The Intracoastal Waterway is a 3,000-mile waterway along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United
States. Some lengths consist of natural inlets, salt-water rivers, bays, and sounds; others are man-made
canals. Together, they provide a navigable route along Gulf and Atlantic without the hazards of travel on the
open sea.
The waterway runs for most of the length of the Eastern Seaboard. It is toll-free, (commercial users pay a
tax used to maintain it), and the ICW is a significant portion of America's Great Loop. The ICW consists of
two main non-contiguous segments: The Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway and the Gulf Intracoastal
Waterway.
The Atlantic ICW (for all intent and cruising purposes) serves ports from Atlantic City, NJ to Key West,
FL. (There is lots more detail on "doing the ditch" later.) This route is linked by several essential man-
made canals, including the Chesapeake and Delaware, and Chesapeake - Albemarle. The lowest
controlled depth is 6 feet in the Dismal Swamp Canal. During World War II, the route became important as
a means of avoiding the submarine menace along the coast. Commercial traffic (oceangoing vessels and
barges) serves the heavily concentrated industrial areas north of Norfolk, Va; whereas, to the south, the
waterway accommodates mainly pleasure craft traveling to and from the Florida resort areas.
The Gulf Intracoastal Waterway serves ports for more than 1,100 miles between Brownsville, Texas, to
Carrabelle, FL. It lies mainly behind barrier beaches and provides a 150-foot-wide, 12-foot-deep channel.
At its eastern end, the waterway is not directly connected with its Atlantic counterpart, except via the open
waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the 6-foot-deep Okeechobee Waterway in southern Florida. The heaviest
commercial activity is centered at New Orleans and extends eastward to the Black Warrior–Tombigbee
river system at Mobile Bay, Ala., and westward to major Texas ports. The Plaquemine–Morgan City
Waterway provides direct connection west of New Orleans with the extensive Mississippi River valley
system of inland waterways, and the Harvey Lock at New Orleans furnishes a direct entrance to the
Mississippi River.
While some may envision a superhighway on the water for boats, it is not quite that; but it is easy to
navigate its 3,000 miles of wide channels and narrow canals with lots of very interesting things to do and
see along the way.
The requirement for a waterway dates back to the Revolutionary War in the US. The war clarified the need
for better transportation routes between the colonies (from Boston down to St. Marys GA). Thomas
Jefferson thought that a system of canals connecting America’s East Coast waterways coupled with a
similarly overarching road system would greatly increase national security. Individual states began
construction of canals, but it was not until 1808 that a proposal was made for a coordinated project, but
approvals for the project were not forthcoming. States continued developing canals without any real
coordination. In 1909 Congress passed the Rivers and Harbors Act authorizing the US Army Corps of
Engineers to complete surveys for an inter coastal waterway system. The Corps of Engineers is still
responsible for the maintenance of the waterway. In the past five years, funds and personnel for this work
have been scarce. The controlling depth is supposed to be 12 feet at mean low water, but it is now less
than 6 feet in some locations.
States. Some lengths consist of natural inlets, salt-water rivers, bays, and sounds; others are man-made
canals. Together, they provide a navigable route along Gulf and Atlantic without the hazards of travel on the
open sea.
The waterway runs for most of the length of the Eastern Seaboard. It is toll-free, (commercial users pay a
tax used to maintain it), and the ICW is a significant portion of America's Great Loop. The ICW consists of
two main non-contiguous segments: The Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway and the Gulf Intracoastal
Waterway.
The Atlantic ICW (for all intent and cruising purposes) serves ports from Atlantic City, NJ to Key West,
FL. (There is lots more detail on "doing the ditch" later.) This route is linked by several essential man-
made canals, including the Chesapeake and Delaware, and Chesapeake - Albemarle. The lowest
controlled depth is 6 feet in the Dismal Swamp Canal. During World War II, the route became important as
a means of avoiding the submarine menace along the coast. Commercial traffic (oceangoing vessels and
barges) serves the heavily concentrated industrial areas north of Norfolk, Va; whereas, to the south, the
waterway accommodates mainly pleasure craft traveling to and from the Florida resort areas.
The Gulf Intracoastal Waterway serves ports for more than 1,100 miles between Brownsville, Texas, to
Carrabelle, FL. It lies mainly behind barrier beaches and provides a 150-foot-wide, 12-foot-deep channel.
At its eastern end, the waterway is not directly connected with its Atlantic counterpart, except via the open
waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the 6-foot-deep Okeechobee Waterway in southern Florida. The heaviest
commercial activity is centered at New Orleans and extends eastward to the Black Warrior–Tombigbee
river system at Mobile Bay, Ala., and westward to major Texas ports. The Plaquemine–Morgan City
Waterway provides direct connection west of New Orleans with the extensive Mississippi River valley
system of inland waterways, and the Harvey Lock at New Orleans furnishes a direct entrance to the
Mississippi River.
While some may envision a superhighway on the water for boats, it is not quite that; but it is easy to
navigate its 3,000 miles of wide channels and narrow canals with lots of very interesting things to do and
see along the way.
The requirement for a waterway dates back to the Revolutionary War in the US. The war clarified the need
for better transportation routes between the colonies (from Boston down to St. Marys GA). Thomas
Jefferson thought that a system of canals connecting America’s East Coast waterways coupled with a
similarly overarching road system would greatly increase national security. Individual states began
construction of canals, but it was not until 1808 that a proposal was made for a coordinated project, but
approvals for the project were not forthcoming. States continued developing canals without any real
coordination. In 1909 Congress passed the Rivers and Harbors Act authorizing the US Army Corps of
Engineers to complete surveys for an inter coastal waterway system. The Corps of Engineers is still
responsible for the maintenance of the waterway. In the past five years, funds and personnel for this work
have been scarce. The controlling depth is supposed to be 12 feet at mean low water, but it is now less
than 6 feet in some locations.
| The Atlantic ICW |
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| The Intracoastal Waterway is a major portion of America's Great Loop |
| The ICW, as all the other parts of the Great Loop is a fantastic boating adventure. |
We have more "details" on cruising both the Atlantic ICW and the Gulf ICW (as well as all
the inland rivers) from on our "The Rivers" page. For sure, if you plan your journey to be in
each regional area during it's prime "boating season", you will have a safe and pleasant
voyage on America's Intra Coastal Waterways.
the inland rivers) from on our "The Rivers" page. For sure, if you plan your journey to be in
each regional area during it's prime "boating season", you will have a safe and pleasant
voyage on America's Intra Coastal Waterways.
| And, believe it our not. . . There are even "ROAD SIGNS?" to help you along your way. |
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