Who Pulled the Drain Plug?

[Trojan]

Lake Erie levels are controlled by Niagara Falls hydro plant. I don't know how much the levels of Erie effect the Detroit river levels. The river flow is slowed sum when Eries level is up. I don't know what controls the other lake levels. Probably YWillie's locks (the carp stoppers)help control on the other end.

Bill

 

[ppat324]

Icebreakers arrive for St. Clair River break out

2/22 - Port Huron, Mich. – U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Bristol Bay out of Detroit was expected to join other icebreaking ships in the St. Clair River later Sunday, but that is no longer part of the plan, said Gene Davis, a civilian speaking on behalf of the US Coast Guard Sector Detroit.

Instead, the USCG cutters Mobile Bay out of Sturgeon Bay, Wis., and Neah Bay out of Cleveland, Ohio, will be arriving in the St. Clair River overnight, Davis said. Neah Bay departed Cleveland about 6 p.m. Sunday.

Monday, they will assist Mackinaw and Canadian Coast Guard ship Samuel Risley. Mackinaw arrived at the St. Clair River Sunday afternoon and went right to work breaking ice with the Risley for the tug Everlast and barge on the upper St. Clair River near Stag Island.

The Port Huron-based Hollyhock departed her dock and was upbound on Lake Huron Sunday afternoon for an unknown destination.

Risley stopped for the night at Algonac and Mackinaw at the Recor Edison power plant.

Unusually low water levels caused by the ice jam are inflicting thousands of dollars of damage to marinas on Lake St. Clair.

MacRay Harbor President Steve Remais tells The Detroit News that the area has lost 30 inches of water within a 10-day period due to the ice jams. He says the harbor’s docks, on Lake St. Clair, have sustained a lot of damage and that the total damages could top $100,000.

Remais says the damage occurred because the ramp part of the dock is attached to the dock and the seawall. As the water drops rapidly, it causes the ramp to pull away from the seawall.

Ice jams have left Lake St. Clair’s water level 30 inches lower than it was a year ago.

Port Huron Times Herald

 

[stormchaser]

Seems like those docks were poorly designed...we deal with 24-36" fluctuations ever...oh about 13 hours. haha...

 

[John Dickson]

I was at MacRay Harbor last nite. The floating docks have sustained quite a bit of damage as the water has dropped soo far the floating docks access ramps are hanging from the sea walls and the welds are breaking off. Next risk is the bottom portion of the sea walls blowing out due to low water pressure. My vessel is in the water inside and I now step onto the aft deck roof to board from the dock. I am still floating, however the 70" Hatteras next to me is beginning to list. I estimate that I have approx. 12" water left beneath my fixed keel. HS!

 

[yachtsmanbill]

I was at MacRay Harbor last nite. The floating docks have sustained quite a bit of damage as the water has dropped soo far the floating docks access ramps are hanging from the sea walls and the welds are breaking off. Next risk is the bottom portion of the sea walls blowing out due to low water pressure. My vessel is in the water inside and I now step onto the aft deck roof to board from the dock. I am still floating, however the 70" Hatteras next to me is beginning to list. I estimate that I have approx. 12" water left beneath my fixed keel. HS!

I feel that this is a classic example of a natural disaster! Contact your congressmen(women). Lets see some of our tax dollars help the boaters and waterways. I dare everyone of you involved in this...i.e. that have yachts listing or sinking... CALL your Goverment , call the newspaper, just CALL ATTENTION to this. Don't let it slip away and you get hit in the pocket and maybe even lose your yacht. I am in Chicago area but I guarantee I will look into seeing if we can get National help for your area.
My prayers will be with each and everyone of you that are at risk. I do hope my Boatnerd articles have been of help. God be with you all....ppat

 

[mobilemn1]

quite frankly i don't see a ha ha moment in this ,i hope people affected get some help

 

[stormchaser]

I meant no offense...clearly their situation is not funny...but the fact that the docks there cant take a rise/lowering of the water that is normal for most of us...is a bit...well, not funny, not ironic...interesting...

 

[SKYCHENEY]

IMO, floating docks don't belong up here anyway. The only reason they are so popular now is because all of the go-fast boats need them to get on and off. Fixed docks work best in the lakes where water levels remain fairly stable. They also seem to weather the freeze cycle better.

Unfortunately, these folks have to deal with what they've got and it's sad to see a nice marina fall fate to this kind of destruction. Hopefully the ice breakers will provide some relief before more damage is done.

 

[mobilemn1]

a couple of months ago my boot stripe was at the top of the bulkbhead from all the rain we had, normally 4ft below. circumustances beyond our control do not rate incensitive statements

 

[TopHattandTails]

If the boat starts to list - put out extra bumpers and lines. If she lists then starts to fall away - your good, but the lines will have an enormous load on them - real long one's work best. You may want to loosen up some lines while she is still floating - that way you have some play as she grounds. Again, resting on the bottom is no big deal - resting against the dock or bulkhead could be... Likely she'll go down on the keel and into the mud - that will actually help keep her more level, than listing over. Its no fun seeing you're girl like this, but she'll be just fine! Went through it twice last summer. The real danger in these situations is the smaller boats that actually get stuck in the mud when the water comes back up - they end up filling up and staying on the bottom once the levels return. No need to worry about that with the Hatt. Good luck - and pictures make good conversation when everything's back to normal!

 

[DLCameron2]

Update: Water here is up about 6-8 inches and the ice breaking operations are just beginning. Going....Up!

DC

 

[mobilemn1]

great news for you guys

 

[yachtsmanbill]

Ice battle fought on St. Clair River

2/23 - Algonac, Mich. – Two ice cutters battled thick brash ice Monday in an attempt to clear the plugged St. Clair River and prevent flooding.

U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Galen Witham said this year’s long cold stretches resulted in the thick ice, the worst since the 1980s. The jammed river has resulted in a rise in water level along the river and canals, and a drop in water level in Lake St. Clair.

Witham said the drop in the lake causes damage to docks and marinas, which require the water pressure to hold up seawalls.

He said the cutters started operations in the area Monday morning. The efforts are expected to last three to four days.

The USCG Mackinaw and Canadian Coast Guard Ship Samuel Risley spent the day working the lower river with the Mackinaw concentrating on the North Channel. Risley departed upriver early afternoon and appeared to be heading to the tug Everlast docked in Sarnia.

Neah Bay arrived upbound about 4 p.m. and made several passes through the old South Channel before stopping for the night in Algonac. Mackinaw headed upriver at 4 p.m. for the Recor Edison dock for the night.

Risley returned downbound and stopped at the Lambton Generating Station for the night. Mobile Bay spent the day anchor above Lights 7 & 8 waiting for improved weather to head downbound to join in the ice breaking.

Witham said if operations continue past Thursday, the Canadian Griffon will join the fleet.

Witham said by the end on the day Monday, progress had been made on breaking the ice jam, with water flowing into Lake St. Clair.

Keith Kompoltowicz, a meteorologist with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Detroit, said there was a drop in water level in Lake St. Clair of about 20 inches since the beginning of the month. Kompoltowicz said levels in the lake started to increase during the weekend.

Water levels in the river near the city of St. Clair are up 15 to 18 inches, he said. The ferry to Harsens Island shut down Monday morning to make way for the cutters.

An airboat was scheduled to start making runs between the island and Algonac on Monday afternoon, according to a recording at Champion’s Auto Ferry.

The ferry may begin operations today depending on ice conditions, according to the recording.

Port Huron Times Herald

 

[DLCameron2]

Cool link to see the "good guys" in homeland security doing their thing:

http://www.thetimesherald.com/secti...air+River/46572736001/46412006001/67100148001

I am enroute to the boat tonight, hopefully I will see some results from their efforts!

DC