Escambia County will hold a pair of public hearings next month on creating a motorboat exclusion zone at Innerarity Point Park and a slow speed zone in an eastern portion of Bayou Garcon.

The proposals were already in the works, but they take on increased importance after a wake boarder at Bayou Texar in Pensacola city limits was struck and killed by a boater believed to be operating his vessel while under the influence of alcohol.

Innerarity Point Park in the county includes both a public swimming area and a paddlecraft launch area reserved exclusively for vessels under oar.

Any vessel traffic in and around the swimming area, along with any motorboat traffic in and around the paddlecraft launch area, “constitutes a real and present danger,” the proposed ordinance says.

More:Wake boarder struck by boat in Bayou Texar dies; boater accused of boating under the influence

A separate ordinance proposed for a “slow speed – minimum wake” zone in a certain eastern portion of Bayou Garcon and its eastern tributary creek cited similar concerns.

The targeted area is less than 75 feet in width from shoreline to shoreline. Because of the sinuous nature and narrow dimensions of the creek, along with obstructed visibility due to tall shoreline vegetation, high-speed vessel traffic in and around the waters constitutes a real and present danger.

The issue will go before the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners for public discussion and a commission vote July 16.

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