Connecticut DEEP Announces Mystic River Boating Law Changes
The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) said that boaters operating in eastern Connecticut should be aware that two large segments of the Mystic River are now “Slow-No-Wake” zones.
The newly expanded speed restrictions on the Mystic River were put in place as the result of legislation approved in the recent session of the General Assembly as Public Act 11-90.
In a “Slow-No-Wake” zone a vessel may not exceed six miles per hour unless necessary when travelling with a current to maintain steering control. In this type of zone, vessels are not permitted to produce more than a minimum wake. Previous law governing the speed of boats on the Mystic River was less clear, making boater compliance difficult and hampering efforts to enforce speed limits.
The new speed restrictions on the Mystic River had the support of local government officials and numerous resident boaters. The new law is seen as a way to address dangerous conditions that have resulted from increased speeds and an increase in the number of boaters on the Mystic River.
The expanded “Slow-No-Wake” zone:
Begins at Mouse Island and Whale Rock and continues eastward to encompass the entrance between Ram Island and Masons Point, thereby covering both river entrances and sides of the mooring area. Boaters must remain at Slow-No-Wake speed (excluding Beebe Cove) until Buoy “22”, whereby they can resume speed until Buoy “26”, which begins the next speed zone. The second zone continues past Mystic Seaport to Buoy “53”.
DEEP Deputy Commissioner Susan Frechette said, “The DEEP works hard to keep Connecticut’s waters safe, clean, and fun for all boaters and depends upon every boat operator to obey laws of the waterways. The new ‘Slow-No-Wake’ law will require boaters to slow down while on the Mystic River in order to provide a positive and pleasurable boating experience for everyone on these waters”
A violation of the new speed restrictions on the Mystic River is an infraction.
The DEEP Boating Division will be placing buoys to assist boaters with identifying the limits of the speed zone, but boaters should be aware that the law is effective from passage and is immediately enforceable.
Boaters with questions can contact Tim Delgado of the Boating Division at (860) 434-8638, or by email at timothy.delgado@ct.gov
_________________
CT Dept of Energy & Environmental Protection
Connecticut State Environmental Conservation Police
Captain Raul Camejo
The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) said that boaters operating in eastern Connecticut should be aware that two large segments of the Mystic River are now “Slow-No-Wake” zones.
The newly expanded speed restrictions on the Mystic River were put in place as the result of legislation approved in the recent session of the General Assembly as Public Act 11-90.
In a “Slow-No-Wake” zone a vessel may not exceed six miles per hour unless necessary when travelling with a current to maintain steering control. In this type of zone, vessels are not permitted to produce more than a minimum wake. Previous law governing the speed of boats on the Mystic River was less clear, making boater compliance difficult and hampering efforts to enforce speed limits.
The new speed restrictions on the Mystic River had the support of local government officials and numerous resident boaters. The new law is seen as a way to address dangerous conditions that have resulted from increased speeds and an increase in the number of boaters on the Mystic River.
The expanded “Slow-No-Wake” zone:
Begins at Mouse Island and Whale Rock and continues eastward to encompass the entrance between Ram Island and Masons Point, thereby covering both river entrances and sides of the mooring area. Boaters must remain at Slow-No-Wake speed (excluding Beebe Cove) until Buoy “22”, whereby they can resume speed until Buoy “26”, which begins the next speed zone. The second zone continues past Mystic Seaport to Buoy “53”.
DEEP Deputy Commissioner Susan Frechette said, “The DEEP works hard to keep Connecticut’s waters safe, clean, and fun for all boaters and depends upon every boat operator to obey laws of the waterways. The new ‘Slow-No-Wake’ law will require boaters to slow down while on the Mystic River in order to provide a positive and pleasurable boating experience for everyone on these waters”
A violation of the new speed restrictions on the Mystic River is an infraction.
The DEEP Boating Division will be placing buoys to assist boaters with identifying the limits of the speed zone, but boaters should be aware that the law is effective from passage and is immediately enforceable.
Boaters with questions can contact Tim Delgado of the Boating Division at (860) 434-8638, or by email at timothy.delgado@ct.gov
_________________
CT Dept of Energy & Environmental Protection
Connecticut State Environmental Conservation Police
Captain Raul Camejo