Back in the harbor again

MIKE WHITEHEAD

Ahoy.

What a relatively trouble-free cruise I had from Seattle to

Newport last week.

We were underway for 94 hours with only quick fuel stops. Of

course, on any long distance cruise, you will experience mechanical

and weather hiccups, but we were able to travel in between two

low-pressure systems.

There were a few highlights along the way -- humpback whales

jumping out of the water, night skies so clear you could see the

Milky Way, and freshly caught salmon a fuel dock owner gave us after

taking on 800 gallons of diesel.

Now, I am on a countdown of only 16 more days until my boating

radio show airs.

However, a lot has happened while I’ve been gone -- Costa

Mesa-based Vessel Assist being bought by TowBoatUS and Rep. Chris Cox

heading to Washington with the eel grass issue on his agenda.

National marine news services are reporting that Boat America

Corp., which is the nation’s largest marine towing service, has

dramatically expanded its operation base on the West Coast by

purchasing Vessel Assist Assn. of America. TowBoatUS will add

approximately 43 ports with the acquisition, bringing their coverage

to approximately 271 ports.

Boaters will not notice any immediate changes to the naming of the

fleets, call-in numbers or membership services. The tow companies

will continue under their current names and with their identifiable

painted boats. I understand that after the first of the year, all the

towboats and memberships will be merging into BoatUS.

*

The Tip of the Week is to forward the letter below about eel grass

in Newport Harbor to Cox (e-mail to [email protected]

or fax to [949] 251-9309).

Tom Rossmiller, Newport Beach Harbor resources manager, forwarded

this letter to members of the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce

Marine Committee for their assistance, and the letter is online at

www.city.newport-beach.ca.us under Departments, then Harbor

Resources, and then Eelgrass. The more support from us to Cox will

help him in Washington.

September __, 2003

The Honorable Christopher Cox

Member of the U.S. House of Representatives

No. 2402 Rayburn House Office Building

Washington, DC 20515

RE: Dredging and Eelgrass in Newport Harbor and a Harbor Area

Management Plan (HAMP)

Dear Congressman Cox,

I was very pleased to hear that you will be working with the city

of Newport Beach, the Newport Beach Harbor Commission, the Newport

Beach Chamber of Commerce’s Marine Committee, and the U.S. Army Corps

of Engineers to help us address the eelgrass problem that is so

significantly affecting Newport Harbor today. Your leadership on this

matter is vital if we are ever to implement a regular dredging

program and sensibly manage the presence of eelgrass here.

As you are aware, eelgrass has taken hold in our harbor. Because

it is a species that federal agencies such as the National Marine

Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (U.S.

F&WS;) intend to protect, eelgrass’ presence beneath a dock or slips

can dramatically affect an individual property owner’s ability to

dredge.

Basically, if eelgrass is found beneath a dock or slip, the

requirements that are triggered for eelgrass removal, replacement and

long-term maintenance are so onerous that most people can’t do it.

The more this occurs, the more likely it is that our harbor will

slowly silt-up, affecting our property values, this region’s

marine-oriented recreation and commerce, and the harbor’s very

economic existence. In addition, federal and local agency navigation

channel maintenance projects are significantly affected by

interpretation of the current NMFS policy.

We fully support the concept of a corps-prepared Harbor Area

Management Plan (HAMP), assuming that the plan will:

* Set a baseline quantity for eelgrass;

* Allow for the removal of eelgrass in certain navigable areas and

beneath docks;

* Propose a “de minimus” take of eelgrass where appropriate; and

* Limit or eliminate costly and burdensome individual mitigation

efforts when the harbor meets and exceeds its baseline quantity.

Again, we appreciate your leadership in this effort. Your

assistance in obtaining authorization and funding for the

consensus-building HAMP approach is vital to the successful

management of the resources of Newport Bay. Please know that your

proposals to address our dredging and eelgrass problems have

widespread support in Newport Beach.

Sincerely,

NAME

STREET ADDRESS

Newport Beach, CA 926XX

(949) XXX-XXXX

cc: Mayor Steve Bromberg (via fax: [949] 644-3020)

Safe voyages.

* MIKE WHITEHEAD is the Pilot’s boating and harbor columnist. Send

him your harbor and marine-related thoughts and story suggestions by

e-mail to [email protected] or visit https://www.boathousetv.com.