Eglin Air Force Base is opposed to a plan supported by Congressman Matt Gaetz to reopen the Navarre Pass from Santa Rosa Sound into the Gulf of Mexico. That pass was dredged and opened for less than three months in 1965 before Hurricane Betsy filled it in with sand. It was never reopened. To reach the Gulf now, Navarre boaters have to go 25 miles to either Pensacola or Destin and advocates have tried and failed for many years to reopen the pass. The base said increased boat traffic would interfere with military training that takes place on a 20-mile stretch of Eglin-owned beachfront directly east of the proposed pass. Congressman Gaetz told the Pensacola News Journal he is working with U.S. Senator Marco Rubio on a bill to reopen the pass. Gaetz, has scheduled a private meeting with Navarre leaders on April 17th to discuss reopening the pass.
