August 26, 2025 • 9 mins
The reason the Town of Palm Beach is able to do this is because numerous vessels are illegally moored. As I’m inclined to say if the premise of anything is false, anything built on the false premise is bound to fail as well. Effectively, if a vessel is moored illegally, the other considerations are effectively moot.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:04):
I have a question or topic you want to have addressed,
Just ask.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
This is the Brian Mud Show.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
Today's Q and A Palm Beach's push to remove illegally
moored boats. This is brought to you by listen ashes
check Mark collections. Each day a feature a listener questions
sent by one of these methods. You may email me
Brian Mud at Iarmindia dot com, hand me up on
social at Brian Mud Radio. May also use the Ihear
Radio talk back feature we love It. If you love us,
(00:33):
go into the app make us number one preset the
Brian Mudshow podcast number two preset And while you're in
there you look for the little microphone button. You see
it it tapp it. You may lay down a message
right there, maybe for a future Q and A. Today's
note is this one. My wife and I have owned
our cruising saleboat for thirteen years, and, like so many
other local residents, when we're not outsailing, Lakeworth Lagoon has
(00:57):
always been our vessels home and halingport. Word got out
Friday with a little real notice and without any effort
to make the information widely known, that the city intends
to start destroying our mornings.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
This Tuesday.
Speaker 1 (01:11):
Palm Beach officials are pushing policies that would strip away
long standing and green rights and force people off the water.
They claim moorings and liva boats are an environmental threat,
but that's a smoke screen. The real push coming from
wealthy waterfront property owners and donors who don't want to
see pleasure boats in front of their houses. Here's what's
(01:32):
at stake. Middle class families like ours forced out these
rules will push ordinary middle class boat owners into distress sales,
making yacht ownership impossible for anyone, but the very rich
families who've enjoyed the water for decades will be shut out.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
History erased.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
Lake Worth Lagoon has been a safe anchorage for hundreds
of vessels over many decades. Yes, there are derelicts boats,
but responsible owners in the area have been reporting them
for you, and those police have fallen on deaf ears
to pretend the entire anchoring tradition is the problem. In Salts,
local history statutes ignored. State laws already exist to address
(02:11):
derelict and unsafe boats sites. Several Forlida statutes. Officials had
the tools, but refuse to use them. Instead of enforcing
those laws and using registration and permit fees to remove
bad actors. They're punishing everyone nowhere to go. There is
no realistic alternative being offered for large cruising vessels available
slips are limited, and the cost is already exorbitant. Without
(02:34):
access to the lagoon, many owners will face severe financial hardship,
often forced in to distress sales of their boats. If
you've ever been to the Miami or for a Lauderdale
boat show and walked past the rows of cruising sale boats,
you know exactly the type of vessels I'm talking about.
Boats too large and too costly to simply move somewhere else.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
My wife and I say for twenty years.
Speaker 1 (02:54):
So forard our boat, and for families like ours, sailing
isn't just a pastime. It's our way of life. Some
people choose golf for tennis. For us, it's the water.
Kids lose out. The Palm Beach Sailing Club and its
youth sailing programs depend on access to the lagoon. These
rules mean underprivileged kids will lose their summer programs and
the chance to learn sailing opportunities that can change lives.
(03:16):
Economic damage every boat displaced means less money spend locally
on marinas, mechanics, riggers, sail makers, field docks, and chandelieri's.
Driving out the boating community isn't just a social laws
it's a blow to Palm Beach County's marine industry and
the jobs it supports. False environmental claims anchoring is being
(03:37):
painted as destructive while ignoring that the property maintained moornes
are actually less damaging. This is a convenient excuse to
clear the lagoon, not real conversation. This isn't just about boats.
It's about government overreach, catering to donors, and shutting down
a way of life that has always been part of
Palm Beach County. I'm asking you to shine a light
(03:58):
on this before it's too late. People like me can't
buy full page ads or bend the era of counting commissioners,
but your microphone can give this issue the attention to needs.
Thank you for your time and for standing up when
local voices are being ignored. That all of us can
afford water front property with private dockage, and for families
like ours who worked and saved for twenty years to
(04:19):
on our boat, Losing Lake Worth Lagoon means losing far
more than a place to anchor. Okay, a very well
constructed note. I wanted to take the time to share
the entire note out of respect for your situation, also
in fairness to your concerns, and I hear you, and
(04:41):
do you understand how this will have a profound impact
in your situation. I'm also sympathetic to the lack of
options you currently have an attempting to remedy the situation,
and so I promise you that what I'm about this
year isn't meant as an affront, but rather consistency. The
the Town of Palm Beach is able to do this
(05:02):
is because numerous vessels are illegally moored. As I'm inclined
to say, if the premise of anything is false, anything
built on the false premise is bound to fail as well. Effectively,
if a vessel is more illegally all other considerations are moot.
So about this today, the Town of Palm Beach will
(05:25):
begin to remove illegally moored vessels from the Lakeworth Lagoon.
This was first announced by Palm Beach last Tuesday, the nineteenth.
That's when they put out a press release on this.
As this city stated, the Town of Palm Beach has
announced the coordinated effort to clean up the Lakeworth Lagoon
by identifying and removing illegal mooring buoyes and other unpermitted
(05:47):
bottom anchored devices. The initiative supports safer navigation and directly
addresses documented environmental harm to the lagoon's water bottoms and
vital seagrass meadows. Recent county notices have warned thatvoating and
bottom attached structures can sink, pollute, and scar sensitive habitats.
This program acts on that warning with focused field work
(06:07):
and enforcement. Unpermitted mooring systems and other bottom gear can
gouge water bottoms, uproots, seagrass, degrade near shore habitats critical
of fish, manatees, and other wildlife. The Lake Worth Lagoon
Management Plan highlights seagrass as a corner as a keystone habitat,
and calls for actions that protect and restore it, which
are goals that this clean up directly advances. So the
(06:30):
town pointed to three laws that vessels scheduled for removal
are in violation of. Permits are key for markers and buoies.
Florida law prohibits any person or government entity from placing
a uniform waterway marker including buoys on state waters without
a permit from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
(06:52):
No tying to unlawful bottom objects. It is illegal to more,
anchor tie, or otherwise affix a vessel or footing structure
to any unpermitted, unauthorized, or unlawful object affixed to the
bottom of Florida waters, with a narrow exception for private
mooring on privately owned submerged lands.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
Illegal markers can be removed.
Speaker 1 (07:14):
State rule authorizes f WC officers, sheriffs, deputies, municipal police,
and other law enforcement to remove or cause the removal
of any marker found in valuation of Florida's uniform waterway
marker rules. So as it applies to what's getting underway,
it's a matter of a local government enforcing laws that
(07:35):
had been lightly enforced previously. As one who believes in
intellectual honesty and consistency, I'm going to offer up a
couple of examples as food for thought. Would we feel
as though it would be acceptable for people to store
their boats or other vehicles on state owned land just like, hey,
this is a place where I can put my stuff
(07:57):
like a state park, for example, can we do that,
of course not. Waterways are no different in that regard
the land, the water, that space is not the property
of those with vessels. Thus that is why a permit
is needed in order for that vessel to legally be
(08:18):
there if one hasn't been illegally obtained. That is the
crux of the issue here. That is what should be
remedied by boat owners seeking legal authorization. As it pertains
to the laws having been lightly enforced previously with many
vessels that have moored in the same place for many years.
(08:41):
That doesn't inherently make it acceptable. You know, this is
a very different issue, and so I'm not trying to conflate,
but I do think it illustrates the point. The premise
of it is the same. Just well, the law has
been on the books and it hasn't been enforced, So
now that it is, it's a problem. Right. This is
the argument that's used by advocates of illegal aliens. Right,
(09:03):
as long as an illegal alien is here for a
long time now, we're supposed to think that they should
be treated differently than if they had just come across
the border. Well, that doesn't make it acceptable. It doesn't
make it legally acceptable. The same is true for any
law that has been lightly enforced previously, and it would
be hypocritical for me to argue to the contrary.
Speaker 2 (09:23):
So I am truly sorry, as
Speaker 1 (09:25):
I believe that you are well meaning, I believe you're
well intentioned, and I do wish you well as you
deal with the adversity that you've found yourself in this week.
I have a question or topic you want to have addressed,
Just ask.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
This is the Brian Mud Show.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
Today's Q and A Palm Beach's push to remove illegally
moored boats. This is brought to you by listen ashes
check Mark collections. Each day a feature a listener questions
sent by one of these methods. You may email me
Brian Mud at Iarmindia dot com, hand me up on
social at Brian Mud Radio. May also use the Ihear
Radio talk back feature we love It. If you love us,
(00:33):
go into the app make us number one preset the
Brian Mudshow podcast number two preset And while you're in
there you look for the little microphone button. You see
it it tapp it. You may lay down a message
right there, maybe for a future Q and A. Today's
note is this one. My wife and I have owned
our cruising saleboat for thirteen years, and, like so many
other local residents, when we're not outsailing, Lakeworth Lagoon has
(00:57):
always been our vessels home and halingport. Word got out
Friday with a little real notice and without any effort
to make the information widely known, that the city intends
to start destroying our mornings.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
This Tuesday.
Speaker 1 (01:11):
Palm Beach officials are pushing policies that would strip away
long standing and green rights and force people off the water.
They claim moorings and liva boats are an environmental threat,
but that's a smoke screen. The real push coming from
wealthy waterfront property owners and donors who don't want to
see pleasure boats in front of their houses. Here's what's
(01:32):
at stake. Middle class families like ours forced out these
rules will push ordinary middle class boat owners into distress sales,
making yacht ownership impossible for anyone, but the very rich
families who've enjoyed the water for decades will be shut out.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
History erased.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
Lake Worth Lagoon has been a safe anchorage for hundreds
of vessels over many decades. Yes, there are derelicts boats,
but responsible owners in the area have been reporting them
for you, and those police have fallen on deaf ears
to pretend the entire anchoring tradition is the problem. In Salts,
local history statutes ignored. State laws already exist to address
(02:11):
derelict and unsafe boats sites. Several Forlida statutes. Officials had
the tools, but refuse to use them. Instead of enforcing
those laws and using registration and permit fees to remove
bad actors. They're punishing everyone nowhere to go. There is
no realistic alternative being offered for large cruising vessels available
slips are limited, and the cost is already exorbitant. Without
(02:34):
access to the lagoon, many owners will face severe financial hardship,
often forced in to distress sales of their boats. If
you've ever been to the Miami or for a Lauderdale
boat show and walked past the rows of cruising sale boats,
you know exactly the type of vessels I'm talking about.
Boats too large and too costly to simply move somewhere else.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
My wife and I say for twenty years.
Speaker 1 (02:54):
So forard our boat, and for families like ours, sailing
isn't just a pastime. It's our way of life. Some
people choose golf for tennis. For us, it's the water.
Kids lose out. The Palm Beach Sailing Club and its
youth sailing programs depend on access to the lagoon. These
rules mean underprivileged kids will lose their summer programs and
the chance to learn sailing opportunities that can change lives.
(03:16):
Economic damage every boat displaced means less money spend locally
on marinas, mechanics, riggers, sail makers, field docks, and chandelieri's.
Driving out the boating community isn't just a social laws
it's a blow to Palm Beach County's marine industry and
the jobs it supports. False environmental claims anchoring is being
(03:37):
painted as destructive while ignoring that the property maintained moornes
are actually less damaging. This is a convenient excuse to
clear the lagoon, not real conversation. This isn't just about boats.
It's about government overreach, catering to donors, and shutting down
a way of life that has always been part of
Palm Beach County. I'm asking you to shine a light
(03:58):
on this before it's too late. People like me can't
buy full page ads or bend the era of counting commissioners,
but your microphone can give this issue the attention to needs.
Thank you for your time and for standing up when
local voices are being ignored. That all of us can
afford water front property with private dockage, and for families
like ours who worked and saved for twenty years to
(04:19):
on our boat, Losing Lake Worth Lagoon means losing far
more than a place to anchor. Okay, a very well
constructed note. I wanted to take the time to share
the entire note out of respect for your situation, also
in fairness to your concerns, and I hear you, and
(04:41):
do you understand how this will have a profound impact
in your situation. I'm also sympathetic to the lack of
options you currently have an attempting to remedy the situation,
and so I promise you that what I'm about this
year isn't meant as an affront, but rather consistency. The
the Town of Palm Beach is able to do this
(05:02):
is because numerous vessels are illegally moored. As I'm inclined
to say, if the premise of anything is false, anything
built on the false premise is bound to fail as well. Effectively,
if a vessel is more illegally all other considerations are moot.
So about this today, the Town of Palm Beach will
(05:25):
begin to remove illegally moored vessels from the Lakeworth Lagoon.
This was first announced by Palm Beach last Tuesday, the nineteenth.
That's when they put out a press release on this.
As this city stated, the Town of Palm Beach has
announced the coordinated effort to clean up the Lakeworth Lagoon
by identifying and removing illegal mooring buoyes and other unpermitted
(05:47):
bottom anchored devices. The initiative supports safer navigation and directly
addresses documented environmental harm to the lagoon's water bottoms and
vital seagrass meadows. Recent county notices have warned thatvoating and
bottom attached structures can sink, pollute, and scar sensitive habitats.
This program acts on that warning with focused field work
(06:07):
and enforcement. Unpermitted mooring systems and other bottom gear can
gouge water bottoms, uproots, seagrass, degrade near shore habitats critical
of fish, manatees, and other wildlife. The Lake Worth Lagoon
Management Plan highlights seagrass as a corner as a keystone habitat,
and calls for actions that protect and restore it, which
are goals that this clean up directly advances. So the
(06:30):
town pointed to three laws that vessels scheduled for removal
are in violation of. Permits are key for markers and buoies.
Florida law prohibits any person or government entity from placing
a uniform waterway marker including buoys on state waters without
a permit from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
(06:52):
No tying to unlawful bottom objects. It is illegal to more,
anchor tie, or otherwise affix a vessel or footing structure
to any unpermitted, unauthorized, or unlawful object affixed to the
bottom of Florida waters, with a narrow exception for private
mooring on privately owned submerged lands.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
Illegal markers can be removed.
Speaker 1 (07:14):
State rule authorizes f WC officers, sheriffs, deputies, municipal police,
and other law enforcement to remove or cause the removal
of any marker found in valuation of Florida's uniform waterway
marker rules. So as it applies to what's getting underway,
it's a matter of a local government enforcing laws that
(07:35):
had been lightly enforced previously. As one who believes in
intellectual honesty and consistency, I'm going to offer up a
couple of examples as food for thought. Would we feel
as though it would be acceptable for people to store
their boats or other vehicles on state owned land just like, hey,
this is a place where I can put my stuff
(07:57):
like a state park, for example, can we do that,
of course not. Waterways are no different in that regard
the land, the water, that space is not the property
of those with vessels. Thus that is why a permit
is needed in order for that vessel to legally be
(08:18):
there if one hasn't been illegally obtained. That is the
crux of the issue here. That is what should be
remedied by boat owners seeking legal authorization. As it pertains
to the laws having been lightly enforced previously with many
vessels that have moored in the same place for many years.
(08:41):
That doesn't inherently make it acceptable. You know, this is
a very different issue, and so I'm not trying to conflate,
but I do think it illustrates the point. The premise
of it is the same. Just well, the law has
been on the books and it hasn't been enforced, So
now that it is, it's a problem. Right. This is
the argument that's used by advocates of illegal aliens. Right,
(09:03):
as long as an illegal alien is here for a
long time now, we're supposed to think that they should
be treated differently than if they had just come across
the border. Well, that doesn't make it acceptable. It doesn't
make it legally acceptable. The same is true for any
law that has been lightly enforced previously, and it would
be hypocritical for me to argue to the contrary.
Speaker 2 (09:23):
So I am truly sorry, as
Speaker 1 (09:25):
I believe that you are well meaning, I believe you're
well intentioned, and I do wish you well as you
deal with the adversity that you've found yourself in this week.
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