Information and Resources to help you navigate Covid-19
We here at US Harbors are collecting all the information we can to help you through these strange times.
The situation around the country, and the world, is changing at a rapid rate. We endeavor to keep our information up to date and relevant. Please be aware that regulations do vary from state to state. You can find all our Covid-19 related news under this tag /covid-19
Is Boating a Safe Social Distancing Activity?
In most circumstances, boating is a safe activity in terms of limiting infection. Please be aware of the specific rules at the local marina or town boat ramp – getting into the water can be the most high risk part of the boating trip, depending on how busy the boat launch area is. Please also take into consideration who accompanies you on your boat. It is advised to limit boat passengers to those already in your household. Some states have a limit on the number of people allowed on a boat.
Once out on the water, maintain distance from other boats, and be extra vigilant of those in the water around you. Boaters, as a type, are generally very safety conscious, and that attitude is just as important now as it ever is. Every prevented accident is one less thing that our brave key workers have tackle – keeping the resources available to deal with the covid-19 pandemic.
More rules, tips and advice can be found here: Must-Know Rules for 2020 Summer Boating During COVID 19
Where Can I Go Boating?
What Boat Ramps are Open in My Area?
What events are still going on?
Many events have been cancelled to limit spread of the coronavirus. Some are able to transition to a virtual. online version of the event, and some are postponed till later in the year, or the following year altogether. We are still posting events on our site, however we encourage you to check directly with the organizer before attending. You can see all the events here: usharbors.com/event-listings/
Help for Coastal Businesses
We are posting updates from any and all coastal business, organization or local authority. If you want to get word out to boaters in your area, you can submit news for our weekly update here: usharbors.com/supporting-our-coastal-businesses/
Health & Safety Filter
NOAA’s Use Of Cloud Infrastructure Grows To Include Weather Prediction Models
By noaa.gov, noaa.gov. In the latest innovation to NOAA’s operational weather forecast model technology, the agency announced today that it is moving its high-performance supercomputing operations to the commercial cloud. This transition of NOAA’s Weather and Climate Operational Supercomputing System (WCOSS) supports current and future improvements to NOAA’s suite of… SEE MORE
Why NOAA Matters: Maine's Island Institute Makes the Case
Why NOAA Matters: Maine’s Island Institute Makes the Case Every mariner who checks a forecast before leaving the dock, every harbormaster tracking a king tide, and every fishing family checking for water temperature shifts is relying, often without thinking about it, on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, commonly shortened… SEE MORE
Deep Diving and Innovation to Restore the Gulf's Mesophotic Corals
By fisheries.noaa.gov, fisheries.noaa.gov. Deep in the Gulf of America lies a vital but little-known habitat. In the “mesophotic” (middle light) zone are coral ecosystems that are essential to the Gulf’s food web. In 2010, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill injured extensive areas of this delicate environment. Today, scientists across federal agencies and… SEE MORE
Going With The Flow: Visualizing Ocean Currents with ECCO
By James Riordon, science.nasa.gov. Historically, the ocean has been difficult to model. Scientists struggled in years past to simulate ocean currents or accurately predict fluctuations in temperature, salinity, and other properties. As a result, models of ocean dynamics rapidly diverged from reality, which meant they could only provide useful information… SEE MORE
Humpback Whale Successfully Freed from Entanglement in Endicott Arm
By fisheries.noaa.gov, fisheries.noaa.gov. The Tracy Arm-Fords Terror wilderness, located 50 miles south of Juneau, Alaska, features a pair of steep glacial fjords: Tracy Arm and Endicott Arm. While remote, the waters in this area see steady vessel traffic, ranging from massive cruise ships and small charter boats to commercial fishing… SEE MORE
2025 Species Recovery Grant Awardees Announced
By Fisheries.Noaa.Gov, fisheries.noaa.gov. NOAA awarded $4.2 million in funding to states and tribes through its Species Recovery Grant Program. These grants promote the recovery of species listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act. From these funds: $1.9 million supports six new awards to five states: Alaska, California, Florida,… SEE MORE
Shedding New Light on Yukon River Chinook Salmon Declines
By Fisheries.Noaa.Gov, fisheries.noaa.gov. Yukon River Chinook salmon have been declining for decades. These declines have limited salmon harvest and posed hardships for local communities that depend on these fish for their food sovereignty, culture, and livelihoods. Adult run sizes recently reached their lowest point ever following a downturn from 2019… SEE MORE
Celebrating Habitat Month
By Fisheries.Noaa.Gov, fisheries.noaa.gov. July is Habitat Month at NOAA Fisheries! All month long, we’ll be sharing how we conserve and restore habitat to sustain our nation’s fisheries and support coastal communities. NOAA conserves habitats like wetlands, rivers, and coral reefs to support fisheries—but habitat isn’t valuable just for the home it provides for fish and wildlife.… SEE MORE
