Eglin Air Force Base’s recently implemented waterway restrictions won’t be as extensive as initially feared, according to Okaloosa County Commissioner Trey Goodwin, who met with base leadership to discuss the security measures.
- Goodwin, who represents District 4 in South Okaloosa County, said the base has developed more precise, scaled maps of the restricted areas that will be integrated into digital GIS format and shared with the county.
“I realized that the zones are not going to be nearly as impactful as what may have looked like from the original maps,” Goodwin said in a social media video released Monday. “We’re going to find that we can live and work and enjoy our waterways just the same and to just the same extent as we did before.”
The restrictions, which took effect Feb. 24, limit access to six waterways around the base to ID card holders and visitors with passes. These areas include Eglin’s main shoreline, north and south sides of Santa Rosa Sound, Camp Pinchot shoreline, Poquito Bayou housing area shoreline and Wynnhaven Beach.
Goodwin explained that the restrictions stem from federal regulations that have existed since 2011 but are only now being enforced due to “new security concerns and issues with the base.”
- “This is part of their effort to make sure that Eglin Air Force Base and its mission and its people stay safe and are able to do their job,” Goodwin said.
The commissioner emphasized the importance of respecting the restricted areas and supporting the base’s security efforts. “Team Eglin and Team Okaloosa are in lockstep on this issue,” he said.
Visitor passes can be obtained from the Visitor Control Center at the Air Force Armament Museum between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. Outside these hours, sponsors can secure passes from Airmen at the gate.
For additional questions about these federal regulations, Eglin Public Affairs can be reached at 96TW.PA.OfficeMailAccount@us.af.mil.
