Wake Zone Along Anclote River Scuttled by State Officials

There’s bad news for boaters and residents living along the Anclote River, between Tarpon Springs and Pasco County, who want state officials to declare a minimum wake, slow speed zone, from Anclote River Park stretching east, shoreline-to-shoreline along the river channel.

During Tuesday night’s Sept. 4 Tarpon Springs City Commission meeting, Police Chief Robert Kochen is scheduled to notify everyone that the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission ruled “substantial competent evidence has not been provided” to support the city and Pasco County’s request to establish shore-line to shore-line, minimum wake no speed zones, along the Anclote River from Marker 32 to 17.

Several waterfront residents and some recreational boaters complained of careless and speeding boaters along the river.

Two years ago Captain Michael Billiris, owner of Island Wind Tours, was killed when a recreational boat he was piloting was reportedly cut-off by a boater, causing him to run aground into mangroves at Anclote River Park. The crash caused many to call for safer speed zones along the river.

On the other side of the issue, during a past city commission meeting some commercial boaters told city officials that a slower speed along the river will increase their trip time to get out to the Gulf of Mexico. Tarpon Police and Pasco officials reported speed restrictions were necessary to prevent further accidents.

The FWC report found faults with the request filed by the city and Pasco County. It concluded vessel counts were only taken in the vicinity of Anclote River Park, which may not be indicative of the rest of the river.

In addition, accident reports provided only listed two incidents as resulting from excessive speed. The FWC noted vessel counts were only taken during the peak of tourist season as well as on weekends and holidays. Since the ordinance asks for the minimum wake, slow speed zone to be in effect at all times, the city-county study should have reflected trip totals for all periods, the state agency concluded.

The FWC said based on its review of how data was collected “we believe counts were not completely accurate. We found evidence that sometimes double and triple counts were recorded for a single vessel.”

The FWC offered some relief. The agency said Pasco has the authority to establish an idle speed, no wake zone, within 500 feet of its Anclote River Park Boat Ramp, and could extend the restriction from Marker 17 to the swimming area.

In addition, the city and county could petition the FWC for an administrative hearing to appeal.

Those who wish to comment can attend the presentation that starts at 6:30pm at Tarpon City Hall.