Escambia requests new boating zones

Escambia County, Fla., is pushing for five new boating regulatory zones that would require boaters to slow down inside designated areas. One of the proposed zones, requested by the Navy, is a portion of Bayou Grande that surrounds Naval Air Station Pensacola. The Navy requested the regulatory zone to improve safety and security of the base. The other four zones include Bayou Garcon, Kees Bayou, Old River, and Innerarity Point Park. Adding zones requires a thumbs-up from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, said county commissioner Doug Underhill. "I would be very surprised if all five of the proposed zones are accepted," Underhill said. The new zones are needed because of an increase in population and boating traffic, he said. There have only been 11 zones in the history of the area. State and county leaders will hold public hearings to gather input before a final decision is made. The meetings could be as early as February. (Source: Pensacola News Journal 01/23/18)