It is still too early to make my "Official" Harbor Master Lake Level Prediction for 2017 but here is a fairly conservative sneak peek. As you all know by now, we are having a banner year for snowpack. In 2011, the year we came up 5 feet on lake level the snowpack on February 27 was 139%. Early this morning we were at 166% and climbing with this most recent storm. As you know, Crane Day is scheduled for Thursday, April 6th. I feel confident that a conservative estimate on lake level should be 4194.3'msl by then. What does that mean for actual lake levels inside the marina? Without dredging the conservative estimates are as follows: South basin = 5.8' of water (with a couple shallower humps). NW Basin = 3.1' (shallow areas B-C Dock) to 4.1' (D-E Dock). The main channel inside the marina should be a minimum of 4.5' . That includes the shallow area by B dock and the shallow area just outside the mouth. The Deep Channel outside the marina mouth is already about 6 feet deep now. Boats with drafts of 3.5' or less can already get out of the marina and onto the lake without bumping. Boats with drafts of 4 feet or less should be able to get out sailing sometime mid-March. It is very possible to see a lake level of 4195.4' this summer as long as the spigot doesn't dry up. It is also very possible to see a lake level higher than that. The next two weeks should tell the tale of where we will end up this spring. If we continue to see this series of storms for the next few weeks and a snowpack continuing above 160% then it is possible to see lake levels above 4196' msl. I will publish my "official" estimate sometime mid-March. By the end of this week temperatures are supposed to warm up and we could see a LOT of water heading down river to Great Salt Lake. For boats with 5 foot draft or less that want to go back in the water, I feel it is very unlikely that you would have to pull out next fall. Pre-dredging work is going well. D dock is disassembled and they are now working on E dock. Pipe and dredging equipment should show up soon. As stated earlier, Crane day is scheduled for April 6th. We will have some more crane days later in the year but I will not start scheduling those until we see the impact dredging will have on getting more boats in the water. With the lake level looking the way it is I think I feel comfortable allowing the 5 foot drafts or less go back into the marina. So if you want to go back in on April 6 and are not on the crane list please let me know ASAP. On another note, once dredging is completed and we know how successful dredging is we will need to start getting all boats back into the water or removed from the parking lot. We need to get the parking lot back open. So please start contemplating getting your boats (and trailers) ready for the water again. I see the Yacht Club is also anticipating good water levels and has started planning activities again with their first social being the St. Patty's Social on Saturday, March 18th around 4:30pm. After two very depressing years this marina may just become alive with activity again. One more important note for those that are planning on sailing this spring. Remember that, even though many of you have not been on your boats in the last two years (like me), the reef is still very much there. Avoid the reef by staying in the Deep Channel and following the Saltair Rule. SALTAIR RULE = "If you can see the east side of Saltair you know you are on I-80 heading for the lake. If you can see the south side of Saltair you know you are in the marina. If you can see the west side of Saltair you know you are on the lake. If you can see the north side of Saltair you know you are aground on the reef waiting for a tow off." Dave Shearer Harbor Master Great Salt Lake State Marina Antelope Island State Marina 801-209-9142
