A boat launch used by locals for two decades at Founders Park seemed to fade away as a new boat ramp was built nearby. The historic launch, however, could be resurrected to combat dwindling boat ramp availability — a byproduct of growing marina privatization — for backcountry guides in the village.
Hurdles related to environmental impacts, and specifically who would take on the financial burden, still need to be worked through by village officials in collaboration with local fish guides. Village council members all agree, however, that the backbone of the Islamorada community — backcountry fish guides — need support.
“This is their livelihood. We need to keep the people down here to fish,” said Mayor Sharon Mahoney, who, in working with fishing captain Richard Black, is leading an effort to reestablish a boat launch that saw use between the 1960s to the early 1980s.
Peter Frezza, village environmental resources manager, told council members during a May 6 meeting that historic aerial images and accounts from locals confirm a boat launch was in operation at Founders Park near what’s currently a lot for trailer and truck parking. A year-and-a-half after the construction of Yacht Harbor and the breakwater, Frezza said, there was some type of clearing for boats to launch.
By 1968, a dock was constructed in association with the ramp. Use continued through the 1970s until about 1981, when construction was finished on a new Founders Park boat ramp.
Since then, Frezza said, the area of the historic launch transformed into a 40- to 50-foot wall of mangroves. He also noted the area is prone to flooding during king tides due to its low elevation.
“It’s very shallow water there,” Frezza said, adding there are also some sensitive natural resources including seagrass and coral.
Frezza noted the village would need to submit permit applications to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. With water surrounding the Keys under a special regulation, known as Outstanding Florida Waters, Frezza said they could face pushback from regulatory agencies when it comes to dredging there.
Some 1,100 square feet of mangroves and 3,000 square feet of seagrass would need to be excavated to resurrect the ramp, according to Frezza. Between the mitigation fees and construction, the work could cost between $600,000 and $800,000.
Black, who spoke on behalf of the Florida Keys Fishing Guides Association, told council members they’re well aware of the costs associated with building a boat ramp for use by local guides. He said grant funding and private donations could reduce or eliminate the financial burden. He also said the ramp wouldn’t add any pressure to the current ramp at the marina.
“The Guides Association are some of the best stewards of the sea,” Black said. “We’d limit the boat size launched there. Many of us have dry launch skiffs and bayboats; all we need is mere inches to launch a boat.”
Ted Benbow has been an Islamorada resident since 1967. He’s a skiff guide with his son, and they operate out of Lorelei alongside 29 other backcountry guides. He said many guides used the boat launch at Indian Key Fill until the “I got mines got it out of there.”
“Surely any fishing guide would pay $225 to have a nice boat ramp down there,” Benbow said. “This would be a revenue stream for the village, not to mention our customers would have to pay a $10 fee to enter the park.”
Plantation Yacht Harbor Marina dockmaster Lisa Watts preferred the local guides use the historic launch instead of figuring a way to let them use the primary ramp. The marina has upwards of 70 slips for daily to monthly visits, or annual stays through an agreement.
“The only problem with the existing ramp is it’s right in the middle of the marina,” she said. “There are huge boats around it, and I will have a hardship renting out those slips. Nobody’s going to want to be there if 30 guides are launching in the morning.”
Council members ultimately agreed to let Mahoney continue her work to possibly bring back the historic boat launch. Councilwoman Anna Richards stressed the need for a study to see who wants to use the ramp and if they would pay a monthly fee to offset costs.
“I’m all for supporting these guys, but the physical responsibility of spending hundreds of thousands isn’t right for us to do,” she said.
Councilman Steve Friedman, a backcountry guide, said the rapid takeover of marinas by larger corporations is threatening the livelihoods of many fishing guides.
“They (the corporations) have the say who goes in and out, if anybody,” he said.
