By Andrea Swayne
City Council on December 4 voted unanimously to adopt an ordinance regulating the anchoring of vessels within the city’s jurisdictional waters outside of the OC Dana Point Harbor.
The new rules were made in an effort to curb safety and environmental hazards caused by vessels left unattended for long periods of time in the waters off Doheny and Capistrano Beaches.
The ordinance limits temporary anchorage to no more than 72 continuous hours within 1,000 yards of beaches and recreational areas. It also requires that boats must be continuously occupied from dusk until dawn and during small craft advisories. Boaters may leave their vessels for a maximum of three hours during the day and may be required to use dye tabs to visually confirm to authorities that their toilets are working properly and no sewage leaks are present.
According to the agenda report, Harbor Patrol has agreed to advise vessel owners of the new rules as part of their regular patrol. The report also states that a minimal amount of non-compliance is expected and enforcement will be handled by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.
Click on the link below to read the full ordinance.
