Question does the intracoastal waterway run the entire east coast?

[cheesewithout]

There is numerous pieces of literature that state the ICW is from Norfolk, VA to Florida. But it exists up north too so.........why does so much literature say VA to FL????????? Doesn't it go all the way to Maine? What's it's history. I'm confused a little.

[Preoccupation]

Never heard of it going north of Norfolk either....

http://www.atlintracoastal.org/WW_Facts.htm

Maybe there are old canals or passages that really aren't part of the ICW???

[YoungersGhost]

cheesewithout - 4/8/2005 12:09 PM

There is numerous pieces of literature that state the ICW is from Norfolk, VA to Florida. But it exists up north too so.........why does so much literature say VA to FL????????? Doesn't it go all the way to Maine? What's it's history. I'm confused a little.

Sure it does. Up the Chesapeake, thru the C&D canal, across Delaware bay, up the New Jersey Coast, thru Long Island Sound, ect.

[skouts57]

I live in the Mass. We do have intracoastal waterways. We have demarcation lines that seperate the water ways. Ours run from usually the fartherset points of land.

[YoungersGhost]

c.3,000 mi (4,827 km) long, partly natural, partly artificial, providing sheltered passage for commercial and leisure boats along the U.S. Atlantic coast from Boston, Mass. to Key West, S Fla., and along the Gulf of Mexico coast from Apalachee Bay, NW Fla., to Brownsville, Tex., on the Rio Grande. The toll-free waterway, authorized by Congress in 1919, is maintained by the Army Corps of Engineers at a minimum depth of 12 ft (4 m) for most of its length; some parts have 7-ft (2.1-m) and 9-ft (2.7-m) minimum depths. Among some of the waterway's most often used canals along the Atlantic route are the Chesapeake & Delaware and the Chesapeake & Albemarle; along the Gulf route the most used are the New Orleans-Rigolets Cut, the Port Arthur-Corpus Christi Channel, and the Inner Harbor Navigational Canal at New Orleans. The separate Okeechobee Waterway, S Fla., crosses the Florida peninsula. Plans to build a canal across N Florida to link the Atlantic and Gulf sections were blocked in 1971 by a presidential order to prevent potential environmental damage. Many miles of navigable waterways connect with the coastal system, including the Hudson River-New York State Canal System, the Chesapeake Bay, the sounds of North Carolina, the Savannah River, the Apalachicola River, and the entire Mississippi River system. The Intracoastal Waterway has a good deal of commercial activity; barges haul petroleum, petroleum products, foodstuffs, building materials, and manufactured goods.

[cheesewithout]

That last reply was good........Does it go to Maine though? And why do some of the published things say it only goes to Virginia?

[thubert57]

cheesewithout - 4/8/2005 2:45 PM

That last reply was good........Does it go to Maine though? And why do some of the published things say it only goes to Virginia?

I'm guessing but the reason could be that mile marker 0 is in Portsmouth VA on the Elizabeth River a couple of blocks up from the Coast Guard HQ?

T

[Mardi-Gras]

cheesewithout - 4/8/2005 2:45 PM

That last reply was good........Does it go to Maine though? And why do some of the published things say it only goes to Virginia?

Maybe some yahoo in congress believed there was nothing north of Virginia..........

No offense is intended to people who live in the north......

[YoungersGhost]

The ICW is a PITA. One foot out of the channel and you are aground. Pick your days and run outside. It is much faster. (if your intent is to travel long distances)

[8943post]

If you have a big boat be careful thru the Carolinas. There is a lot of shoaling that is not being dreged as quickly as in the past. Youngerghost got it right, stray out of the channel in the narrow sections and you will run aground!

[Wolakrab]

Claiborne S. Young has written a comprehensive series of books on cruising the ICW. Here's a website: http://www.cruisingguide.com/
These are very informative and detailed in just about every aspect.
On the subject of maintenance, the condition of the ICW is in a dismal state....no funding. It's not a hot button with most politicians; the only way it will improve is by all of us making some noise.
It's a shame that the government spends more money on crack addicts than the upkeep of something that contributes much more......

[Semi]

is maintained by the Army Corps of Engineers at a minimum depth of 12 ft (4 m) for most of its length; some parts have 7-ft (2.1-m) and 9-ft (2.7-m) minimum depths.

*cough* 'wishfull thinking' *cough*

8943post - 4/8/2005 4:24 PM

If you have a big boat be careful thru the Carolinas. There is a lot of shoaling that is not being dreged as quickly as in the past. Youngerghost got it right, stray out of the channel in the narrow sections and you will run aground!

Or catch it at a really low tide, you dont have to be out of it...or it shifts, and the shift isnt noticed by the Corp, and they havent moved the markers...

[samblate]

I understand that parts of the NJ ICW have shoaled to the point of uselessness. When you're running north of NJ, you'll find precious inland water -- the only barrier islands I know of north of NJ is the chain which includes Fire Island, etc. south of Long Island.

[Overcurrent]

I've never quite figured that one out either. Mile 0 is officially located at Marker #36 Elizabeth River (just off Hospital Point in Portsmouth), but shows on charts and maps as extending way on up North.