A major problem is facing Florida’s and much of the United States’ coastline. Escalating land values for waterfront property in the last few years have created a crisis for recreational boating. Marinas with public slips and working boatyards are being replaced by residential development, or being taxed at “highest and best use” rates that deflate the bottom line, and permitting issues are driving up costs and delaying new marina construction.

A recent Boat US newsletter reported:

While access issues are complex and usually very local problems that deal with private property, there is at least one potential solution at the federal level, The Keep Our Waterfronts Working Act introduced in Congress, July 2007. This bill (H.R. 3223) sponsored by Maine Rep. Thomas Allen, is aimed at preserving sites for “waterfront dependent commercial activities”.

H.R. 3223 would establish a grant program to be administered by state agencies to protect and promote access. Language in the bill incorporates key elements from strategy to preserve access developed by participants at Working Waterways and Waterfronts, a national symposium conceived by BoatU.S. and cosponsored by 23 other organizations last May (see “Access Summit Shares Solutions,” BoatU.S. Magazine, July 2007). Rep. Allen’s bill is particularly timely in that it would amend the federal Coastal Zone Management Act, now up for Congressional reauthorization.

Boaters should write to their own members of Congress and ask them to cosponsor H.R. 3223.

Please ask your elected federal representatives to co-sponsor H.R., 3223. It is common-sense legislation.

It’s easy to contact your local representatives. You don’t even have to live near the coast to write! Click on the links below now.

Click here for bill text.

Click here for a sample email letter.

Click here to easily send an email to your Members of Congress.