Waterway Users

Smooth Waters Initiative

Safety Guidelines

  • Obey Safety Zones and No Entry Areas: Follow all Safety Zone-No Entry Area’s marked as restricted areas
  • Federal Navigation Channel Remains Open: Not subject to speed restrictions
  • Slow Down Near Construction Zones: Maintain speeds of 6-knots or less to minimize wake
  • Stay Informed: Check the USCG District 5 Local Notice to Mariners for real-time updates and navigation alerts

Why this Matters

  • Construction barges and crews are operating daily
  • Excess wake creates dangerous conditions for workers and equipment
  • Slowing down helps prevent injuries and delays

Smooth Waters Initiative Toolkit

Our Smooth Waters Initiative Toolkit includes a poster, yard sign, factsheet, social media graphic, and email/newsletter content available in both English and Spanish. Please use this information to help spread the word to ensure safe navigation and protect everyone on the water.

Smooth Waters Toolkit

Current Advisories

United States Coast Guard Local Notices to Mariners

The Eighth Coast Guard District LNMs are divided into two sections: one for the Gulf Coast, and one for the Western Rivers.

USCG Establishes Safety Zone – 7/3/25

The Coast Guard is establishing a safety zone for certain waters of the Patapsco River, in Baltimore, MD. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on […]

Local Notice To Mariners (LNM) – 7/2/25

The USCG Local Notices to Mariners is updated weekly and is available for download in Portable Document File (PDF) Format.

DNR Public Notice for Established 6-Knot Zone

PATAPSCO RIVER – Francis Scott Key Bridge Project

Local Notice To Mariners (LNM) – 2/25/25

This is a supplemental public notice to provide revised removal conditions for removal of the existing bridge. The environmental considerations section has also been updated.

Local Notice To Mariners (LNM) – 1/7/25

Local Notice to Mariners for District 5. The USCG Local Notices to Mariners is updated weekly and is available for download in Portable Document File (PDF) Format.

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