Nell,
Boaters are already on the "hit" list. The federal government has reduced  
the expendature for maintaining the intercoastal waterway from 20 million down  
to a mere 6 million. Snow birds going south are reporting depths much 
shallower  than is expected and many have run aground several times in North Carolina. 
Many  are seeking the safety of the open ocean instead of traveling the  ICW.
 
Rummy
 
PS Good rant.