GSL Slip Renters;

A couple rumors have come to our attention that I feel must be corrected.

Rumor one (Myth):  It is rumored that the reason we cannot afford to dredge the mouth of the marina is that we purchased a new power boat called Rescue One and can now not afford to dredge.

Truth:  Rescue One was NOT purchased with parks funds.  It was purchased with boating and COAST GUARD funds that have nothing to do parks funds.  The old Rescue One finally died.  We, at the marina, wanted to have the old boat fitted with new engines.  We were firmly told NO.  So an RFP was sent out to purchase a new boat.  The money for that boat was funded from the above mentioned funds two years ago. The cost of operating Rescue One does not come out of the marina budget but rather the above mentioned funds.

Rumor Two (Myth):  We cannot afford to dredge but we can afford to purchase a brand new truck.  (some of you may have noticed that we now have a one ton truck so that we can pull Rescue One).

Truth:  There have been several Search and Rescues at Utah Lake this summer where we were requested to pull our boat down there.  The ¾ ton truck we have been using is old had some trouble meeting this goal.  The Main Office of Parks strongly requested that we get a one ton that would reliably meet this purpose for public safety reasons.

We have leased the one ton from FLEET.  AND we turned in one of our ¾ tons to compensate.  AND, because the one ton is on a longer term lease, the one ton is costing us half what the truck we turned in was costing.  So we are saving budget money.

Rumor three (Myth):  We just need to dredge the mouth and we will be ok.

Truth:  The marina mouth is about ½ a foot shallower than the rest of the marina.  The mouth is at about 4.6’  while the main channel of the marina is now about 5 feet in many sections.  B dock has been lost to us.  A large section of E dock has also been lost.  And even the boats on the north side of C dock are now sitting in silt.  My boat on K dock along with others are also sitting in silt. 

The problem is that the whole marina is silted in and in some degree of trouble.  The estimated cost of dredging the marina is five million dollars.  Parks just doesn’t have that money.  It will take money from the feds or from the legislature to solve this problem.  Or a very good winter.

It is unfortunate that these rumors that have no basis in fact get started and strain the relationship we have with parks staff and marina patrons.  Rest assured that Bob and I are doing what we can to get the marina dredged.  We have been doing a LOT of thinking out the box and are willing to listen any and all ideas.

On a good note.  NOAA has come out with the long term forecast for the Great Salt Lake Area and are predicting a wetter than normal winter.  Let us all pray that this is accurate.

Dave Shearer

Harbormaster

Great Salt Lake State Marina