Florida Administrative Code › 68 - FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION › 68C - Manatees › Chapter 68C-22 - THE FLORIDA MANATEE SANCTUARY ACT › Section 68C-22.012 - Volusia County and Associated County (Parts of Putnam, Lake and Seminole) Zones

Current through Reg. 50, No. 138; July 16, 2024
(1) The Commission
				designates those portions of the St. Johns River basin and the Halifax/Indian
				River and Tomoka River basin within Volusia and adjacent counties, as described
				below, as areas where manatees are frequently sighted. The Commission has
				further determined that they are assumed to inhabit these waters periodically
				or continuously. This rule is for the purpose of regulating the speed and
				operation of motorboats in these designated areas in Volusia County as well as
				in counties adjacent to Volusia County in portions of the St. Johns River
				basin. In addition to Volusia County, waters within the following counties are
				regulated within the provisions of this rule: Putnam, Lake, and Seminole. In
				balancing the rights of fishermen, boaters, and waterskiers to use these
				waterways for recreational and commercial purposes (as applicable under Section
				379.2431(2)(k),
				F.S.) with the need to provide manatee protection, the Commission has examined
				the need for higher speed travel corridors through regulated areas. Such
				corridors are provided in those areas where the Commission determined, on the
				basis of all available information, (1) there is a need for the corridor and
				(2) the corridor will not result in serious threats to manatees or their
				habitat (as defined in Rule
				68C-22.001, F.A.C.). Higher
				speed corridors are not provided in areas where both of the above findings were
				not made.
(2) For the purpose of
				regulating the speed and operation of motorboats in order to protect manatees
				within portions of the St. Johns River Basin, year-round and seasonal zones are
				established as follows:
(a) Slow Speed Zone
				(Year-round) - The following described zones shall include all navigable waters
				and all associated and navigable tributaries, lakes, creeks, coves, bends,
				backwaters, canals, mosquito ditches, and boat basins, unless otherwise
				designated or excluded:
1. Lake George Area:
				All waters within 750 feet of the general contour of the westerly shoreline of
				Lake George and the St. Johns River southerly of a line bearing North 90°
				00' 00" East (True) running through Flashing Red Channel Marker "68" (latitude
				29° 23' 32" North, longitude 81° 39' 27" West) near Black Point and
				northerly of a line bearing South 20° 00' 00" East (True) running through
				the southernmost point of Rocky Point (approximate latitude 29° 20' 13"
				North, approximate longitude 81° 39' 30" West); and, all waters within 1,
				500 feet of the general contour of the westerly shoreline of Lake George
				southwesterly of a line bearing South 20° 00' 00" East (True) running
				through the southernmost point of Rocky Point and westerly of the main marked
				channel at the confluence of the St. Johns River at the southerly end of Lake
				George, and northerly of a line bearing North 70° 00' 00" East (True) which
				lies 830 feet North 20° 00' 00" West (True) of Flashing Red Channel Marker
				"18" (latitude 29° 12' 05" North, longitude 81° 34' 20" West),
				excepting Salt Springs Creek; and that part of Lake George lying northeasterly
				of a line 600 feet southwesterly of and parallel with the centerline of the
				main marked channel at the southerly end of Lake George, southerly of a line
				which bears North 90° 00' 00" East (True) running through the north end of
				the jetty, westerly of a line which bears North 45° 00' 00" West (True)
				running from the shoreline at the northern tip of Zinder Point (approximate
				latitude 29° 12' 14" North, approximate longitude 81° 34' 10" West) and
				northerly of a line bearing North 70° 00' 00" East (True) which lies 830
				feet North 20° 00' 00" West (True) of Flashing Red Channel Marker 18
				(latitude 29° 12' 05" North, longitude 81° 24' 20" West);
2. St. Johns River from Lake George to Lake
				Dexter: Waters southerly of a line bearing North 70° 00' 00" East (True)
				which lies 830 feet North 20° 00' 00" West (True) of Flashing Red Channel
				Marker "18" (latitude 29° 12' 05" North, longitude 81° 34' 20" West)
				and northerly of a line which bears North 90° 00' 00" East (True) running
				through Flashing Red Channel Marker "8" (latitude 29° 07' 24" North,
				longitude 81° 30' 19" West), as follows:
a. Within 50 feet of the general contour of
				the shoreline of the St. Johns River proper; and,
b. Within all tributaries, lakes, creeks,
				backwaters, coves, canals, and boat basins associated with the afore-described
				portion of the St. Johns River, including Blue Creek, Cross Creek, Hitchens
				Creek, Payne Creek, Axle Creek, and Morrison Creek;
3. West end of Lake Dexter: All waters
				outside the main marked channel of the Florida Intracoastal Waterway within
				that portion of Lake Dexter southerly of a line which bears North 90° 00'
				00" East (True) running through Flashing Red Channel Marker "8" (latitude
				29° 07' 24" North, longitude 81° 30' 19" West), and westerly of a line
				which bears North 00° 00' 00" East (True) running from the shoreline of
				Dexter Point through the shoreline of the northernmost point of the west end of
				Dexter Island (approximate latitude 29° 06' 06" North, approximate
				longitude 81° 29' 56" West), inclusive of waters northerly of a line which
				bears North 90° 00' 00" East (True) running through the shoreline of the
				northernmost point of Dexter Island (approximate latitude 29° 06' 06"
				North, approximate longitude 81° 29' 56" West),
4. Lake Dexter Area: All waters within 1500
				feet of the general contour of the shoreline of Lake Dexter easterly of a line
				which bears North 00° 00' 00" East (True) running from the shoreline of
				Dexter Point through the general contour of the shoreline of the northernmost
				point of the west end of Dexter Island (approximate latitude 29° 06' 06"
				North, approximate longitude 81° 29' 56" West), and westerly of a line
				which bears North 00° 00' 00" East (True) running through the westernmost
				tip of the shoreline of the large unnamed island at the eastern end of the lake
				(approximate latitude 29° 06' 40" North, approximate longitude 81° 27'
				43" West),
5. Lake Dexter/Tick
				Island Area: All waters within the general contour of the shoreline of those
				portions of Lake Dexter and Tick Island Creek easterly of a line which bears
				North 00° 00' 00" East (True) running through the westernmost tip of the
				shoreline of the large unnamed island at the eastern end of Lake Dexter
				(approximate latitude 29° 06' 40" North, approximate longitude 81° 27'
				43" West) and westerly of a line which bears North 55° 00' 00" East (True)
				running from the shoreline of Tick Island to the shoreline of the westernmost
				point of the south bank of Cypress Branch (approximate latitude 29° 06' 54"
				North, approximate longitude 81° 25' 54" West), except as described under
				subparagraph (2)(a)6., below,
6.
				Eph Creek, Tick Island Mud Lake, Harry's Creek Area: All waters of Eph Creek,
				Cross Creek, Tick Island Mud Lake, Taylor Creek, Harry's Creek and Honey Creek
				southerly of the confluence of Lake Dexter with Eph Creek, easterly of the
				confluence of the St. Johns River with Cross Creek, westerly of the confluence
				of Lake Woodruff with Harry's Creek, and northeasterly of the confluence of
				Honey Creek with the St. Johns River,
7. Lake Woodruff Area: All waters within 1,
				500 feet of the general contour of the shoreline of Lake Woodruff southerly of
				a line which bears North 55° 00' 00" East (True) running from the general
				contour of the shoreline of Tick Island to the general contour of the shoreline
				of the westernmost point of the south bank of Cypress Branch (approximate
				latitude 29° 06' 54" North, approximate longitude 81° 25' 54" West),
				excepting Spring Garden Creek,
8.
				Scoggin Creek Area: All waters of Scoggin Creek southerly of the confluence of
				Lake Woodruff with Scoggin Creek; including the canal southwesterly of the
				southwesterly shore of Lake Woodruff, easterly of Harry's Creek, and westerly
				of Norris Dead River,
9. Norris
				Dead River, Zeigler Dead River, Highland Park Canal Area: All waters of Norris
				Dead River and Scoggin Lake southerly of Lake Woodruff, all waters of Zeigler
				Dead River, all waters of Highland Park Canal, all waters of Blue Peter Lake,
				and Daisy Lake, and all other associated waters south of Lake Woodruff and east
				of the St. Johns River,
10. Spring
				Garden Creek Area: All waters within Spring Garden Creek northeasterly of a
				line which bears North 55° 00' 00" West (True) running through the
				shoreline from the tip of a point of land on the southerly bank of Spring
				Garden Creek (approximate latitude 29° 06' 47" North, approximate longitude
				81° 24' 10" West) and southerly of a line which bears North 50° 00' 00"
				East (True), running through the northerly tip of an unnamed island
				(approximate latitude 29° 07' 03" North, approximate longitude 81° 24'
				10" West),
11. St. Johns River -
				Lake Dexter to Honey Creek Area: Waters southerly of a line which bears North
				90° 00' 00" East (True) running through the shoreline of the northernmost
				point of the west end of Dexter Island (approximate latitude 29° 06' 00"
				North, approximate longitude 81° 29' 56" West) and northerly of a line
				running between Flashing Red Channel Marker "32" (latitude 29° 01' 59"
				North, longitude 81° 24' 14" West) and Green Channel Marker "31, " as
				follows:
a. Within 50 feet of the general
				contour of the shoreline of the St. Johns River proper; and,
b. Within all tributaries, lakes, and creeks
				associated with the above-described portion of the St. Johns River, including
				Stagger Mud Lake, Stagger Creek, Alexander Spring Creek, Kimball Lake, Lee
				Lake, Adams Lake, Get Out Creek, Twin Lakes, Horseshoe Mud Lake, the St.
				Francis Dead River, and Honey Creek;
12. St. Johns River-Honey Creek to Beresford
				Peninsula Canal Area: Waters of the St. Johns River southerly of a line running
				between Flashing Red Channel Marker "32" (latitude 29° 01' 59" North,
				longitude 81° 24' 14" West) and Green Channel Marker "31" and northerly of
				a line which bears North 45° 00' 00" West (True) from the shoreline of the
				westernmost tip of the northeasterly bank of the unnamed finger canal of the
				Beresford Peninsula (approximate latitude 28° 58' 40" North, approximate
				longitude 81° 21' 33" West) to the shoreline of the western bank of the St.
				Johns River, as follows:
a. Within 50 feet of
				the general contour of the shoreline of the St. Johns River proper;
				and,
b. Within all tributaries,
				lakes, and creeks associated with the above-described portion of the St. Johns
				River, including Mud Lake, Shell Creek, and Dean Dead
				River;
13. St. Johns
				River-Beresford Peninsula Canal to Lake Beresford Area: All waters of the St.
				Johns River southerly of a line which bears North 45° 00' 00" West (True)
				from the shoreline of the westernmost tip of the northeasterly bank of the
				unnamed finger canal of the Beresford Peninsula (approximate latitude 28°
				58' 40" North, approximate longitude 81° 21' 33" West) to the shoreline of
				the western bank of the St. Johns River and westerly of a line which bears
				North 90° 00' 00" East (True) running through Flashing Red Channel Marker
				"60" (latitude 28° 58' 42" North, longitude 81° 21' 00"
				West),
14. Hontoon Dead River Area:
				All waters of the Hontoon Dead River lying southerly and southwesterly of
				longitude 81° 21' 41" West at the St. Johns River near the Beresford
				Peninsula, including navigable portions of Snake Creek and the unnamed canals
				connecting Hontoon Dead River with the St. Johns River and their associated
				waters;
15. Lake Beresford Area:
				Waters of Lake Beresford as follows:
a. All
				waters lying northerly of latitude 29° 00' 04" North,
b. All waters within 300 feet of the general
				contour of the easterly and westerly shorelines of Lake Beresford southerly of
				latitude 29° 00' 04" North, and northerly of a line which bears North
				90° 00' 00" East (True), running through the "snag" near the western shore
				of Lake Beresford (approximate latitude 28° 58' 48" North, approximate
				longitude 81° 20' 56" West); and,
c. All waters within 1, 000 feet of the
				general contour of the westerly, southerly, and easterly shorelines lying
				southerly of a line which bears North 90° 00' 00" East (True) running
				through the "snag" near the western shore of Lake Beresford (approximate
				latitude 28° 58' 48" North, approximate longitude 81° 20' 56"
				West);
16. St. Johns
				River-Lake Beresford to Lake Monroe Area: Waters southerly of a line which
				bears North 90° 00' 00" East (True) running through Flashing Green Channel
				Marker "63" (latitude 28° 58' 26" North, longitude 81° 20' 47" West)
				and northerly of the end of the fender system on the easterly side of the
				Interstate Highway 4 Bridge at the west end of Lake Monroe as follows, except
				as otherwise designated for seasonal or year-round regulation in paragraphs
				(2)(b), (c), (d) and (f):
a. All waters
				outside the main marked channel of the St. Johns River,
b. Those waters of the St. Johns River, from
				shoreline to shoreline including the marked channel, southerly of a line
				bearing North 90° 00' 00" East (True) running through Flashing Green
				Channel Marker "67" (latitude 28° 57' 30" North, longitude 81° 21' 01"
				West) and northerly of a line bearing North 90° 00' 00" East (True) running
				through Flashing Green Channel Marker "69" (latitude 28° 56' 55" North,
				longitude 81° 20' 46" West), and those waters from shoreline to shoreline
				including the marked channel southerly of a line bearing South 25° 00' 00"
				East (True) running through Green Channel Marker "75" (latitude 28° 56' 16"
				North, longitude 81° 20' 49" West) and northerly of a line bearing North
				90° 00' 00" East (True) running through Flashing Green Channel Marker "81"
				(latitude 28° 55' 22" North, longitude 81° 21' 08" West);
				and,
c. All tributaries, creeks,
				lakes, bends, coves, canals, boat basins, discharge canals, and backwaters
				associated with the above-described portions of the St. Johns River, including
				Beresford Bend, Dutchmans Bend, Florida Bend, Volusia Cove, Coxetter's Bend,
				Emanual Bend, Guyan Cove, The Big Whirl, July Slough, Butcher's Bend, Butcher's
				Pen Slough, and Alexander Slough; and,
d. Those waters of the Wekiva River south of
				its confluence with the St. Johns River and north of a due East line running
				from the easternmost point of land (approximate latitude 28° 52' 19" North,
				approximate longitude 81° 22' 13" West) on the westerly shoreline of said
				Wekiva River at the south side of an inlet finger leading to the south end of
				Chub Slough.
17. Lake
				Monroe Area: All waters approximately within 3000 feet of the general contour
				of the westerly and northerly shoreline of Lake Monroe, east of the end of the
				fender system on the easterly side of the Interstate Highway 4 Bridge,
				northerly of the northern boundary of the marked channel of the Florida
				Intracoastal Waterway (or as posted, with all waters to include those generally
				northwest of a line drawn from Red Channel Marker "4" to Green Channel Marker
				"13"), and northwesterly of a line which bears South 50° 00' 00" West
				(True) from the westernmost point of Stone Island, (approximate latitude
				28° 51' 12" North and approximate longitude 81° 14' 45" West) inclusive
				of all waters of Bethel Creek Cove, and excluding the marked channel running
				southerly and west of the City of Enterprise.