January 2020 - GSL-Marina - mailman.xmission.com

CRANE DAY POSTPONED
by Dave Shearer 16 Jun '20

16 Jun '20

I just found out I have jury duty next week. So I need to postpone Crane Day. Can everyone make it on Tuesday, May 7? Let me know. Thanks Dave Dave Shearer Harbor Master Great Salt Lake State Marina 801-250-1898 [DNR Parks Logo]

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Good News - Caution
by Dave Shearer 31 Jan '20

31 Jan '20

January was a great month for Great Salt Lake weather wise. We ended the month at 130% of normal direct precipitation. Our snowpack still sits above normal at 112% of normal. And the ground water is saturated. The lake is rising. This is all a great start to the 2020 sailing season. But a word of caution now. We are solidly in WINDY SEASON now. The next three months are when we usually see the strongest gusts annually for Great Salt Lake Marina. And we have a sizeable snowstorm barreling down on us Sunday night/Monday evening. Tomorrows weather forecast looks great with partly cloudy skies and a high in the upper 40's. This would be a great day to come out and check on your boats, secure your property, check dock lines and make sure your drain scuppers in your cockpit are clear of debris so your boats can drain properly. Besides the storm coming in late this weekend we are expecting very cold temperatures on Tuesday. The storm on Sunday night/Monday morning looks like it is going to track straight down the lake. With the snow totals they are expecting from this storm we could potentially see nearly a foot of snow at the marina as well as strong winds. Right now, the long-term forecast for February is stormy. Good news for the sailing season. But we need to make sure we are protecting our loved boats. Dave

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Lake Level - Good New!
by Dave Shearer 28 Jan '20

28 Jan '20

Although it is too early to predict where the lake will end up for a high this year we are off to an incredible start! The critical time to get that much needed snowpack in the mountains is December through March. Although the Water Watch season (October through May) started off slow the spigot turned on late November. December precipitation was 129% January precipitation is at 114% of normal and we have another storm barreling down on us today. The lake saw its lowest level last year in October with a lake level of 4193.2' msl The lake came up 0.5' by December 31'st since that low. That is much more than normal for that two month period. We are now sitting at 4194.0' msl. That is 0.8' above our low last year. Normally we only come up 0.35' during that period. So we have come up more than double the rate this winter. If I was going to make a guess right now we will come up another 1.12' to 2.2' between now and when we top off. If conditions stay wet and above normal precipitation between now and the end of April those numbers may be low. Remember on an average year that we only come up 2' from spring runoff and drop 2' from summer evaporation. And also remember that the ground water is saturated with lake levels upstream doing very well. This means the water in the mountains will come down here. If we continue this wet trend it will be the first time in over 20 years where we had two wet years in a row. In the past 20 years, when we had a wet year, it was followed by two very dry years. Could this be the year that breaks the trend? I hope so.

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Reminder- Harbormaster Clam Chowder Party.
by Dave Shearer 20 Jan '20

20 Jan '20

This is just a reminder of the next Marina Community Social. Saturday, January 25th at 11am. At Trestledock (the Harbormaster/Park Manager Residence) at Great Salt Lake State Park and Marina. This is always a great winter social with an outside firepit, great food, and socializing. Bring your favorite clam chowder (or other) dish, or side dish. This social is open to the whole marina community. Hope to see you there. On, and the snowpack/direct precipitation is looking VERY good. Dave Dave Shearer Park Manager Harbor Master Great Salt Lake State Park 801-209-9142 [skull and crossbones]

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Wind Storm - 83mph.
by Dave Shearer 18 Jan '20

18 Jan '20

Yesterday's wind storm officially started Windy Season at Great Salt Lake. Top gust was 83mph with several gusts above 70mph. Boats generally look ok but we strongly encourage you to come out and inspect your boats and dock lines. This is just the beginning of Windy Season which stretches between January 1st through mid-May. Dave

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Annual Clam Chowder Party at GSL
by Dave Shearer 13 Jan '20

13 Jan '20

Well the next social for the Great Salt Lake Marina is just around the corner. It is the annual Harbormaster Clam Chowder Party. Saturday, January 25th at 11am. At Trestledock (the Harbormaster/Park Manager Residence) at Great Salt Lake State Park and Marina. This is always a great winter social with an outside firepit, great food, and socializing. Bring your favorite clam chowder (or other) dish, or side dish. This social is open to the whole marina community. Hope to see you there. On, and the snowpack/direct precipitation is looking VERY good. Dave

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