Prohibited Area Proposed in Frog Mortar Creek

[DaveOsh]

If anyone keeps their boat or fishes on Frog Mortar Creek, there is a proposal to make a prohibited area around the end of the runways up to the 8 foot deep contour. The reason for this is to allow the airport to run ILS (Instrument Landing System (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instrument_landing_system)) which will assist aircraft landing in limited visibility conditions. Seacraft close to shore can interfere with ILS so they want to keep boats out of the area around the end of the runway.

I live across from the runway and my personal opinion is that there are very few days when ILS is needed, especially during the boating season (wintertime is when we get low visibility from fog and snowstorms) and that they are prohibiting the area for the multitudes of boaters all the time instead of just the rare times when it would be needed. The viable option is for the aircraft to divert to BWI to land in inclement weather. Another option would be to only prohibit the area during inclement weather (duh!). That presents notification issues but nothing insurmountable.

The navigable zone is pretty narrow already in that section of Frog Mortar Creek (near the #2 marker) and limiting it further would be even more dangerous. Also, there's some really good perch fishing in the shallow area that would be off limits and a beach that a lot of people like to go to on weekends that would be off limits.

If anyone sails a small sailboat without a motor in the creek, it would be very difficult to tack across the creek with the wind from the south (most of the summer).

Anyway, that's my opinion. Feel free to make your own opinion and pass it on to Mr. Lunsford:
Frog Mortar Creek Prohibited Area Proposal (http://dnr.maryland.gov/boating/regulations/2010/frog.asp)

[hackeyfly]

Huh. They must be anticipating putting a CatII or CatIII approach, as there is already an ILS and a localiser back course approach to runway 33. Or it could be that for some reason there have been disruptions to the ILS signal recently, and studies have pointed to boats as the culprit. The ILS is not just for bad weather when the ceiling is at or above minimums(290'AGL, 1 mile vis), but makes night operations much safer. Remember, it's not just rich hobbyists flying in and out of there, an incredible amount of business related activity(keeps the local economy rolling) occurs, not to mention the military ops(keeps the local economy rolling). Have a little sympathy for the C-130 driver coming home from overseas with a load of soldiers in the back, let's let 'em land at home rather than at BWI, the savings just on not relocating 1 aircraft from BWI to MTN would be in the thousands of dollars. My opinion only, I think the proposed restriction on rec. boaters to make military and civilian flight ops safer is a small burden to bear.
Pat in Joppa

[DaveOsh]

Pat--
I understand where you're coming from but I don't think that it needs to be in place at all times. If they could find a way to make it only when necessary, I'd be totally fine with it. I know what sort of planes fly there (I watch them all weekend).

What I don't understand is why they can't just shut down the end of the runway. The prohibited area seems to include a large portion of the "side" of the runway--if you follow me.

Anyway--I just want to make people aware of it if they use the Creek. Everyone is welcome to their opinion. I just want to make sure everyone is aware of the proposal.

Cheers,
Dave

[Susqking]

I keep my boat in Frog Mortar too. I sent an email to them asking to reconsider the restrictions. They said it would be put on file but I don't think that means much. It's been a nice little raft up area for years, it would be a shame to have them close it off.

[Bend-Lure]

I just sent this email to Bob Lundsford stating my opion against the restrictions:

Bob,

Re: http://dnr.maryland.gov/boating/regulations/2010/frog.asp

I saw the notice to boaters on the MD DNR website re: Frog Mortar Creek in Baltimore County. The proposal to restrict access along the shoreline from strawberry point to beyond the airport and out to the 8’ contour would have significant negative impacts on the recreational boating community in the area. Middle River, and Frog Mortar Creek are already congested during boating season. Reducing the amount of navigable waters in frog mortar creek will certainly be inconvenient and could be dangerous for recreational boaters in the area. Many boaters use the shallow sandy shoreline along Frog Mortar Creek to anchor and enjoy a summer day on the Chesapeake Bay. There is not a lot of access to similar stretches of undeveloped, protected shore in the area. Access to the proposed restricted area is valued by boaters, and those boaters have a positive impact on the local economy.

I cannot speak to the activity at Martin State Airport, that have led to these proposed regulations, but the airport seems to have operated quite well without the restrictions.

Please consider the negative impact of the proposed restrictions on Frog Mortar Creek on the recreational boating community and consider alternatives.

Thanks,

[Mark100673]

As I understand the aircraft ILS issue, the problem occurs when sailbots with a mast of 60 feet or taller are within the restricted zone. The mast then interferes with the ILS signal. I would doubt that there are many sailboats with masts of 60 feet that would feel comfortable navigating or anchoring within the 8 foot contour.

I believe that the danger reducing an already very narrow navigable channel, without the imposition of a speed limit in this area exceeds the danger from the very unlikely event that a sailboat with a mast that great would decide to occupy the restricted area during a time that ILS was necessary.

Mark

[No Limits]

sent an email to the dnr.

That would suck. I am out there every weekend with my family and several other boats. Hopefully this will not go thru.

[DaveOsh]

Thanks for the support. I had a cordial conversation with Mr. Lunsford. He didn't seem on any particular side--just explained why the FAA felt that they needed the ILS. He seemed willing to talk to them about alternatives but I'm not sure they will listen. A substantial amount of negative comments may force DNR to do something other than the FAA proposal.