June 2024 - GSL-Marina - mailman.xmission.com

Marina Mouth
by Dave Shearer 01 Jul '24

01 Jul '24

Many people know that there is a lot of silt that has built up in the marina mouth. This happened two weeks ago when we had an unusually strong northerly front pass over the marina. The mouth, which should be nearly 6 feet deep filled in with 2 to 3 feet of silt trapping many boats in the marina. This is unfortunate and has impeded many from getting out. I have been working on dredging this marina now for nearly 20 years. It isn't a simple process. There are many laws, rules and regulations involved. There are many state agencies that get involved in the permitting process. And then there is the US Army Corp of Engineers that also has to sign off on any efforts and plans to dredge. This can make the process very slow. Dredging is not as simple as hiring a long-reach excavator. When we dredged in 2008 we used two long-reach excavators. But they weren't able to reach out far enough to effectively dredge the mouth. We also had to hire a barge to put the excavators on. Material was removed from the mouth and put on the barge. Then the barge was brought over to the breakwall where the material was removed. This was AFTER Army Corp of Engineers signed off on the project. And it cost a significant amount of money. In 2017 we dredged again. And this was after four years of finding money, working with agencies for permitting, getting sign-off from Army Corp of engineers, hiring a company and then dredging. Four years. To not go through this process will lead to potential jail time and THOUSANDS of dollars of fines . . . per day! Four years ago, with efforts from the State and Federal governments, money was found for dredging after we saw the lake dropping again. For four years, the powers-that-be have been meeting regularly going through the process that needs to happen in order to dredge. While we were going through the process the United States Supreme Court came down with a significant ruling that had an impact on the dredging project. Although the ruling gave us many more options for dredging, it took some time for Army Corp of Engineers to understand the ruling and re-write their rules. My understanding is that we are very far along in the dredging permitting process. Hopefully we will not have to wait much longer. I have been trying to get some short-term solutions but most of those short-term solutions that we have used in the past are no longer available to us or won't be available to us for a year. That has left me trying some other ideas with some success. The point here is that dredging is not a simple solution that we can hire a long-reach excavator and throw the spoils up on the breakwall or put it back in the lake somewhere else. We can't. I'm so sorry that we are in this situation from that wind storm. We have been working on dredging for four years and will continue to work on it until we start dredging. I will keep you posted when I know something more concrete. Dave

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Marina Mouth Silting
by Dave Shearer 24 Jun '24

24 Jun '24

We should have six feet of water in the mouth right now. But the last three storms brought strong north winds and current. It appears this has caused substantial silting in the mouth. I will be going out and doing soundings tomorrow but I know several boats having trouble getting out if they have drafts of 4 feet or more. I will let you know what I found. I'm not sure what we can do in the short term but State Lands is still planning on dredging here soon. The last time table I heard was late summer to early Fall. Again, I will keep you posted. Dave

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Boating Clinic
by Dave Shearer 20 Jun '24

20 Jun '24

Is your outboard a mystery to you? Estranged from it? Come learn more about your auxiliary motor at Great Salt Lake Emergency Response Team's continuing education program, Saturday, July 13th 10am at Great Salt Lake Marina. Saturday, July 13th at 10am. Other subjects will be weather prediction on the lake and safe fire extinguisher use. Please RSVP. Dave

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Phil Lord Obituary
by Dave Shearer 19 Jun '24

19 Jun '24

Here is the obituary for Phil Lord. He had a boat at Great Salt Lake for several years: Phillip Lord Obituary - Salt Lake City, UT (neptunesociety.com)<https://neptunesociety.com/obituaries/salt-lake-city-ut/phillip-lord-118487…>

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KEEP DOCK GATES LOCKED!
by Dave Shearer 16 Jun '24

16 Jun '24

KEEP DOCK GATES LOCKED! It's been a while since we had this many boats back in the marina. Slip renters, now that we have nearly 100 back in the marina, have different expectations. Some have no problem with gates being left open. Others absolutely want gates closed and secured at all times. Over the last several months I have had MULTIPLE complaints about gates being left open. I have observed tourists going down these docks, when the gates are open, and actually climb on slip renters' boats; mostly for photo opportunities. I really don't like getting complaints about such a simple matter. But if you are renting a slip on B through K dock, you are renting a slip on a dock that is meant to be secured. Every slip renter has an obligation to fellow slip renters to keep the gate locked and secured. I know there are some people that just don't care about the gate being locked. I have plenty of slips on L dock for those that don't want the inconvenience of securing the dock. Otherwise please help out and KEEP THE GATES LOCKED AND SECURED. Thanks Dave

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WIND WARNING
by Dave Shearer 13 Jun '24

13 Jun '24

Looking at the charts this morning, we may be in for very strong winds Monday-Tuesday of next week. It is still too early to tell how accurate this chart is but please make sure all of your personal property is secured at Great Salt Lake Mariana. Check your sails, sail covers, dock lines, etc. Dave

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SAD NEWS
by Dave Shearer 09 Jun '24

09 Jun '24

Sad news. Phil Lord, a long-time slip renter on J dock died June 4th after a battle with Cancer. He had a Lancer 25 on J dock named Knot a Care. He will be missed. Dave

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Mast Hoist
by Dave Shearer 09 Jun '24

09 Jun '24

I don't want to sound like I'm chewing people out today. But when you use the mast hoist, make sure to properly secure it afterwards. Secure the hook to the piling. Tie the chain back up. Too many times, including yesterday, we have found the hook and chain just dangling in the air, not secured. When the wind comes up the chain and hook swing around and causes damage or jams the system up. It could even cause injury. Thanks Dave

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RESCUE ONE SLIP
by Dave Shearer 09 Jun '24

09 Jun '24

I'm surprised I need to write this email. But let me make it very clear. The slip for Rescue One is for Rescue One ONLY. It is not for putting masts up. When Rescue One is on the water we leave the dock lines on the dock. These lines are adjusted for Rescue One. They are NOT public lines to do as one pleases with their own boats. Consider this . . . what if we were out rescuing someone that was injured and Rescue One comes back to its slip to transfer an injured person to an ambulance only to find a mast dangling above a boat in Rescue One's slip. Do not use Rescue One's slip for any reason. And the half slip to the south of Rescue One is for Rescue Four. And the dock lines are adjusted for those boats. They are NOT public. Thank you Dave

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The split cruise
by Rich Weyland 07 Jun '24

07 Jun '24

I would like to rsvp for the cruise this weekend i will have 4 people onboard my boat

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