Gulf ICW Oil Spill Info

[AnchorageGuy]

This just posted today for anyone heading for this area;



June 29, 2010- Orange Beach, AL (OBA)- Effective Tuesday, June 29, 2010, the following areas are closed to recreational and commercial vessels, including fishing vessels, except for law enforcement vessels or other official emergency vessels involved in governmental operations, and/or other approved response vessels:


“All Alabama waters south of a line running from the northernmost tip of Boggy Point to the northernmost tip of Robinson Island to the northernmost tip of Walker Island to the westernmost tip of Ono Island at Old River. This will include Cotton Bayou, Perdido Pass and all canals entering these waters.”


The following areas are hereby designated as “Idle Speed Only - No Wake” areas for all vessels:

“All Alabama waters south of a line running from the southernmost tip of Bear Point to the Eastern shore of the mouth of Ono Harbor on Ono Island. This will include Bayou Saint John, Terry Cove, Terry Cove Harbor, Cotton Bayou, Perdido Pass and all canals entering these waters.”
This closure and designation of idle speed areas supersedes and replaces the earlier boating closure done on June 11, 2010.


These designated areas will remain as such until official notification by Conservation Commissioner Barnett Lawley on Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

[RayW]

Thanks for the update. I'll be in Bon Secour June 30th - July 5th. See if I can post some photos. This sucks...

[Bee]

Thanks for the info.

I am not sure were Boggy Pt. is but seams that the ICW is not affected by this.

I checked the Alabama website link but they had no info on restricting the waters. Are there any web links that detail this information.

Here in Panama City a gate is being built across St. Andrews Pass (its a big pass) and crews are currently sinking pilings in the pass.
We are being told by our county commissioners that the gate will only be used when and if needed and then opened for transit on ebb tides.

Bee

[Bee]

Here is a link with details on the Perdido situation:

Coast Guard authorizes closure of Perdido Pass | pnj.com | Pensacola News Journal

[Bee]

And Panama City's St. Andrews Pass link:
St. Andrews Pass Booming Plan

[AnchorageGuy]

We have posted lots of information and links here,
Waterway Cruising Guide | Oil Spill Updates
and the City of Orange Beach is posted lots daily here,
Orange Beach Community Blog

[RayW]

This is horrible... tar balls. Every night they come through with tractors, turning the sand over and just burying them. These pics were taken at Gulf Shores, AL public beach. Right where Highway 59 hits the beach.

[stevensc]

We'll be vacationing with the family on the beachfront of Gulf Shores Al. from the 10 -17th of July, if I find anything interesting I'll pass it on. The Gulf may not be great for simming or may be off limits altogether, but, the condos are great with fine pools for the kids and lots of good golf and restaurants nearby. And probably not crowded this year!
Steve

[RayW]

Originally Posted by stevensc

And probably not crowded this year!
Steve

It wasn't while we were there. We went to Waterville on Sat. the 3rd and until about 2:00, you could ride the slides as fast as you could run up the stairs. After 2 it was only about a 5 minute wait. Lulu's stayed packed, but all the other restaurants had almost no wait.
Just a heads up, I'd buy some cheap flip flops to wear down to the beach. Some that you can throw away after going through the tarballs. I honestly spent about 20 minutes scrubbing on mine just so I could get back in the car.