A Guide to Low Impact Boat Camping  IN EMERGENCY: Contact US Coast Guard Station on VHF CHANNEL 16 PREPARATION Learn about the area and what to expect. Check local tidetables and maps. Bring adequate liquids and food. Check all equipment so that it is in good condition before you get on the water. Carry extra dry clothing. Know some first aid such as the signs and symptoms of hypothermia, sunstroke, heat exhaustion, etc. Check at park visitor centers and via park web sites for current weather and wildlife sightings. PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICES MUST BE WORN AT ALL TIMES. SANITATION Use outhouses where provided. On other beaches, pack out all human waste. Caution: NEVER pump boat holding tanks into the water or outhouses. ON THE WATER Move gently through the water so that you do not disturb wildlife. If canoeing, for safety, paddle in groups if possible. Ensure that you are close enough to reach fellow paddlers quickly if trouble arises. Paddle close to shore or if an open-water crossing is necessary, choose the most direct route. Always wear your personal flotation device. FIRES Stoves are the preferred means for cooking. If you wish to build a fire, obtain a free fire permit at national park visitor centers. There is often no driftwood available in many areas. You may bring fir, pine, or almond wood for your campfire. Build the fire below the high tide line and not near any large driftwood logs or under overhanging limbs. Plastic and aluminum foil do not burn, so please do not leave them in your fire pit GARBAGE Pack out all trash, food scraps, packaging. Food scraps tempt wildlife into camping areas and may endanger them and you. WATER Carry water with you, as there are few water sources in most areas. Boil, treat, or filter any water obtained from the park. If you wash dishes, all soaps can adversely affect water. Use biodegradable soap when possible. Do not return wash water to the water; dispose of all dirty water 100 feet at least from the source. WILDLIFE Respect the needs of wild animals and birds. Wildlife are sensitive to our presence and may change their behavior just by seeing us. Disturbing wildlife when they are resting or feeding may be life threatening to them. On the water or beach, follow Marine Mammal Protection Act regulations - stay away (300 feet) from whales, seals, and sea lions. Harbor seals are most sensitive during their pupping season, which is approximately mid-March through the end of June, and as they molt in July and August. You may see single pups but do not disturb them. Usually, a parent is feeding nearby and has only left the pup for a brief period. The parent may abandon the pup if they sense humans nearby. If you are concerned about a marine mammal, contact the park dispatch office or park visitor centers and leave a message about the location and condition of the animal. During summer and fall, brown pelicans, a federally listed endangered species, roost on islands and floats in the bay. Many other seabirds make their home on the water as well. Keep at least 100 feet away. Pets are not allowed on many state park beaches. Pets on leash are sometimes permitted on national park beaches- check with the local authorities. SAFETY IN EMERGENCY: Contact US Coast Guard Station on VHF CHANNEL 16 or PHONE 911. HYPOTHERMIA Water temperatures can vary from 35 to 60 degrees F. Symptoms include uncontrollable fits of shivering, slurred speech, frequent stumbling. Cold water can be more dangerous than cold air since body temperature can be drained away much more quickly. Wear a wet suit. WIND Weather can change rapidly. Some bays can act as a wind tunnel. Be aware of afternoon wind forecasts. Weather radio stations give the most useful information for boaters. TIDES The change between high and low tide can create strong currents, especially at the mouth of a Bay. Check the tide charts. Low tides can also expose mudflats in a Bay and you may become stuck. |
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