them is perfect, but I think we can all find at least one that we would use as a starting point and tweak. We can sit here and argue about how long or wide a prop scar is and how many acres that equals, but we have to realize (and I think agree with) the fact that the Park will do something to protect the seagrass beds in Florida Bay. We can either throw up our arms (or keyboards) and miss the boat on this, or we can see it for what it is, an opportunity to have a say in how this "is" done. I don't think there is an "if" any more.
Just as important as our comments, our actions as anglers/boaters in the park will have a huge influence going forward. Right now this is an experimental regulatory change. What do you think the control group will be for this experiment? Don't you think they will be monitoring the beds surrounding Murray, Frank, Palm, Bouy, Garfield, Rankin as well as Snake Bight? Unless the actions of some change, we will all be punished......
Where did it all go
I think a poll and troll in snake bight would work out just fine..... and just like everyone else has said, they need more LEO to enforce this. I had the meeting marked on my calander but my wife got stuck at work and I couldnt find anyone to take care of my newborn..... I will be at the next proposal for sure.
Dan
www.ddfishingcharters.com
clear ingress and egress channels must be marked and I am not speaking of the main snake bight channel and tin can. I am speaking of the cuts from snake bight channel and tin can that lead into jimmies lake. i believe their was some discussion of idle areas into these parts..................not sure.
these are critical as snake bight is giant and getting to the wall then out would be a all day experience, not cool. these minimal ingress and egress channels should allow skiffs under combustible power to enter and exit the area under idle conditions.
I like it.
"Fish where the fish are"
Did you put in a comment card with regard to your comments?
For that matter, has everyone put in a comment card?
http://parkplanning.nps.gov/commentForm.cfm?parkID=374&projectID=28305&documentId=30267