Florida Administrative Code › 68 - FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION › 68C - Manatees › Chapter 68C-22 - THE FLORIDA MANATEE SANCTUARY ACT › Section 68C-22.013 - Hillsborough County Zones

Current through Reg. 50, No. 138; July 16, 2024
(1) The
				Commission hereby designates the waters within Hillsborough County, as
				described below, as areas where manatee sightings are frequent and where the
				best available information supports the conclusion that manatees inhabit these
				areas on a regular or periodic basis. The primary purpose of this rule is to
				protect manatees from harmful collisions with motorboats and from harassment by
				regulating the speed and operation of motorboats within these designated areas.
				A secondary purpose is to protect manatee habitat. In consideration of
				balancing the rights of fishers, boaters, and water skiers to use the waters of
				the state for recreational and commercial purposes (as applicable under Section
				370.12(2)(k),
				F.S.) with the need to provide manatee protection, the Commission has examined
				the need for limited lanes, corridors, or unregulated areas that allow higher
				speeds through or within regulated areas. Such lanes, corridors, or areas are
				provided in those locations where the Commission determined that they are
				consistent with manatee protection needs.
(2) The following zones are established,
				which include all associated and navigable tributaries, lakes, creeks, coves,
				bends, backwaters, canals, and boat basins unless otherwise designated or
				excluded.
(a) No Entry (November 15 - March
				31) Apollo Beach Area: All waters of the discharge canal of the Tampa Electric
				Company Big Bend Electric Generating Station east of a line bearing 193.6°
				from a point (approximate latitude 27° 47' 37.9" North, approximate
				longitude 82° 24' 42.7" West) on the northern shoreline of the discharge
				canal to a point (approximate latitude 27° 47' 33.8" North, approximate
				longitude 82° 24' 43.7" West) in the water along the existing fence line on
				the southern side of the discharge canal. The southern boundary is the southern
				shoreline of the discharge canal and a line bearing 271.6° for a distance
				of approximately 3039 feet from a point (approximate latitude 27° 47' 33.3"
				North, approximate longitude 82° 24' 9.9" West) on the southern shoreline
				to the aforementioned point on the existing fence line.
(b) Idle Speed (November 15 - March 31)
				Apollo Beach Area: Those waters south of the Apollo Beach No Entry zone,
				generally east of the hammerhead portion of Apollo Beach, and north of Apollo
				Beach Boulevard, excluding the waters of Newman Branch and the canal system
				southeast of Dolphin Cove Drive. The northern boundary is the southern boundary
				of the No Entry zone described in paragraph (2)(a), and a line following the
				existing fence line beginning at a point (approximate latitude 27° 47'
				33.8" North, approximate longitude 82° 24' 43.7" West) in the water on the
				fence line and bearing 301.7° to another point (approximate latitude
				27° 47' 34.9" North, approximate longitude 82° 24' 45.8" West) on the
				fence line and then bearing 271.6° to the line's terminus at a point
				(approximate latitude 27° 47' 35.1" North, approximate longitude 82°
				24'5 3.8" West) at the western end of the fence line. The western boundary is a
				line bearing 180° from the aforementioned point at the western end of the
				existing fence line to a point (approximate latitude 27° 47' 33.5" North,
				approximate longitude 82° 24' 53.8" West) on the northern shoreline of the
				hammerhead portion of Apollo Beach and then following the northern and eastern
				shorelines of the hammerhead portion of Apollo Beach to a point (approximate
				latitude 27° 46' 57.4" North, approximate longitude 82° 25' 4.2" West)
				on the shoreline of the peninsula that contains Dolphin Cove Drive. The eastern
				boundary is the general contour of the eastern shoreline of Tampa Bay south of
				the Apollo Beach No Entry zone to a point (approximate latitude 27° 46'
				58.6" North, approximate longitude 82° 25' 2.5" West) on the southwestern
				shoreline of the mangrove peninsula west of Newman Branch and a line bearing
				232.0° from said point on the mangrove peninsula to the aforementioned
				point on the shoreline of the peninsula that contains Dolphin Cove
				Drive.
(c) Idle Speed (All Year) -
				Little Manatee River/Bahia Beach: Those waters in the basin south and west of
				Bahia Beach Boulevard, including the seagrass area and entrance channel
				southwest of the basin. The southern and western boundary is a line bearing
				323.6° for a distance of approximately 290 feet from a point (approximate
				latitude 27° 43' 19.1" North, approximate longitude 82° 28' 44.7" West)
				on the eastern shoreline of a canal on Shell Point to a point (approximate
				latitude 27° 43' 21.4" North, approximate longitude 82° 28' 46.7" West)
				in the water near the edge of the seagrass area, then bearing 338.1° for a
				distance of approximately 568 feet to a point (approximate latitude 27° 43'
				26.5" North, approximate longitude 82° 28' 49.0" West) in the water, and
				then bearing 48.4° for a distance of approximately 864 feet to a point
				(approximate latitude 27° 43' 32.4" North, approximate longitude 82°
				28' 41.9" West) on the southwestern shoreline of Bahia Beach.
(d) Slow Speed (All Year, except as otherwise
				designated).
1. Alafia River: All waters in
				the Alafia River outside of the main marked channel east of a line bearing
				360° from a point (approximate latitude 27° 51' 10.0'' North,
				approximate longitude 82° 23' 54.2'' West) on the southern shoreline of the
				Alafia River at the river's confluence with Hillsborough Bay, and west of the
				centerline of the US Highway 41 Bridge.
2. Apollo Beach Area: Those waters of Tampa
				Bay west of the Apollo Beach No Entry zone described in paragraph (2)(a), and
				bounded on the north and south by existing Hillsborough County zones and on the
				west by a line connecting the western boundaries of said Hillsborough County
				zones. The northern boundary is a line bearing 254.8° from a point
				(approximate latitude 27° 47' 37.9" North, approximate longitude 82°
				24' 42.7" West) on the northern shoreline of the discharge canal of the Tampa
				Electric Company Big Bend Electric Generating Station to a point (approximate
				latitude 27° 47' 37.2" North, approximate longitude 82° 24' 44.9" West)
				on the southeastern shoreline of the unnamed island west of the generating
				station and then following the southern and western shorelines of said island
				to a point (approximate latitude 27° 47' 53.8" North, approximate longitude
				82° 25' 3.8" West) on the northwestern shoreline of the island and then
				bearing 275.4° for a distance of approximately 598 feet to a point
				(approximate latitude 27° 47' 54.2" North, approximate longitude 82°
				25' 10.5" West) in the water at the southwestern boundary of an existing
				Hillsborough County zone. The southern boundary is the northern boundary of the
				Idle Speed zone described in paragraph (2)(b), and a line beginning at a point
				(approximate latitude 27° 47' 33.5" North, approximate longitude 82°
				24' 53.8" West) on the northern shoreline of the hammerhead portion of Apollo
				Beach and then following the northern and western shorelines of the hammerhead
				portion of Apollo Beach to a point (approximate latitude 27° 47' 35.1"
				North, approximate longitude 82° 25' 8.0" West) on the northwestern
				shoreline and then bearing 295.4° for a distance of approximately 739 feet
				to a point (approximate latitude 27°47'38.3" North, approximate longitude
				82° 25' 15.5" West) in the water at the northwestern boundary of an
				existing Hillsborough County zone. The western boundary is a line bearing
				196.2° from the aforementioned point in the water at the southwestern
				boundary of an existing Hillsborough County zone to the aforementioned point in
				the water at the northwestern boundary of an existing Hillsborough County
				zone.
3. Old Tampa Bay Area:
a. South of the Howard Frankland Bridge: All
				waters north of the Gandy Boulevard Bridge, south of the Howard Frankland
				Bridge, and east of a line beginning at a point (approximate latitude 27°
				53' 24.0" North, approximate longitude 82° 32' 43.4" West) in the water
				under the westbound lane of Gandy Boulevard (approximately 1015 feet southwest
				of where Gandy Boulevard crosses the eastern shoreline of Old Tampa Bay) and
				then bearing 348.7° for a distance of approximately 475 feet to a point
				(approximate latitude 27° 53' 28.6" North, approximate longitude 82°
				32' 44.5" West) in the water, then bearing 11.5° for a distance of
				approximately 700 feet to a point (approximate latitude 27° 53' 35.4"
				North, approximate longitude 82° 32' 43.1" West) in the water, then bearing
				19.7° for a distance of approximately 4590 feet to a point (approximate
				latitude 27° 54' 18.3" North, approximate longitude 82° 32' 26.4" West)
				in the water, then bearing 15.2° for a distance of approximately 3155 feet
				to a point (approximate latitude 27° 54' 48.6" North, approximate longitude
				82° 32' 17.6" West) in the water, then bearing 8.2° for a distance of
				approximately 1855 feet to a point (approximate latitude 27° 55' 6.8"
				North, approximate longitude 82° 32' 14.9" West) in the water, then bearing
				11.7° for a distance of approximately 1660 feet to a point (approximate
				latitude 27° 55' 22.9" North, approximate longitude 82° 32' 11.4" West)
				in the water, then bearing 3.1° for a distance of approximately 617 feet to
				a point (approximate latitude 27° 55' 29.2" North, approximate longitude
				82° 32' 11.1" West) in the water, then bearing 347.3° for a distance of
				approximately 919 feet to a point (approximate latitude 27° 55' 37.9"
				North, approximate longitude 82° 32' 13.5" West) in the water, then bearing
				334.8° for a distance of approximately 1735 feet to a point (approximate
				latitude 27° 55' 53.4" North, approximate longitude 82° 32' 22.0" West)
				in the water, then bearing 298.0° for a distance of approximately 2315 feet
				to a point (approximate latitude 27° 56' 3.9" North, approximate longitude
				82° 32' 44.9" West) in the water, then bearing 290.2° for a distance of
				approximately 998 feet to a point (approximate latitude 27° 56' 7.2" North,
				approximate longitude 82° 32' 55.4" West) in the water, then bearing
				313.6° for a distance of approximately 526 feet to a point (approximate
				latitude 27° 56' 10.7" North, approximate longitude 82° 32' 59.7" West)
				in the water, then bearing 333.6° for a distance of approximately 884 feet
				to a point (approximate latitude 27° 56' 18.4" North, approximate longitude
				82° 33' 4.2" West) in the water, and then bearing 349.0° for a distance
				of approximately 645 feet to the line's terminus at a point (approximate
				latitude 27° 56' 24.7" North, approximate longitude 82° 33' 5.7" West)
				on the southern shoreline of the causeway for the Howard Frankland Bridge
				(approximately 1289 feet southwest of where Interstate 275 crosses the eastern
				shoreline of Old Tampa Bay), except as otherwise designated under
				sub-subparagraph (2)(e)4.a.
b.
				Rocky Point Area: All waters north of the Howard Frankland Bridge and northeast
				of a line bearing 321.6° from a point (approximate latitude 27° 56'
				26.6" North, approximate longitude 82° 33' 6.2" West) on the northern
				shoreline of the causeway for the Howard Frankland Bridge to a point
				(approximate latitude 27° 57' 42.8" North, approximate longitude 82°
				34' 16.0" West) on the southwestern shoreline of Rocky Point.
c. North of Courtney Campbell Causeway (April
				1 - November 15): All waters north of the Courtney Campbell Causeway and east
				of a line bearing 360° from a point (approximate latitude 27° 58' 24.5"
				North, approximate longitude 82° 35' 57.2" West) on the northern shoreline
				of the Courtney Campbell Causeway to a point on the northeastern shoreline of
				Old Tampa Bay east of the mouth of Rocky Creek, except as otherwise designated
				under sub-subparagraph (2)(e)4.b., and excluding those waters of the canal
				system and basin of the Dana Shores area east of a line bearing 346.7° from
				a point (approximate latitude 27° 58' 21.5" North, approximate longitude
				82° 33' 56.0" West) on the southern shoreline of the entrance canal to a
				point (approximate latitude 27° 58' 23.7" North, approximate longitude
				82° 33' 56.6" West) on the northern shoreline of the entrance
				canal.
(e) 25
				MPH (All Year, except as otherwise designated).
1. Alafia River, West of US Highway 41: All
				waters in the main marked channel of the Alafia River east of a line bearing
				360° from a point (approximate latitude 27° 51' 10.0'' North,
				approximate longitude 82° 23' 54.2'' West) on the southern shoreline of the
				Alafia River at the river's confluence with Hillsborough Bay, and west of the
				centerline of the US Highway 41 Bridge.
2. Alafia River, US Highway 41 to Interstate
				75: All waters of the Alafia River east of the centerline of the US Highway 41
				Bridge and west of the centerline of the Interstate 75 Bridge.
3. Little Manatee River: All waters of the
				Manatee River and the portion of Tampa Bay south and east of a line beginning
				at a point (approximate latitude 27° 43' 32.4" North, approximate longitude
				82° 28' 41.9" West) on the southwestern shoreline of Bahia Beach and then
				bearing 288.8° for a distance of approximately 576 feet to a point
				(approximate latitude 27° 43' 34.1" North, approximate longitude 82°
				28' 48.0" West) in the water, then bearing 220.7° for a distance of
				approximately 1503 feet to a point (approximate latitude 27° 43' 22.7"
				North, approximate longitude 82° 28' 58.8" West) in the water, then bearing
				207.3° for a distance of approximately 661 feet to a point (approximate
				latitude 27° 43' 16.9" North, approximate longitude 82° 29' 2.1" West)
				in the water, then bearing 226.5° for a distance of approximately 483 feet
				to a point (approximate latitude 27° 43' 13.5" North, approximate longitude
				82° 29' 5.9" West) in the water, then bearing 199.8° to a point
				(approximate latitude 27° 43' 9.9" North, approximate longitude 82° 29'
				7.3" West) on the northeastern shoreline of Tropical Island, then following the
				northeastern shoreline to a point (approximate latitude 27° 42' 59.0"
				North, approximate longitude 82° 28' 53.0" West) on the eastern shoreline
				of said island, then following the southern shoreline to a point (approximate
				latitude 27° 43' 4.0" North, approximate longitude 82° 29' 15.1" West)
				near the western end of said island, then bearing 264.0° to a point
				(approximate latitude 27° 43' 2.6" North, approximate longitude 82° 29'
				27.7" West) on the eastern shoreline of Sand Key (the large unnamed mangrove
				island to the west of Tropical Island), then following the eastern shoreline of
				Sand Key to a point (approximate latitude 27° 42' 43.1" North, approximate
				longitude 82° 29' 30.3" West) on the southern shoreline, then bearing
				145.3° to the line's terminus at a point (approximate latitude 27° 42'
				41.6" North, approximate longitude 82° 29' 29.1" West) on the shoreline of
				the mangrove peninsula west of Seabreeze Drive.
4. Old Tampa Bay Area: Those waters in the
				portions of the following marked channels east of the western boundary of the
				Slow Speed zones designated in subparagraph (2)(d)3.:
a. South of the Howard Frankland Bridge:
				Those waters in the marked channel leading to Culbreath Bayou west of channel
				marker "9" (approximate latitude 27° 56' 13.1" North, approximate longitude
				82° 31' 56.4" West); and those waters in the portion of the marked channel
				south of the Howard Frankland Bridge (south of Mariner Drive) west of channel
				marker "12" (approximate latitude 27° 56' 25.4" North, approximate
				longitude 82° 32' 17.9" West), but excluding the north-south portion of the
				channel between channel marker "12" and channel marker "16."
b. North of Courtney Campbell Causeway (April
				1 - November 15): Those waters in the marked east-west channel leading to Dana
				Shores (generally east of channel marker "5") west of channel marker "23"
				(approximate latitude 27° 58' 18.8" North, approximate longitude 82°
				34' 10.0" West).