Marina News
September 4th, 2008
Great Salt Lake Marina
Current Conditions
Lake Level: 4194.3
Lake Level Trend: Dropping
¯
Lake Level This Time Last Year:
4195.5
Loss from Last Year:
1.2 feet
Water Temperature 72°
Hypothermia Index
Exhaustion: 3 to
12 hrs / Death: 3 hrs to indef.
Current Flows
Bear -> No Flow - Dry / Weber -> low / Jordan
Goggins -> Low
Marina Mouth - Hazard and Hazard
Buoy
Some of the deeper draft boats have
found a new hazard just outside the marina mouth. This is a large boulder
that have caused some boats to come to a very abrupt stop even though their crew
and loose objects in the boat may not stop. We have placed a warning buoy
on this rock. Keep clear of the buoy. We will attempt to remove this
rock in the next few days. If there is anyone with diving experience that
would like to help, please contact me at gslharbormaster@hughes.net
Some Good News - Congress Kills EPA
permit
Many of you have anxiously been
watching the all the ruckus and fallout from the U.S. District Court ruling that
the nation's 17 million recreational boats fall under Clean Water Act permit
requirements administered by the EPA. This would require the owners of all
vessels to acquire a discharge permit for their boats. No matter what the
size or type of boat, you would have needed a permit even for the
discharge of rain water from the deck of your boat. Well, the U.S.
Congress actually did something this year. On July 22nd Congress passed
the Clean Boating Act of 2008. One week later President Bush signed the
bill into law. This permanently exempted recreational boats from discharge
permit requirements under the federal Clean Water Act. This act was
originally meant to apply to ocean-oing commercial vessels and industrial
dischargers. Not recreational boaters. This should be the end of
this situation.
More Good News - Barn Swallows and
Bank Swallows
What happened this year? Where
are the Barn and Bank Swallows that inundate our boats every August? They
certainly came through Antelope Island Marina with a vengeance. I'm
guessing by this point that we have dodged this bullet.
Hopefully Some Good
News
Governor Huntsman was out here last
week for a tour of the lake and to sign the Great Salt Lake Commission
Act. The purpose of this commission is to advise the Governor on managing
"Utah's iconic water wonder for generations to come". "The Great Salt Lake
Council is a unique collection of people who now need to chart a course for how
to best utilize all the features of the lake." There are 12 council
members representing such organizations as the Nature Conservancy, the Salt Lake
City planning office, the South Davis County sewer district, the brine-shrimp
industry and the Kaysville Mayor. I was disappointed though not to
see anyone from the recreation side on this council. Many recreation
enthusiasts use this lake including the sailors, kayakers, scullers, duck
hunters, etc. If you have an in at the Governor's office or know someone
on the council, you may want to express your recreational
interests.
This commission has four months to make
their initial report. This should be sometime in January right when the
legislature is depating our future and we are anxiously watching the snowpack
and run-off for a new season. Hope for the best.
Duck Hunting
Duck Hunting season is fast
approaching. It is scheduled to begin this October 4th and runs into
January 2009. Of course, this means early morning noise from air boats,
shot gun blasts, etc. And it means boats, not designed for Great Salt Lake
conditions, will be plying our waterways just when the frontal season begins and
the water temperature reaches dangerous levels. Duck Hunting is a legal
sport and is just another aspect of recreating at Great Salt Lake. Yet, if
you see one of these boats going out when conditions may be dangerous to safe
boating, you may want to say "hi" and give them a gentle warning.
Brine Shrimp Season
Brine Shrimping is also nearly upon
us. Their season begins October 1st and runs through January. This
will mean an increase of boating traffic on the lake. Most shrimping
groups operate in a three boat team. There is a speed boat which will mark
a slick, a small runabout which controls the collection boom and a harvest boat
which sucks up, stores and transports the eggs to harvesting sites
(marina's). Please keep some distance of the harvesting team as not to
disturb their collection process. We are working very hard this fall to
educate the Shrimpers to the recreational boaters unique needs. This
includes staying off the race course, keeping clear and not blocking the Deep
Channel or marina mouths, and understanding limitations of our
navigation.
Boat Insurance
Under current Utah law, liability
insurance is required for any boat that has a 50 horse power motor or
greater. This means most of the boats that utilize Great Salt Lake are not
required to have liability insurance. Yet, this is a concern we have when
it comes to our slip renters. There may become a time, in the very near
future, that if you are a slip renter you will be required to have liability
insurance.
I have full coverage on all my
boats. And this coverage is quite reasonable. I pay $200.00 per year
for my most expensive boat. I bring this up for a reason. Of the
last several incidents we have had at Great Salt Lake that involved boating
accidents or damage to boats, none of these people had insurance. The most
recent one was this last Labor Day weekend when a new boater took his newly
purchased boat out for its and his maiden voyage. Lets just forget for a
moment that he was warned by me, the harbormaster, and others not to go out due
to a pending storm. Lets also forget that the "Hurricane Force"
flags were clearly displayed. And lets also forget that this boat owner
ignored all warnings and went sailing anyway. This boat owner was treated
to classic Great Salt Lake where she loves new sailors and maiden voyages so
that she can let them know who is boss out here. This boat owner, with no
insurance, was driven up on the beach from 60mph winds and large waves.
His keel broke and punched up into the boat. His newly purchased $4,000.00
boat was now a worthless piece of fiberglass and lead laying high-and-dry on the
beach next to the marina.
Full coverage is very reasonable and,
considering the winds at Great Salt Lake, it may come in handy even if your boat
never leaves its slip. And to be a good slip neighbor, please have
liability insurance at a minimum.
Water Shut-off to the
Docks
With the approaching fall, temperatures
will begin to drop. It won't be much longer before we have to turn the
water off to the docks. Right now this is scheduled for the third week of
October. But if we see an early cold spell we will turn the water off
before the scheduled date.
Fuel Storage on the
Docks
This last storm just emphasized a
problem we have with people storing fuel and fuel containers on the dock.
This Labor Day weekend we had several containers blown into the lake spilling
gas and diesel into the marina. These containers then washed up onto the
breakwater. It is a violation of marina policy and your contract to store
fuel and containers on the dock. In fact, it is a violation to store anything on
the dock unless it is in your dock box. We have been lax on this policy in
the past. We will continue to be lax in regards to various non-nuisance
objects that are stored on the dock. But this will no longer be the case with
fuel containers, batteries, or other hazardous objects. If you have any of
these objects on the dock, remove them before the end of the weekend. The
marina staff and volunteers will be walking the docks after that date. Any
fuel container, battery or other hazardous object left on the dock WILL BE
REMOVED and disposed of. Fuel containers must be securely stored in your
boat.
Skunk
We have a few skunks that have taken up
residence at the marina. These skunks are nocturnal and usually only
wander around at night but Taz has had encounters during the day too. And
these skunks are right in the main path that humans use too. Their
favorite place to wander is between Secured Dry Storage and 'I' dock (basically
the whole south parking lot). Taz has a talent for finding these
skunks. I'm sure, from a distance, that they look like "Newport" to her
and she just wants to play. But these skunks play by different rules that
Taz doesn't understand yet. Watch yourself and your pets.
Parking Pass
Stickers
Thank you, for using your parking
stickers. The rangers are now enforcing the entrance rule and have been
citing or warning vehicles that have not properly displayed these
stickers. And, in the last few rescues we have had at the lake, these
stickers have proved a very valuable tool. It has allowed us to identify
vehicles belonging to regular boaters and vehicles that are transient
boaters. It has speeded up identification and helped confirm launch sites
of a vessel or person that has been reported missing. Again, thank you,
for using your stickers.
Parking Lot Light Pole
Removal
We have begun removing the parking lot
light poles. These poles have proven to be a nuisance as many vehicles
each year seem to either not see them or cannot negotiate around an 18"
diameter, 30' pole in the parking lot. Instead we have turned the
gangway lights around and have faced them into the parking lot. The
parking lot is not as bright as it used to be at night but it appears to be
adequate. The removal of these poles should also help on those crowded
summer weekends. The last poles should be gone by early
October.
Start Thinking About A
Trailer
Obviously this year was quite cruel
when it came to precipitation. We were only 60% of normal since January
1st and this certainly had an impact on the lake level. Everything we
gained since the disastrous year of 2004 has been lost again. 2005 was a
crutial year. Withouth its moisture we would have been faced with the
choice of mothballing the marina. Well, we are there again. If we do
not get at least a normal water year this coming winter, or we do not see
significant money from the legislature to dredge the whole marina, we could be
faced with evicting our slip renters and mothballing the place. We
certainly don't want this to happen. We have done everything within ours
and Parks budgets to keep on top of these low water years. But we are at
that cruitial time where it is either in nature's or the legislatures hands
now.
Start thinking about next summer.
What will you do with your boat if we have another disastrous water year.
Do you have a trailer? Do you have jack stands? Do you have a cradle? I
have been informed by the powers above that you should consider these
possibilities.
Now, this does not mean that we must
make these decisions now. The lake will come up at least some this
spring. But start putting your thoughts to a backup plan.
Upcoming Crane Day and Mast Dropping
Party (this has nothing to do with the above news. It is just the
annual last crane day of the year)
November 1st is the last scheduled
crane day of the year. This is a Sunday. On October 25th, we
will have a mast-dropping party. We will utilize the new mast hoist to
drop masts so that we can save money on Crane Day. Let's get together,
help eachother and get this job done quickly. A detailed announcement will
follow within the next few weeks. Oh, Parks will also host a crock-pot
lunch cook-off during the mast dropping party. Dust off your favorite
crock recipes.
Antelope Island Balloon
Stampede
Antelope Island will again host the
Balloon Stampede this September 19th and 20th. Over 20 balloons have
already entered this event. Many vendors will also attend. This
should prove to be a colorful and great family friendly venue. Put this on
your schedule. Maybe we can plan a group trip to the island to participate
fro the day or the weekend.
Low Water Boil
Social
Great Salt Lake Yacht Club will be
hosting a social Saturday, September 20 at 5pm. Come and enjoy the end of
summer with a Low Country Boil. Bring your favorite side dish or
deert. Bring your favorite beverage. All are welcome. There is
a minimal $5.00 fee for non Yacht Club members. RSVP with Jack Gray at
801-824-6059 or Suzan Caffin at 435-731-1261 More information can be found
at www.gslyc.org
Upcoming Events
September and Octobe are very busy
months for Great Salt Lake and Antelope Island. Below is a list of events
scheduled during these months.
Sept. 7
Antelope Island Row
hosted by Great Salt Lake Row
Sept.
13-14 Fall Regatta #1 hosted by Great
Salt Lake Yacht Club
Sept. 17
"Bonneville" Christening hosted by
Great Salt Lake Ecosystem Project. Come and join in to help christen this new
boat on Great Salt Lake
Sept. 20
Low Water Boil hosted by Great Salt
Lake Yacht Club. See above for more info.
Sept 20-21
Equinox Crystal Bay Cruise hosted by Great Salt Lake Yacht
Club. See www.gslyc.org
Sept. 23
Concert at Saltair. Traffic may be
congested on exit 104
Sept. 25
Head of GSL hosted by Utah
Crew
Sept.
25 Brine
Shrimp Safety Meeting at Great Salt Lake Marina. Parking may be crowded
this day. Marina facilities are all rented out.
Sept. 25
Concert at Saltair. Traffic may be
congested on exit 104
Sept. 27
Commodore's Cup hosted by Great Salt Lake
Yacht Club. visit www.gslyc.org
Sept. 27
Free Parks Day. All State Parks are
free entry this day (except Davis Causeway fee)
Sept. 28
Concert at Saltair. Traffic may be
congested on exit 104
Oct. 3
Concert at Saltair.
Traffic may be congested on exit 104
Oct. 4
Duck Hunting Begins at
Great Salt Lake
Oct. 8
Concert at Saltair.
Traffic may be congested on exit 104
Oct. 11-12
Fall Regatta #2 hosted by Great Salt Lake Yacht Club. visit
www.gslyc.org
Oct.
15 Concert
at Saltair. Traffic may be congested on exit 104
Oct.
18-19 Fall Regatta Make-up hosted by
Great Salt Lake Yacht Club. visit www.gslyc.org
Oct.
25 End
of Season hosted by Great Salt Lake Row. visit www.gslr.org
Oct. 25
Pumpkin Patch Regatta and Raft-up
hosted by Great Salt Lake Yacht Club. Visit www.gslyc.org
Oct.
26 Mast
Drop party and Crock-Pot Lunch Cook-off hosted by Great Salt Lake State
Marina
Oct. 27
Water to docks, pump-a-head
winterized. This date may be moved up earlier if we have an early cold
spell.
As you can see, even if your boat is
stuck in the marina, there is plenty of life and things to do at Great Salt
Lake.
If I missed your event I am
sorry. Please send me the information so I can include it in next weeks
newsletter.
Dave Shearer
Harbormaster
Great Salt Lake
Marina
Have you checked your docklines
lately?