Here is the latest on Lake Level estimates, Dredging and the last scheduled Crane Day for the year. Union Pacific still plans to breach the railroad causeway on or near September 30th. I have finally heard from USGS on estimates of what they think the lake will drop based on this breach. Remember that the south half of the lake is 3.4 feet higher than the north half of the lake due to the water no longer flowing through the breach over at Lakepoint. Normally the two halves are only 1 foot difference during the summer months. USGS has estimated, based on the volume of the two halves, that the lake will drop about 1 foot due to the breaching of the causeway. We will also lose about another 1 foot to 1.4 feet of water due to evaporation. This will take our lake level down to about 4191.3' to 4191.5' sometime early to mid-November. This is roughly about a foot lower than the low last year as well as making a new historic low for Great Salt Lake. Dredging - There is no official word on dredging yet, but I am cautiously optimistic that we may begin dredging sometime early fall. But it is unlikely that the dredging will begin before the breach. And we do not know how much dredging we will get for the money we have. I should hopefully have some official word in the next few weeks. The lake is dropping and it is time to have another CRANE DAY before we cannot get boats to the crane-out area. We had to drag boats with a draft over 4.5' feet through the mud between J and K dock. If you want to pull your boats for the season now is the time to think about that. I am going out on a limb here but I think if you have a draft of 4' or under you may be ok riding out the low levels this fall. But I say this with a BIG caveat. If you have a draft of 4' or more your keels WILL be in the mud for a good portion of the fall until we begin to rise again this winter. You WILL be stuck in your slip. If you want to pull your boat this year the last scheduled crane day will be Thursday, August 4th. Please email me to get on the crane out list. If you plan on pulling your boat out on the launch ramp NOW is the time to do it. There is about 2.6 feet of water between the end of B dock and the launch ramp. Also there is only about 3.8 feet of water at the marina mouth now. I will email any news about dredging as soon as I get it. Dave Dave Shearer Harbor Master Great Salt Lake State Marina Antelope Island State Marina 801-209-9142
