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Keep Our Waterfronts Working ActH.R. 3223 Waterfront Access Bill Seeks Congressional Co-Sponsors
Commercial development threatens boater access to the waterfront. The Keep Our Waterfront Working Act is an effort to address this problem.
Access to the waterfront is becoming a major problem for recreational boaters and commercial fishermen. The increased demand for shoreline property has seen escalating land values and the loss of traditional water dependent facilities. Boatyards, launch ramps, canneries and marinas have been lost to real estate development with a corresponding loss of access for boaters to the water. A Pressing Issue - In a recent press release, Massachusetts Congressman Bill Delahunt outlines the issue, “With the increasing demand for waterfront property driving up coastal property values, our fishermen are gradually being priced out of our harbors. Once coastal facilities are lost to other recreational and residential uses, it rarely ever returns for use by those who work on the sea. Working waterfronts are vital to our marine economy, which in Massachusetts is a $14 billion dollar industry that supports over 220,000 jobs.” Legislative Details - Representative Tom Allen of Maine has introduced the Keep Our Waterfronts Working Act of 2007 (H.R. 3223) that amends the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972. The bill calls for a competitive matching grant program that allows coastal communities to preserve marine related facilities. Successful grant applicants will need to prepare a plan to preserve their waterfront, appoint an oversight committee and provide a twenty-five percent funding match. The bill will provide $25 million, $50 million and $75 million for land purchases over the period of three successive years. The program will be administered through the Department of Commerce. The full text of H.R. 3223 is available for viewing online. Effects of Lost Access - Virginia's Sea Grant Program sponsored a Working Waterways & Waterfronts conference where a number of issues addressed by H.R. 3223 were discussed. One presentation by Jen Litteral, Director of Policy Development for The Island Institute reported on the efforts of forming the successful Maine Working Waterfront Coalition (PDF file). One hundred forty groups and individuals came together in Maine to address the effects lost access to the waterfront has on the economy and their livelihoods. Out of its 5,300 miles of coastline, only 20 miles of it are devoted to support of commercial fishing and 66% of this land is privately owned. More than 39,000 people depend on this land for employment with $750 million in revenues coming to the state. Conversion of this property to other uses will directly impact the waterfront economy. The Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatU.S.), along with many other groups are urging anyone with an interest in preserving waterfront access to contact their representatives in Congress and encourage them to become co-sponsors of this legislation.
The copyright of the article Keep Our Waterfronts Working Act in Boating & Sailing is owned by Alan Sorum. Permission to republish Keep Our Waterfronts Working Act in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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