Florida’s Big Dig

The story of the Intracoastal and other thoughts on water, waterways, land, and ecology

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about

I am Bill Crawford. I was born and raised in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., bisected by the Intracoastal. I graduated from the University of Virginia with a bachelor’s degree in commerce, with distinction, concentrating in finance. I obtained my juris doctor degree from Stetson University College of Law. I have practiced law for more than 43 years. I am a professional historian and author of the award-winning book, “Florida’s Big Dig,” (2008) the story of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. I have practiced law in Florida since 1975. Along the way, I developed a keen interest in researching and writing history, publishing numerous scholarly journal articles and one award-winning book, “Florida’s Big Dig,” the story of Florida’s Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, using my legal pbackground to understand legal transactions, deeds, wmortgages, bonds, preferred stock, and legal descriptions of land and water. In recent years, I have maintained a limited practice consulting with other professionals on various historical land and water issues, including sovereign, riparian, and submerged land rights, focusing on the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway and Florida inland waterways. I maintain a broad regular website here at www.floridasbigdig.me and a website solely on how the book was researched as well as some of the major themes explored. The website on the book itself is at www.floridasbigdig.com. The website on contacts for professional services is at www.floridasbigdiglawyer.com?. A fifteen-page outline of my book

  • Galapagos Islands

    Galapagos Islands  [TAP ON WORDS TWICE]

  • The Earth’s newest as yet unnamed island in the Tonga chain in the South Pacific (2015)

    Newest island shows a lake, a beach, a seemingly dead submarine volcano turned islan in the distance, an aeria photo taken directly over the “dead” volcano. Although there have been hikers on the island n 2015, scientists have not yet reached agreement that the dead volcano has stabilized and is therefore safe to hike upon it, as of November 6, 2015.

  • A New Island in the South Pacific

    Within the space of a few months, a submarine or underwater volcano grew into a new island.

    Within the span of a few months a submarine volcano became an island in the South Pacific.
    Within the span of a few months a submarine volcano became an island in the South Pacific.

  • Arbitration Everywhere, Stacking the Deck of Justice

    Arbitration Everywhere, Stacking the Deck of Justice

  • The 50 Most Powerful Pictures In American History

    The 50 Most Powerful Pictures In American History

  • Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico

    Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico
    Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico

  • U — unlimited hydroplanes capable of exceeding 200 mph

    Two unlimited class hydroplanes running side-by-side. Top classification determination made by the APBA. Hydros capable of exceeding 200 mph.
    Two unlimited class hydroplanes running side-by-side. Top classification determination made by the APBA. Hydros capable of exceeding 200 mph.

    The ultimate in powerboat racing, these hydroplanes can attain speeds in excess of 200 mph. Some are supercharged 1,500 horsepower Grand Prix machines running easily 170 miles per hour and LOUD!

  • Sugar cane water runoff pollution over-propagates the wrong species

    Pollution from spraying tainted water over fields of sugar cane pouring out of a excess water drain.

    Sugar cane water runoff pollutes because the fertilizer it uses causes the wrong species of plants like the cat tail to over-propagate, and thus overwhelm a stable ecosystem, choking off water and nutrients to sustain the growth of healthy plants necessary for a stable ecosystem.

  • October 2015 update —  Panama Canal Expansion

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    This video (tap on link) recaps the progress made in the modernization of the Panama Canal, the first major improvements in the waterway in one hundred years.

    Thousands of workers grade the earth, pour concrete, dredge a widened waterway, and install gigantic lock gates manufactured thousands of miles away and transited by barge to Panama.

  • Swamped boat at The Crossroads creates huge fuel spill

    Tangled vessel/barge with a variety of of hogs and equipment bound for Haite
    Tangled vessel/barge with a variety of of hogs and equipment bound for Haitii blocks ICW and St. Lucie River

    Region: Atlantic ICW – FL & St. Johns R.
    Date Reported: Oct 29, 2015

    Reported By: Captain Chris Caldwell

    Source: Cruising Contributor

    Boat-Grounded-St-Lucie.jpg

    Ed. Note: Thank you, Capt. Chris, for this update on the grounded swamped boat at St. Lucie Inlet. The boat grounded and was swamped Oct. 27, 2015, apparently on its way to Haiti with relief supplies. The incident has created a huge fuel spill in the ICW and the St. Lucie River:

    Spoke with a friend who wants to remain anonymous. Local towing company was contacted to pull it off the grounding. But, the grounded boat draws 8 feet and was too hard aground to be successfully pulled from the sandbar. Titan Salvage has been contacted to do salvage operations. When other locals (non-professionals) tried to assist in rescuing crew members from the boat, they mentioned that the steel deck felt thin. The crew aboard also reported (to these good Samaritans) the boat had leaking shaft seals prior to grounding. The boat is now starting to roll over with the low tide and waves.

    Speaking with locals, the boat has been tied to a dock for over 10 years in the Okeechobee waterway near Indiantown. Here’s the information posted on the Facebook Page of the Martin County Sherriff’s department (October 27, 2015):
    The Martin County Sheriff’s Marine Units, along with our Air Unit, are working to assist the United States Coast Guard with evaluating the size of a large fuel leak and debris field caused when a supply vessel headed to Haiti partially sunk. The 59-foot vessel began sinking sometime this morning near the crossroads, where the St. Lucie River and intracoastal waterway meet. You can see debris and fuel floating for miles along the waterways.
    Last night, the Coast Guard removed the boat’s passengers, after declaring the vessel unsafe to sail. MCSO’s Marine Units, and Chief Pilot, Deputy Doug Newsom, have been working throughout the day pinpointing and collecting debris, which has been spotted floating for miles. That debris includes barrels, boxes of food, produce, and miscellaneous supplies. The vessel was reportedly part of a mission headed to Haiti.
    The United States Coast Guard is leading the investigation into the incident. We will update you, as information becomes available. An aerial view from the MCSO Air Unit will be posted shortly.

    The Martin County Sheriff’s Department Facebook post includes 23 photos of the grounding and fuel spill.