Florida Administrative Code › 68 - FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION › 68C - Manatees › Chapter 68C-22 - THE FLORIDA MANATEE SANCTUARY ACT › Section 68C-22.008 - St. Lucie County Zones

Current through Reg. 50, No. 138; July 16, 2024
(1) The
				Commission designates those portions of the Indian River and North Fork St.
				Lucie River, including all associated waters, within St. Lucie County as areas
				where manatees are frequently sighted. The Commission has further determined
				that manatees are assumed to inhabit these waters periodically or continuously.
				This rule is for the purpose of regulating the speed and operation of
				motorboats in portions of these designated areas in St. Lucie County.
(2) For the purpose of regulating the speed
				and operation of motorboats within St. Lucie County, the following year-round
				and seasonal zones are established, which shall include all associated and
				navigable tributaries, lakes, creeks, coves, bends, backwaters, canals, and
				boat basins unless otherwise designated or excluded: (Access to the No Entry
				and Motorboats Prohibited zones designated below in paragraphs (2)(a) and
				(2)(b), respectively, will be provided in accordance with procedures set forth
				in subsection (4), hereunder, and applicable provisions under Rule
				68C-22.003, F.A.C.)
(a) No Entry Zone (Year-round) - Harbor
				Branch Area: Those waters of the Harbor Branch waterway including all
				associated canals and boat basins westerly of a due south line from the
				westernmost point of the rail system associated with the hoist on the northern
				side and near the western end of said Harbor Branch waterway (approximate
				latitude 27° 32' 03" North, approximate longitude 80° 21' 24"
				West).
(b) Motorboats Prohibited
				Zone (November 15 through March 31)/Idle Speed Zone (Remainder of Year) -
				Moore's Creek Area: Those waters of Moore's Creek lying westerly of the general
				contour of the westerly shoreline of Indian River, and easterly of the
				centerline of the Indian River Drive Bridge.
(c) Idle Speed Zone (Year-round) -
1. Harbor Branch Area: Those waters of the
				Harbor Branch waterway including all associated canals and boat basins,
				westerly of a line drawn across the eastern extremities of the north and south
				jetties at the entrance of said waterway and easterly of a due south line from
				the westernmost point of the rail system associated with the hoist on the
				northern side and near the western end of said Harbor Branch waterway
				(approximate latitude 27° 32' 03" North, approximate longitude 80° 21'
				24" West),
2. Garfield Cut Area:
				Those waters of Garfield Cut, including the canal system of the Queens Cove
				residential development and all other associated waters easterly and
				northeasterly of a line which bears North 11° 00' 00" West from a point on
				the westerly side of Garfield Point (approximate latitude 27° 30' 54"
				North, approximate longitude 80° 19' 38" West), with said line running
				approximately through privately maintained channel marker "8",
3. Jack Island Area: Those waters lying
				easterly and northeasterly of Jack Island, northerly of lines which bear North
				65° 00' 00" West and North 65° 00' 00" East from the northeasternmost
				tip of an unnamed mangrove island lying on the south side of Snapper Cut
				(approximate latitude 27° 29' 17" North, approximate longitude 80° 18'
				49" West), and southerly of a line which bears East from the southernmost tip
				of a peninsula near the north end of the easterly side of Jack Island
				(approximate latitude 27° 30' 13" North, approximate longitude 80° 18'
				33" West), including the waters of the bay immediately west of said peninsula
				and the canals of Coastal Coves residential area,
4. Ft. Pierce Cut, Wildcat Cove Area: Those
				waters of Ft. Pierce Cut and Wildcat Cove, including the canal system of the
				Coral Cove development, northeasterly of a line which bears North 60° 00'
				00" West from a point approximately 2640 feet northeasterly of Cook Point on
				the southeasterly side of the Ft. Pierce Cut (approximate latitude
				27°29'08" North, approximate longitude 80° 18' 28" West),
5. North Beach Causeway to Delaware Avenue
				Area: Those waters of Indian River, westerly of a line 100 feet westerly of and
				parallel with the westerly boundary of the Atlantic Intercoastal Waterway,
				southerly of the centerline of the North Beach Causeway Bridge, and northerly
				of a line which bears South 69° 00' 00" West running through Green Atlantic
				Intracoastal Waterway Channel Marker "189" (latitude 27° 26' 39" North,
				longitude 80° 18' 44" West), including those waters of Taylor Creek
				easterly of the centerline of the North 25th Street Bridge and those waters of
				Belcher Canal easterly of the salinity control structure located near the North
				14th Street Bridge, except as designated for alternative regulation under
				paragraph (2)(b),
6. Little Mud
				Creek Area: Those waters of Little Mud Creek, easterly of a line which bears
				approximately South 27° 00' 00" East from the tip of a peninsula on the
				northerly shoreline of Little Mud Creek (approximate latitude 27° 22' 38"
				North, approximate longitude 80° 15' 36" West) to the westernmost tip of a
				peninsula on the southerly shoreline of Little Mud Creek (approximate latitude
				27° 22' 30" North, approximate longitude 80° 15' 33" West), and
				westerly of the centerline of the US Highway A-1-A Bridge,
7. Big Mud Creek Area: Those waters of Big
				Mud Creek, easterly of a line which bears North 25° 00' 00" East from the
				northernmost tip of Herman Bay Point (approximate latitude 27° 20' 58"
				North, approximate longitude 80° 15' 32" West), and westerly of the
				centerline of the US Highway A-1-A Bridge.
(d) Slow Speed Zone (Year-round) -
1. Blue Hole Point Area: Those waters of
				Indian River, channel included, southerly of the Indian River County/St. Lucie
				County line, and northerly of an East-West line running through Green Atlantic
				Intracoastal Waterway Channel Marker "173" (latitude 27° 31' 14" North,
				longitude 80° 20' 18" West), including the waters of Big Starvation Cove,
				the unnamed backwater northeasterly of Big Starvation Cove in the Northwest 1/4
				of Section 3, Township 34 South, Range 40 East, and all the waters of Blue Hole
				Creek, except as otherwise designated for alternative regulation under
				subparagraphs (2)(c)1. and (2)(h)1.,
2. Indrio to North Beach Causeway Area: Those
				waters within 600 feet of the general contour of the westerly shoreline of
				Indian River, southerly of an East-West line running through Green Atlantic
				Intracoastal Waterway Channel Marker "173" (latitude 27° 31' 14" North,
				longitude 80° 20' 18" West), and northerly of the centerline of the North
				Beach Causeway Bridge,
3. Snapper
				Cut, Southern Jack Island Area: Those waters of the Indian River within 300
				feet of the general contour of the westerly and southwesterly shoreline of Jack
				Island, southerly and southeasterly of a line which bears West from a point on
				the westerly shoreline of Jack Island (approximate latitude 27° 29' 38"
				North, approximate longitude 80° 19' 19" West) and northerly and
				northwesterly of a line which bears North 41° 00' 00" East from the
				northwesterly tip (approximate latitude 27° 29' 12" North, approximate
				longitude 80° 19' 02" West) of the unnamed mangrove island that forms the
				southern boundary of Snapper Cut; and all waters of Snapper Cut and the Indian
				River easterly and southeasterly of a line which bears North 41° 00' 00"
				East from said northwesterly tip of the unnamed mangrove island southerly of
				Jack Island, southwesterly of a line which bears North 65° 00' 00" West
				from the northeasternmost tip of said unnamed mangrove island (approximate
				latitude 27° 29' 17" North, approximate longitude 80°18' 49" West), and
				northerly of the northern shoreline of said unnamed mangrove island that forms
				the southern boundary of Snapper Cut,
4. Ft. Pierce Inlet Area: Those waters of
				Indian River and the Ft. Pierce Inlet, northeasterly of a line 100 feet
				northeasterly of and parallel with the northeasterly boundary of the main
				marked channel of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, westerly and
				northwesterly of a line which bears South from a point on the northerly
				shoreline of Ft. Pierce Inlet approximately 800 feet southwesterly of the
				southerly end of Beach Boulevard (approximate latitude 27° 28' 20" North,
				approximate longitude 80° 17' 45" West), southerly of the centerlines of
				the North Beach Causeway bridges, and northerly of the general contour of the
				northerly shoreline of Causeway Island and the centerline of the South Beach
				Causeway Bridge, except as designated for alternative regulation under
				subparagraphs (2)(e)2. and (2)(g)1., and excepting the following described
				waters: Those waters of Indian River southeasterly of the general contour of
				the southerly shoreline of the North Beach Causeway, northeasterly of a line
				which bears South 30° 00' 00" East from the southernmost tip of a peninsula
				near the southwest end of said causeway (approximate latitude 27° 28' 20"
				North, approximate longitude 80° 19' 14" West), northeasterly of a line
				which bears North 65° 00' 00" West from a Red Isophase 6 Second Range Light
				(latitude 27° 28 '02" North, longitude 80° 18' 56" West), northwesterly
				of a line which bears approximately North 80° 00' 00" East from said Red
				Isophase 6 Second Range Light, westerly of the general contour of the westerly
				shoreline of the unnamed mangrove island westerly of the privately maintained
				channel leading to Jim Island, and southwesterly of a line which bears North
				30° 00' 00" West from the northernmost tip of said unnamed mangrove island
				(approximate latitude 27° 28' 22" North, approximate longitude 80° 18'
				40" West); also excepting those waters of Tucker Cove, northwesterly of a line
				which bears North 30° 00' 00" East from the easternmost tip of Coon Island
				(approximate latitude 27° 28' 25" North, approximate longitude 80° 17'
				55" West), northeasterly of a line which bears approximately North 50° 00'
				00" West from said easternmost tip of Coon Island to the easternmost tip of the
				small unnamed island immediately north of the eastern end of Coon Island,
				northeasterly of the general contour of the northeasterly shoreline of said
				unnamed island, and northeasterly of a line which bears approximately North
				35° 00' 00" West from the northernmost tip of said unnamed island to the
				easternmost tip of a peninsula on the westerly shore of Tucker Cove
				(approximate latitude 27° 28' 34" North, approximate longitude 80° 18'
				13" West),
5. Causeway Island Area:
				Those waters of Indian River northeasterly of a line 100 feet northeasterly of
				and parallel with the northeasterly boundary line of the main marked channel of
				the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, southerly of the centerline of the South
				Beach Causeway Bridge and the general contour of the southerly shoreline of
				Causeway Island, southwesterly of a line 2, 500 feet northeasterly of and
				parallel with said northeasterly boundary line, and northerly of a line which
				bears North 69° 00' 00" East running through Green Atlantic Intracoastal
				Waterway Channel Marker "189" (latitude 27° 26' 39" North, longitude
				80° 18' 44" West); those waters of Indian River and Faber Cove lying
				northerly and northeasterly of an East-West line which runs through private red
				channel marker "12A" (approximate latitude 27° 27' 41" North, approximate
				longitude 80° 18' 04" West); and those waters of Indian River lying
				northerly of the northern boundary of the privately maintained channel on the
				south side of Causeway Island, northeasterly of a line 2, 500 feet
				northeasterly of and parallel with the northeasterly boundary of the main
				marked channel of said Intracoastal Waterway, southerly and southwesterly of
				said East-West line which runs through private red channel marker "12A, " and
				southerly of the general contour of the southerly shoreline of Causeway Island,
6. Delaware Avenue to St. Lucie
				County/Martin County Line Area: Those waters of Indian River westerly of a line
				200 feet southwesterly of and parallel with the southwesterly boundary line of
				the main marked channel of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, southeasterly of
				a line which bears South 69° 00' 00" West running through Green Atlantic
				Intracoastal Waterway Channel Marker "189" (latitude 27° 26' 39" North,
				longitude 80° 18' 44" West), and northerly of the St. Lucie County/Martin
				County line,
7. Hook Point to Bear
				Point Cove Area: Those waters of the Indian River within 1, 000 feet of the
				general contour of the easterly shoreline of said Indian River, southerly of a
				due West line from a point on said easterly shoreline (approximate latitude
				27° 26' 03" North, approximate longitude 80° 17' 51'' West), said point
				lying approximately 5, 800 feet southerly of Hook Point, and northerly and
				westerly of a line which bears South from the southern tip of Bear Point
				(approximate latitude 27° 25' 41" North, approximate longitude 80° 17'
				18" West); and those waters of Bear Point Cove northerly of a line which bears
				West from a point located on the easterly shoreline of Indian River
				(approximate latitude 27° 25' 30" North, approximate longitude 80° 16'
				56" West), easterly of a line that bears South from the southern tip of Bear
				Point (approximate latitude 27° 25' 41" North, approximate longitude
				80° 17' 18" West), and northeasterly of a line that bears South 85° 00'
				00" East from a point on the aforementioned line bearing South located 1, 000
				feet southerly of the southerly shoreline of Bear Point to a point on
				aforementioned line bearing West located 1, 000 feet westerly of the easterly
				shoreline of Indian River,
8. Bear
				Point Cove to Herman Bay Area: Those waters of the Indian River within 1, 000
				feet of the general contour of the easterly shoreline of the Indian River,
				southerly of a line which bears West from a point on the easterly shoreline of
				the Indian River (approximate latitude 27° 25' 30" North, approximate
				longitude 80° 16' 56" West), and northerly of a line which bears West from
				the southernmost tip of a peninsula on the northwesterly shoreline of Herman
				Bay (approximate latitude 27° 20' 18" North, approximate longitude 80°
				14' 55" West); and those waters easterly of a line that bears North 04° 00'
				00" East from a point 1, 000 feet West of the westernmost tip of Herman Bay
				Point (approximate latitude 27° 20' 55" North, approximate longitude
				80° 15' 36" West) and those waters of Pete Stones Creek and Middle Cove
				lying southwesterly of the centerlines of the US Highway A-1-A bridges,
				excepting the waters of Blind Creek and those waters designated for alternative
				regulation under subparagraphs (2)(c)6. and (2)(c)7.,
9. Nettles Island Area: Those waters of the
				Indian River, including associated canals and boat basins lying southeasterly
				of a line which bears South 35° 00' 00" West from the southernmost tip of a
				mangrove peninsula (approximate latitude 27° 17' 30" North, approximate
				longitude 80° 13' 40" West) to a point 600 feet northwesterly of the
				northwest tip of Nettles Island, northeasterly of a line 600 feet southwesterly
				of and parallel with the general contour of the southwesterly shoreline of
				Nettles Island, and northerly and northeasterly of a line which bears North
				85° 00' 00" West from a point on the easterly shoreline of the Indian River
				(approximate latitude 27° 16' 03" North, approximate longitude 80° 12'
				52" West) to a point 600 feet southwesterly of the southwest tip of Nettles
				Island; and those waters (including all associated canals and boat basins)
				lying within 600 feet of the general contour of the easterly shoreline of the
				Indian River southerly of a line which bears North 85° 00' 00" West from a
				point on the easterly shoreline of the Indian River (approximate latitude
				27° 16' 03" North, approximate longitude 80° 12' 52" West) and
				northerly of the St. Lucie County/Martin County line,
10. North Fork St. Lucie River Area: Those
				portions of North Fork St. Lucie River described as follows:
a. Those waters within 600 feet of the
				general contour of the southwesterly shoreline of said river, northwesterly of
				the St. Lucie County/Martin County line, and westerly and southerly of a line
				which bears South from the easternmost tip of the peninsula between North Fork
				St. Lucie River and Blakeslee Creek (approximate latitude 27° 14' 32"
				North, approximate longitude 80° 19' 16" West), including all navigable
				waters of Blakeslee Creek, but excluding the waters of Brill and Winters
				creeks,
b. Those waters within 600
				feet of the general contour of the northeasterly shoreline of said river,
				northwesterly of the St. Lucie County/Martin County line, and northerly and
				easterly of a line which bears East 600 feet from the southernmost tip of
				Greenridge Point (approximate latitude 27° 14' 28" North, approximate
				longitude 80° 18' 42" West), including all navigable waters of Howard
				Creek,
c. Those waters of Kitching
				Cove northwesterly of a line which bears North 60° 00' 00" East from the
				easternmost tip of a peninsula on the westerly shore of Kitching Cove
				(approximate latitude 27° 14' 44" North, approximate longitude 80° 19'
				17" West),
d. Those waters of C-24
				Diversion Canal westerly of the centerline of the Florida Turnpike (Sunshine
				State Parkway) and easterly of the canal control structure located
				approximately 2, 100 feet westerly of said centerline,
e. Those waters within 1, 300 feet downstream
				and 1, 800 feet upstream of said river's confluence with C-24 Diversion Canal;
				those waters of the C-24 Diversion Canal easterly of the centerline of the
				Southbend Boulevard Bridge; and all waters of Mud Cove and Long Creek,
				including the canal north of Port St. Lucie Boulevard that connects Long Creek
				to said river,
f. Those waters
				westerly of approximate longitude 80° 19' 05" West, northerly of
				approximate latitude 27° 18' 07" North, southerly of approximate latitude
				27° 18' 15" North, and easterly of Coral Reef Street, including the waters
				of the creek and canal easterly of Coral Reef Street,
g. Those waters within 1, 000 feet upstream
				and 2, 300 feet downstream of said river's confluence with the waterway lying
				south of Calmosa Drive, including said waterway and the waterway lying west of
				Degan Drive,
h. Those waters
				northeasterly of the south end of the cut through located approximately 1, 000
				feet northwesterly of the centerline of the Prima Vista Boulevard Bridge and
				those waters easterly and northeasterly of the north end of said cut through
				located approximately 2, 300 feet northwesterly of said centerline,
i. All other navigable side creeks and canals
				not described above or otherwise designated (as depicted on Maps
				5-8).
(e) Slow
				Speed Zone (November 15 through April 30)/Maximum 30 MPH Speed Zone (Remainder
				of Year) -
1. Intracoastal Waterway, Ft.
				Pierce Inlet Area: That portion of the main marked channel of the Atlantic
				Intracoastal Waterway, and those waters within 100 feet of the eastern and
				western boundaries of said channel, southeasterly of the centerline of the
				North Beach Causeway Bridge, and northerly of a line which bears North 69°
				00' 00" East running through Green Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Channel
				Marker "189" (latitude 27° 26' 39" North, longitude 80° 18' 44" West);
				and,
2. Shark Cut, Ft. Pierce Inlet
				Area: That portion of Shark Cut (Swash Channel) within the channel to be marked
				by local government (said marked channel to generally follow the contours of
				the natural channel and not to exceed 250 feet in width), northwesterly of the
				northern boundary line of the main marked east-west channel leading out of Ft.
				Pierce Inlet and southeasterly of the northeastern boundary of the main marked
				channel of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway.
(f) Slow Speed Zone (November 15 through
				April 15) - Fish House Cove Area: Those waters of Indian River and Fish House
				Cove easterly and northeasterly of a line 100 feet easterly of and parallel
				with the northeasterly boundary of the main marked channel of the Atlantic
				Intracoastal Waterway, southerly of an East-West line running through Green
				Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Channel Marker "173" (latitude 27° 31' 14"
				North, longitude 80° 20' 18" West), westerly of the general contour of the
				easterly shoreline of the Indian River and Fish House Cove and a line which
				bears North 11° 00' 00" West from a point on the westerly side of Garfield
				Point (approximate latitude 27° 30' 54" North, approximate longitude
				80° 19' 38" West), northerly of the general contour of the southerly
				shoreline of Fish House Cove and the northwesterly shoreline of an unnamed
				island on the north side of Old Inlet and a line which bears North 45° 00'
				00" East from the northernmost tip of said unnamed island (approximate latitude
				27° 30' 22" North, approximate longitude 80° 19' 39" West), and
				northerly and northwesterly of a line which bears South 71° 00' 00" West
				from a point on the southwestern shoreline of last said unnamed island
				(approximate latitude 27° 30' 10" North, approximate longitude 80° 19'
				43" West), including the waters of the privately maintained channel leading
				into Garfield Cut from a line 100 feet northeasterly of and parallel with the
				northeasterly boundary of the main marked channel of the Atlantic Intracoastal
				Waterway, except as designated for alternative regulation under subparagraph
				(2)(c)2.
(g) Maximum 25 MPH Speed
				Zone (Year-round) -
1. Coon Island, Jim
				Island Area: That portion of the privately maintained channel westerly of Coon
				Island and southerly and easterly of Jim Island, northerly and northwesterly of
				a line bearing North 67° 00' 00" East from Green Beacon "5" (approximate
				latitude 27° 28' 08" North, approximate longitude 80° 18' 28" West) and
				southerly and southeasterly of a line bearing East from Green Beacon "11"
				(approximate latitude 27° 28' 41" North, approximate longitude 80° 18'
				38'' West); and,
2. North Fork St.
				Lucie River, North of Port St. Lucie Boulevard Area: Those waters of North Fork
				St. Lucie River, Five Mile Creek and Ten Mile Creek lying between the general
				contour of the shorelines (excepting associated and navigable tributaries,
				oxbows, lakes, creeks, coves, backwaters, canals and boat basins, and those
				waters designated for alternative regulation under subparagraph (2)(d)10.),
				northerly of approximate latitude 27° 18' 15" North, including those waters
				of the cut-through beginning at a point located approximately 1, 000 feet
				northeasterly of the centerline of Prima Vista Boulevard and terminating at a
				point approximately 2, 300 feet northwesterly of said centerline (as depicted
				on Maps 6-8).
(h) Maximum
				30 MPH Speed Zone (Year-round) -
1. Blue Hole
				Point Area: That portion of the main marked channel of the Atlantic
				Intracoastal Waterway and those waters within 100 feet of the eastern and
				western boundaries of said channel, southerly of the Indian River County/St.
				Lucie County line, and northerly of a line which bears North 77° 00' 00"
				East running through Green Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Channel Marker "171"
				(latitude 27° 32' 10" North, longitude 80° 20' 33" West); and,
2. North Fork St. Lucie River,
				Greenridge Point to Port St. Lucie Boulevard Area: Those waters of the North
				Fork St. Lucie River lying between the general contour of the shorelines of the
				river (excepting associated and navigable tributaries, oxbows, lakes, creeks,
				coves, backwaters, canals and boat basins, and those waters designated for
				alternative regulation under subparagraph (2)(d)10.), northerly of a line which
				bears East from the easternmost tip of the peninsula between North Fork St.
				Lucie River and Blakeslee Creek (approximate latitude 27° 14' 32" North,
				approximate longitude 80° 19' 16" West), and southerly of approximate
				latitude 27° 18' 07" North (as depicted on Maps
				5-6).