FWC repairs, reopens Martin County boat ramp

November 18, 2009
Contact: Gabriella B. Ferraro, 772-215-9459

Good news for Martin County boaters! The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has repaired and reopened the Bessey Creek boat ramp on the C-23 canal on Boat Ramp Road in Palm City.

The ramp had been closed since 2006, when a 4-foot section broke off. The FWC's Boating Access Field Unit installed a concrete bumper that will stop trailers from backing down to the end of the underwater portion of the ramp. The FWC also installed a reflective triangle sign to mark the bumper, and plans to install a second sign warning boaters not to back past the bumper. In addition, erosion-control measures were also repaired and posts installed to protect the canal bank and prevent further erosion on the side of the ramp.

"A local boater told me the timing couldn't be better, because the attraction for the ramp starts when the weather cools down." said Patricia Harrell, the FWC's Boating Access Coordinator. "Our stakeholders now have improved access to our fish and wildlife resources