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ALTERI\ATIVES & ANALYSIS Following is a summary of existing boating speed zone restrictions in the Jungle Trail Narrows and at the Vero Beach Power Plant; FWC's proposed revisions to those areas; and MANWAC's recommendations. Also included are proposed changes to Gifford Cut speed zones as included in the County Manatee Protection Plan Vero Beach Power Plant Existine Sneed Zone: Within the Vero Isle "finger" canals, just north of the Vero Beach Power Plant, the existing speed zones are `idle speed' year round. FWC Proposed Speed Zone* Within the westernmost finger canal and the western most part of the entrance canal, the proposed speed zone would be `no entry' from November 15 through March 31 and idle speed the remainder of the year. Property owners within the `no entry' area would receive a sticker or tag to allow them access to their property. In addition, extra stickers or tags would be issued to canal -front residents to allow for guest boaters. MANWAC Recommendation: MANWAC recommends that the County accept the proposed speed zone change but advise the FWC that it needs to develop a sticker system to ensure that not too many stickers are given out for `guests." Also, the FWC should allow environmental tour guides to access the canals, provided they (as well as resident guests) undergo manatee protection education in order to obtain a sticker. Jungle Trail Narrows Existin Seed Zone: Within the Jungle Trail Narrows, the existing speed zones are as follows: • Within the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AIW), there is a 30 -mile per hour speed limit from November l n through April 30`h. During the rest of the year, the speed is unregulated within the AIW. • Outside the AIW channel, the speed zone is slow speed from November 1 s` through April 30th and unregulated the remainder of the year. FWC Proposed Speed Zone: Within the Jungle Trail Narrows, the FWC proposed speed zones are as follows: • Within the AIW, the speed will be reduced to slow speed year round from just north of AIW channel marker 112 north to AIW channel marker 95. The remainder of the MW within the Jungle Trail Narrows (from AIW channel marker 95 north to approximately %z mile south of the CR 510 bridge) will have a speed limit of 30 miles per hour year round. • Outside the AIW, the speed zone will be slow speed year round. SEPTEMBER 10, 2002 46