September 8, 2008
Contact: Dawn Griffin, FWC Boating and Waterways, 850-488-5600

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) will replace deteriorated manatee zone markers soon on lakes George, Dexter and Woodruff along the St. Johns River in Volusia County.

To reduce boater confusion, the FWC is installing additional buoys to mark the boundary of the regulatory zones more clearly on the three lakes.

“Over the past 10 years, some of the regulatory signs have become inadequate. This installation effort will aid public awareness of the manatee zones and enable law enforcement officers to enforce the zones accurately,” said Lt. Bill Hightower of the FWC’s Division of Law Enforcement.

The new markers will complement a waterway marker repair project completed in the area last year. Work on the signs is expected to begin on Sept. 10 and be completed sometime in the fall. Also, the work will include removing two bare pilings that are a potential hazard to navigation.

In July 2005, the FWC assumed responsibility for the regulatory markers from the Florida Inland Navigation District.

For more information, visit MyFWC.com and click on the “Boating” link to access up-to-date information on state manatee protection and boating safety regulations and maps.