Docks, Depths & Navigation Tips for Pier 33 & St. Joseph Boaters

April showers bring better … Lake levels. And the river rises!

Those are all good things for us right now. Although it’s easier to get a boat ready in dry weather, a wet April is helping the region and, if I remember correctly that was something we really missed in 2012. According to the USACE Weekly Great Lakes Levels report, we have now received 180% of ordinary April precipitation. See more info on that below.

At Pier 33, we’re just about half-way through our spring launch schedule right now and this is an opportune time to bring our Pier 33 boaters and others from around the area up to date on what we’ve been doing here.

• We’ve completed our dock lowering project. All docks have been lowered to accommodate a drop in Lake/Channel level from the 2012 season. This will make boarding easier for most boaters and also brings the protective pilings down closer to the water-level to help prevent slide-unders and fiberglass damage.

• As mentioned in our previous blog, we performed a professionally engineered survey of the key portion of Morrison Channel extending through Pier 33’s property straddling both sides of the Channel. The results of that survey showed that there was no current need to dredge through our property. We had a substantial investment in 2012 dredging that was critical to maintaining the Channel for 2012 and now benefits us for 2013 as well. The survey map, super-sized for easy reading, is on display at our office. I can e-mail a copy of that map to you: Click Here to Request.

• We have set a marker system on shore that will allow us to publish changes in the Channel throughout the season. We’ll do that thru Twitter on a daily or weekly basis so that boaters can compare depths shown on the March Channel survey and add (hopefully!) for the rise in Lake & Channel levels that we should see occur during the season.

Pier 33 continues to support the County’s efforts to provide emergency relief to areas around Morrison Channel, Marina Island and the St. Joseph River. At latest update, the County’s permit request thru Michigan DEQ and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is not yet fully approved, but final steps are in process and that should be ready shortly. The County plans have now essentially been divided into two phases – an emergency area that will clear critical paths around the island and a broader approach later to open-up more recreational areas for safer navigation. To see the County’s proposed map: Click Here to Request.

We have also created a video update of local conditions here at Pier 33. Please watch the video for this extra information.

For area boaters, please be extra cautious in Morrison Channel once you have passed up-river of Clementine’s and Pier 33’s docks. There is not enough depth for most boats on the Clementine’s/Boathouse side of the Channel once you are upriver of our (white steel) docks. At our gas dock, our permitted dredging area only extends about halfway across the Channel and, although I have not yet plotted it, there are very shallow areas restricting access in Morrison Channel up river of the gas dock. You likely can’t exit the Channel going up river until the County clears the way. More updates on that area when the next blog posts in a week or two.

Again, the area from our gas dock (on our side of the Channel) and then extending through Pier 33’s docks and on out to Lake Michigan is fully navigable at this time for our boaters.

Today's Weekly Report from the USACE Detroit District had great news regarding rising Lake Levels:


"April 19, 2013
WEATHER CONDITIONS
Heavy precipitation has fallen across the Great Lakes basin this week. To date in April, the overall Great Lakes basin has received over 150% of average precipitation, while the Lake Michigan-Huron basin has received 180% of average. Temperatures were above average early in the week but are expected to plummet below average heading into the weekend. Precipitation is expected to continue into Saturday for many areas, with some receiving a mix of precipitation or snow. Expect temperatures to rise back to near seasonal averages on Sunday or Monday. Some scattered showers are possible early next week.
LAKE LEVEL CONDITIONS
The water levels of Lakes Superior and Michigan-Huron are 4 and 10 inches, respectively, lower than
their levels of a year ago. Lakes St. Clair, Erie, and Ontario are 5, 7, and 5 inches, respectively, lower than at this time last year. Over the next month, Lakes Superior and Michigan-Huron are both forecasted to rise 3 inches. The water level of Lake St. Clair is expected to remain near its current level while Lakes Erie and Ontario are projected to rise 2 and 4 inches, respectively, over the next thirty days."

So, we are indeed playing a little catch-up.

You can locate and subscribe to that same weekly report at this link:

http://www.lre.usace.army.mil/Missions/GreatLakesInformation/GreatLakesWaterLevels/WaterLevelForecast/WeeklyGreatLakesWaterLevels.aspx

If you have comments, or tips regarding navigating around the Channel, Island and River, please feel welcome to share them here.

Boat safely and enjoy the coming spring!