Fact Sheet: 'No Anchor' Area in Eagle Harbor
Originally published August 2023.
Anchoring is prohibited over a large area in the eastern part of Eagle Harbor. The map below shows the boundaries of the "Regulated Navigation Area."
For questions about the Regulated Navigation Area, or other mooring options in Eagle Harbor, contact the Bainbridge Island Harbormaster (harbormaster@bainbridgewa.gov), 206-780-3733.
What Activities are Prohibited?
The regulation, which can be found in the Coast Pilot and at 33 CFR §165.1309, states:
All vessels and persons are prohibited from any activity which could potentially disturb the seabed in the designated area, including:
- Anchoring
- Dredging
- Laying cable
- Dragging
- Seining
- Bottom fishing
- Conducting salvage operations
Vessels may otherwise transit or navigate within this area without reservation.
Why the 'No Anchor' Restriction?
The sea floor in Eagle Harbor became heavily contaminated with creosote released from a former wood treating facility on the south side of the harbor. Creosote is a thick, oily, toxic liquid used to preserve railroad ties, utility poles and pier pilings. In the mid-1990s, to protect fish and other marine life, EPA "capped" portions of Eagle Harbor by burying the contamination under a layer of clean sand. Anchoring could penetrate the sand cap, bringing contamination to the surface. It could also contaminate anchors and lines, exposing boaters to the contamination.
A printable version of this fact sheet is also available: Attention Boaters! No Anchor Area in Eagle Harbor (pdf) - August 2023