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Council backs no-wake zone on channel from Waterside Motel to Lewis Creek, will seek VMRC approval
Summary
The council approved a Harbor Committee recommendation to establish a no-wake zone in the channel from the Waterside Motel to Lewis Creek and will submit the proposal to the Virginia Marine Resources Commission for final approval; council also discussed replacing broken markers and repurposing Coast Guard surplus buoys.
The Chincoteague Town Council approved a Harbor Committee recommendation to pursue a no-wake zone on the channel from the Waterside Motel to Lewis Creek and agreed to forward the proposal to the Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) for authorization.
The mayor outlined the committee's work, saying the harbor group had received input from watermen and other users and recommended establishing the no-wake zone. “The harbor committee is proposing that we put a no wake zone from on the channel from Waterside Motel all the way up to Lewis Creek, because there's already a no wake zone in Lewis Creek,” the mayor said.
The mayor explained that VMRC must approve the change and said a VMRC agent indicated they would heighten patrols in the sensitive area once established. Councilors also discussed physical markers, noting existing buoys and markers were collapsed or broken; the mayor suggested checking for surplus aids from the U.S. Coast Guard for more durable buoys that could be repurposed.
Councilors voted unanimously to adopt the referral and send the proposed no-wake zone to VMRC for final approval; the meeting record shows a voice vote with no roll-call tally recorded in the transcript. The council asked staff to pursue marker replacement and follow up on procurement or repurposing options for stronger buoys.
The transcript does not record a specific timetable for VMRC action or when new markers would be installed.
