August 30th, 2024

​(PLEASE READ ON, THIS GETS GOOD!)

The Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) is a toll-free waterway authorized by Congress in 1919 its routes were referred to in the once used ‘Inside Book,’ a special chart for motor boats. In the 1930’s the government received and used money for recovery and infrastructure which have a great initial support to this waterway. The larger updated waterway charts show a magenta line, (only sometimes seen on smaller intersecting charts) a rough estimate of where the waterway naturally flows along with the dredged channels meaning river channels cleared of obstructive material.
This obviously useful waterway has since gotten longer and deeper overtime, and has been gradually improving since the early half of the 20th century. It preserves rare, precious nature and history.

Despite great economic value for barge companies that transport goods, for businesses, consumers and industries, local recreation and tourism activities,
the government has lowered funds and made it a lower priority. This waterway is certainly an asset to not only upkeep, but to grow in use as well. Why not enhance such a magnificent resource?  It’s certainly time to use logistics, innovation, and long term funding to maintain, study and further advance this needed resource.

SEE THE ICW VALUE
If a person were to simply boat tour this waterway, let’s say in Savannah, Georgia, for example, one will quickly see a rare beauty of nature, that instills constant awe and amazement to the beholder. This is a place full of adventure and enjoyment. The many sounds of the rare birds and smiling dolphins affirm. Its irreplaceable in beauty and host vast natural species our ecosystem rely on, which emphatically means us humans as well.

Spanning 3000 miles, from New Jersey to Texas, the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) host passage of vast commercial and leisure vessels.

With all this said, this giant ‘Ditch’ needs upkeep, as it is constantly shifting and reshaping navigation paths naturally.
The reason for this, in part, is Shoaling, a natural water depth shallowing of river routes, that shift wave formation and stop use of these once chartered routes taken by boat vessels, along channels of the ICW.

The Intracoastal Waterway maintenance falls behind every year due to low funding. This waterway needs consistent dredging and repairs to keep it usable and safe. The natural occurring route changes and the waterway’s charted magenta line are not matching up when used by boaters. (Experienced waterway users are encouraged to upload any local knowledge and input of magenta line route changes found to the ActiveCaptain App, including hazards info to the local coast guard and authorities.)

Boaters simply experience condition shifts that these nautical charts can’t keep up with.
With this natural, ever changing juggle, we can only put continued effort to keep pace and evolve with these river shifts, through regular, well funded upkeep, via increased dredging, repairing and realtime nautical charting to stay ahead of the river’s curve. (Pun intended.)
What has been done so far?!

THANK GOODNESS FOR THE COAST GUARD’S ATTENTION
Due to constant changes in the waterway’s depth and Shoaling, vessels grounding, and newly spotted safety hazards, making nautical charts less accurate in real time, the coast guard has posted ‘Danger: Shoaling’ signs and removed permanent channel markers and put up temporary buoys to mark how the channel currently flows.
This attentive route changing has undoubtedly brought about needed safety to boaters.

Federal dredging formulas don’t measure up to the economic value the Intracoastal waterway brings, from the ever growing ‘recreational boater’ demands. This while the government receives a fuel tax for commercial use of the waterway. Certainly it’s a great waterway for all.
With different waves of opinion from federal, state and local, then all meeting at the same water level on this economic ‘human vs nature’ issue, is more urgent than ever. 

NOW WHAT? 
With such an obvious challenge and  obvious solution, let’s all make a big splash into the Intracoastal Waterway latest logistic action plan, and see it through! We can start by asking more questions to those qualified to answer and by constantly highlighting the ICW’s true value. This will give a voice to this gorgeous and rare waterway of nature, commerce and one of a kind leisure recreation. 
-ISLE OF HOPE CRUISES