I received the following email from Claiborne Young who publishes a
number of cruising books and a newsletter (see his website link below)
regarding the ICW which from the sounds of things will greatly affect
our ability to travel this year and in years to come.  Check it out.
Pam, 43' Hatteras DCMY

Special Critical ICW Salty Southeast Supplement #2
March 11, 2004

Hello Fellow Cruisers:

I'm very sorry to report that the Atlantic ICW crisis has grown WORSE
since my last message to you about this serious problem. Now, as you
will see below, in addition to the 3-foot depths at Lockwoods Folly, I'm
hearing that there are problems with the Waterway at its passage behind
Carolina Beach Inlet, and at its intersection with New River, both of
which are on the North Carolina coastline, south of Morehead City and
Swansborough.
Everyone please take a good, long look at the important note below from
fellow cruiser, Philip Odom. It will bring the deteriorating situation
into an all too clear focus!

Claiborne,
We are currently headed for Bucksport SC today and will be going
thorough Lockwood Follys tomorrow.
I had spoke with Bob Satin from the Army Corp of Engineers/ Wilmington
(910)251-4819 about the conditions. He has informed me that they have
surveyed reported 4' depths at not only Lockwood Folly but at Carolina
Beach Inlet and New River Inlet also. The 4' soundings were at MLW not
MLLW so the problems are getting worse. He also informed me that they
had met with the Coast Guard and they are almost at the point that they
will remove the navigation buoys at those areas and we will be on our
own. I guess as of then they consider it to be non-navigable.
He gave me this site to look up survey info and centerline waypoints
through the bad areas http://www.saw.usace.army.mil/nav/nav.htm
I will let you know what I find out but we are trying to run them at
close to high water.
He was very helpful and you may want to give him a call if you have any
further questions.
Thanks,
Philip Odom
DF 41 "Latitude Adjustment"
Havelock, NC

So, the question arises as to what else the cruising community can do.
Obviously, we need action NOW!!!! Rosemary, with the Atlantic
Intracoastal Waterway Association sent me the following recommendation.
I strongly advise that everyone receiving this missive take action as
she suggests!

Attached is a letter that you can download and use to send to Chairman
Hobson or other members of the Energy & Water Development Committee.
Also attached is an update on the Lockwood's Folly situation and better
contact information for members of the committee. Sorry, US mail is not
an option because of security issues that keep disrupting mail service
to Congress. Thank you for your support. Don't stop now! Keep making
those calls and sending those letters. Rosemary

Hon. David L. Hobson
Chairman
Committee on Appropriations
Energy & Water Development Subcommittee
US House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Chairman Hobson:

  The President's FY 05 budget did not authorize any funds to

maintain the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AIWW).  This waterway runs
through five southern states and is critical to the nation and the local
economies in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and
Florida.

The US Army Corps of Engineers has declared the AIWW a "low use"
waterway using flawed methodologies.  The number of ton miles traveled
is the criteria used to determine whether or not a waterway is to be
funded.  Commercial use such as construction vessels, commercial fishing
boats and cruise ships are not even considered when deciding the fate of
the AIWW.  Recreational boaters don't even count! The AIWW has been
closed in North Carolina at Lockwood's Folly Inlet since early December
and the Corps lacks the funds to re-open it.

  The following is just a brief list of problems caused by the

closing: . One of the biggest suppliers of fuel to US military bases
along the AIWW is not able to get full fuel barges through North
Carolina.  These bases are critical to the nation's security. . A major
cruise line is seriously considering canceling its popular cruise
through the AIWW because of the depth problems in some areas.  This will
certainly have an impact on the local economy. . Recreational boaters
come from all over the nation to travel the AIWW during the warmer
months.  Because of the shallow drafts, many of these travelers will be
faced with the extremely dangerous choice of going into the ocean to get
to their destinations. . Commercial shipments that cannot get through
the AIWW are being shipped by truck using I-95 and local roads.  Just
one barge can add 58 more trucks to the highway and we are not ready to
deal with the pollution and congestion this will cause. The estimate to
restore the waterway to its authorized depth of 12feet in each state is:
Virginia, $4.2M; North Carolina, $11M; South Carolina, $6M; Georgia,
$19.2M; and Florida$3.2M.

The AIWW is closing and nobody seems to care!  You can save the AIWW and
ensure that our children will enjoy its beauty and benefits in the years
to come.  Please allocate the needed funds to the Corps of Engineers
FY05 budget.

Thank you,

I would also like to note that members of the cruising community ARE
trying to do something about this situation, particularly this writer's
good friend, Penny Leary Smith, director of North Carolina's Dismal
Swamp Canal Welcome Center. Just take a look at what she's been up to.

SAVE THE WATERWAY
What we have done
February 27, 2004

1. Contacted local NC & VA leaders for their support
   a. NC legislators
   b. Camden & Pasquotank county managers & commissioners; Elizabeth City
   Council members, Committee of 100, Museum of the Albemarle, Tourism
   Board, Downtown Business & Professional Assn., Elizabeth City Downtown,
   Inc. c. USCG Auxiliary d. Pasquotank Yacht Club e. Local marinas
   (Pelican Marina, Alligator River Marina) f. Contacted leaders with the
   City of Chesapeake for their support

2. Sought support from outside the region
   a. Emailed & spoke with boaters from across the country for their
   support b. Contacted others on the Carolina Coast for their support

3. Organized an educational forum for Tuesday, March 2, 2004, in
   Elizabeth City
   with representatives from the US Army Corps of Engineers.  Packets of
   information containing contact information have been prepared by the
   Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center for meeting participants.

4. Contacted Congressional legislators for support, inviting them to the
   meeting

5. Contacted Waterway Publications
   a. Emailed Claiborne Young of Watermark Publications ~ published a
   special edition of his on-line newsletter asking for support, with
   meeting info b. Spoke with a writer from Soundings Magazine ~ will put
   this info on their website and in newsletter c. Contacted Mike Bradley
   of NCwaterways.com ~ published a plea for support on his website

6. Contacted Waterway Organizations
   a. Contacted BoatUS and spoke with Ryck Lydecker, Asst. Legislative
   Affairs Director, who said they have been successful in establishing a
   Congressional Waterways Caucus, chaired by Congressman Mike McIntyre of
   Wilmington, NC. 1. Faxed all13 NC Congressional representatives to
   support and join this caucus

b. Spoke with Rosemary Lynch, Executive Director of Atlantic
Intracoastal Waterway Association (AIWA), to join in their Save the
Waterway Campaign c. Solicited support from Virginia Navigation and
Canals Society 1. Contacted their local Congressmen Schrock, Scott &
Forbes 2. Contacted Senators Warner and Allen 3. Distributed educational
material at Executive Board meeting with a commitment from the President
to write to Congressmen d. Director Penny Leary-Smith will attend the
National Waterways Conference, Inc., in Washington, DC, March 9-10

7. Contacted Local Media
   a. Several articles in both local papers
   b. Following the March 2 meeting, the Corps representatives will be
   interviewed by a local radio station c. Contacting the 3 Hampton Roads
   TV stations for coverage of the meeting d. A supporter in Deep Creek,
   VA, has purchased www.DismalSwamp.net and is constructing a new website
   pleading our case

8. Resolution of Support
   a. Have contacted Camden, Pasquotank & Elizabeth City bodies of
   government requesting they adopt a Resolution in support of the Dismal
   Swamp Canal b. Contacted organizations to adopt a Resolution also c. If
   there are any other groups of entities that would consider a Resolution,
   please contact Penny Leary-Smith at the Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome
   Center 252.771.8333.

I can only add that the entire cruising community, diverse as we all
are, need to come together on this issue NOW. If funding can't be found
in Washington right away, we are ALL facing a situation in which our
on-the-water experience will be changed for the rest of our lives. If we
don't have a reliable Intracoastal Waterway, whether it be from Norfolk
to Miami, or from the Caloosahatchee River to Anclote Key, or from
Carrabelle, FL to New Orleans, then pleasure boating in the Southeastern
USA will never be the same again.  PLEASE write, call, and/or e-mail
your congressman and US Senators. I suggest we make a real nuisance of
ourselves!!! And, if any of you have the good fortune to know some of
your representatives personally, this is THE time to make use of those
up close and personal contacts. Let them know that the cruising
community is broad, numerous and that it has financial and voting POWER!

Thank you soooo much for your time and attention. I ask that everyone
PLEASE send any and all developments that come to your ears concerning
this situation to opcom@cruisingguide.com. I'll do my best to keep the
cruising community informed. Oh yes, I once again ask that anyone
receiving this issue who edits or is involved in any way with other
nautically oriented newsletters, publish these remarks in their media.
You have my permission to reproduce any part of these remarks, and edit
for length as necessary! Let's ALL pull together. Good luck and good
cruising!

Claiborne Young
Watermark Publishing
opcom@cruisingguide.com
http://www.CruisingGuide.com http://www.cruisingguide.com/

Pam Aird pamaird@cox.net wrote:
Attached is a letter that you can download and use to send to Chairman
Hobson or other members of the Energy & Water Development Committee.

Rosemary wrote:
Sorry, US mail is not
an option because of security issues that keep disrupting mail service
to Congress.

Rosemary

Hon. David L. Hobson
Chairman
Committee on Appropriations
Energy & Water Development Subcommittee
US House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

I agree and support the idea.

If the Hon. David L. Hobson is the key player, it sure would be helpful if someone could publish an e-address for the Hon. David L. Hobson. Any help that makes responses quick & easy might make for a higher participation from all of us.

EdL

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