"Give us fast ships, for we intend to go in harm's way."
John Paul Jones
last update March 21, 2007
Notice to Mariners, 1st District Download past and current editions
Small Harbor Chartlets
Harwich Harbormaster Useful Waypoints
Efforts to dredge Saquatucket Harbor channel, and other small harbor projects, by the US Army Corps have been thwarted for this season as monies have been diverted toward the needs of financing the War in Iraq. In the meantime, the Town received monies from several neighbors to remove an annoying "speed bump", a sand bar north of Nun '2', restoring the 6 ' operating depth throughout the channel for now, under emergency action. This also provided 1000 cubic yards of sand on Neel Road public beach. Further, the Town is reinventing its permit to allow full dredging in this important channel and place material at Red River using the County Dredge. We are hopeful this can take place by fall of 2007.
Allen Harbor channel was dredged by the CODFISH during the first weeks of June 2007. This work removed a huge entrance bar beginning to plug the channel at the jetties and provided more than 8,000 yards quality sand which bolster Grey Neck Rd Beach (2000 cu.yds), Earle Road Beach (1200 cy), Cottage Ave and Hiawatha Ave (2200 cy), Wah Wah Taysee public beach (1600 cy), and trucked 5,000 cubic yards to Red River Beach. See videos
Allen Harbor channel markers (seasonal aids) are in the water (May 1, 2007). The channel is reported working well with post dredge depth exceeding 7' for most of channel. The west breakwater was repainted (6/22/07) and is now solid green color. The "tower light" (Grn Qk Fl) remains functional.
Herring River channel markers (seasonal aids) back in as well and watching properly (6/1/07). Jetty tower light (Grn Fl 4s) is lit and functional throughout the year.
All Mariners are reminded, all channels in Harwich are posted 5-MPH spedd limit areas which means NO WAKE.
Swim Area Markers are being installed for the season (June 25, 2007) from Divion Street to Red River. Mariners are cautioned that the operation of motorboats within these perimeter marker extremely cautious. State Law prohibits the operation of any motorboat within 150' of a swimming beach either public or private.
Bell '3' is on station (6/25/07).
Under Water Cable Warning , Nantucket Electric reports the underwater power cable from Grey Neck Road, West Harwich to Nantucket Island may becoming unburied. There are two shallow spots found one mile off Harwich from N41 39.0350', W70 005.9859 to N41 39.1503, W70 05.9849. There is another shallow cable spot at four miles off Harwich at N41° 36.2202, W70° 05.9859 to N41° 36.3519, W70° 06.0674. The cable was buried at eight feet throughout its length but the seafloor covering is less than three feet now in these reported areas. Mariners particularly quahog draggers should avoid fishing anywhere near this line. For more info contact Dave Campilli 508-421-7666.
All Fish Traps off Harwich Port have been pulled for the season (June 25, 2006). When established (March thru June) Mariners are warned to proceed with caution on their approach to the "Port".
Waypoints defining the relative position of all the Harwich weirs and fishing traps can be found on our waypoint list.
The Harwich Harbormasters Office will attempt to keep this local page
updated with important information concerning the use of the Harwich
channels in Harwich Port and Pleasant Bay.
Allen Harbor Channel Dredged The County Dredge, CODFISH, was used to maintenance dredge the entrance channel of Allen Harbor (November 2004). This time 12,000 cubic yards of sand was used in its entirety as beach fill for sand-starved beaches beginning at Wah-Wah Taysee Road and moving east.
The channels are being
maintained and the beaches are being replenished. Dredge permits require constant adjustment a red tape nightmare to remain valid.
Pleasant Bay Rocks Marked 6/18/03 - During the warm season two submerged rocks in Pleasant Bay that have been sources of complaint and will be normally marked (summer only): Rock off McClennan's House Harwich/Orleans Townline coordinates N 41-43.716', W 069-59.454'; Rock(s) off Nickerson Neck coordinates N 41-43.317', W 069-58.514'. These rocks are completely submerged or prove dangerous at covering tide, etc. Mariners beware!
Herring River Lower County Road Bridge Construction Completed
Direct questions about the Lower County Bridge to: Borgesi, Joseph - Engineering.................................... jborgesi@town.harwich.ma.us Saquatucket Harbor Channel, Harwich Port.
Saquatucket entrance channel last dredged
July 2002, Has been watching fine in all areas carrying the required 6' MLW depth to within breakwater. Saquatucket West Breakwater Red Flasher and Tower is now clear of a huge stick nest covering by nesting pair of osprey. The nest blew off the Tower in a heavy January storm in 2004. The Harbormaster reported the situation to the National Wildlife Refuge. The pair seems to have taken up residency in the beach bluff on the west side of Wychmere Harbor. The pair have been seen frequenting Saquatucket Basin and along Bank Street beach all summer.
Allen Harbor West Breakwater Tower a seasonal aid flasher light will continue through winter as an assist for fishermen. We'll see how the solar powered device goes with the shorter days ahead.
Herring River channel markers will be removed for the winter after Thanksgiving and are planned back on station by April 15th. Light tower on the west breakwater seasonal flasher light will be removed for the winter after thanksgiving and relit by April 15th.
Pleasant By, Round Cove channel markers will be removed for the winter after thanksgiving and are planned back on station by April 15th. Channel is reported narrowing and mariners are caution to proceed carefully while transiting.
Please visit the Harbormaster webpage, you won't be disappointed!
A story of obstruction near Saquatucket Channel removed Here was another story of obstruction near near Allen Channel removed The Harbormaster was summoned and Assistant Harbormaster Heinz Proft dove to find the object which was really a
weed covered 500 lbs piece of iron dredge pipe with a large welded support bracket (a spud well). Just the
top of the pipe was showing. The object was removed using COMMANDER and Bradbury using the county
work skiff. Then check this out, the following Monday another hunk of old steel a 5' diameter
dredge buoy was snagged
at nearly the same site by the cutter head stopping the COD FISH dead in its tracks. These pieces were apparently
lost and left on bottom by a private dredge contractor Hydrodredge Company since the project in 1988 when 37,000 cu.yards
was dredged in a State funded project. It's a wonder more vessels did not report stikes, beyond
the three this summer! Round Cove Channel, East Harwich Herring River Entrance Channel, West Harwich. This diminutive channel is shoal and should not be attempted by
vessels of more than 3.5 feet draft at MLW. The entrance can'1' is located at position N 41-39.148, W 070-03.872.
The other entrance buoys (2-6) are seasonal aids and were removed along with the breakwater light on October 20.
The river has a swift current and mariners should proceed with caution and be mindful of thrill
seeking adult swimmers who (against the order of the Harbormaster) often swim the channel between the
breakwaters with the ebb/flood current . This dangerous practice, makes them a hazard for
unsuspecting boaters and sets bad example by tempting youngsters to do the same. The channel is of
course a 5 mph (no wake) zone and boats should be going slow. But bathers should not count on this.
Herring River in its entirety is off limits to all personal watercraft which carries a $200 fine enforceable
by Police Department as well as Harbormaster.
Shoreside, South Harwich, Harwich Port, West Harwich, Pleasant Bay
45 swimming area & regulatory buoys will be deployed by June 15th - September 15th. Operation of all motor boats and personal watercraft entering within these bouys shall operate at headway speed only.
Long Pond, Pleasant Lake, Harwich
46 swimming area regulatory buoys will be deployed after Memorial Day - September 15th on the Harwich side of the Lake these are placed at 200-250' intervals at 150 feet from shore along pond. Operation of all motor boats and personal watercraft entering within these bouys shall operate at headway speed only.
Further from CMR 323 (2.07) Motorboats (including PWC's) shall not be operated:
Under investigationThis office has denied a request for an upgraded waterski course set up in the eastern half of Long Pond.
WARNING ABOUT COAST GUARD MOORING BLOCKS
Mariners are cautioned while operating close by aids to navigation. All channel markers in the Saquatucket Entrance Channel are secured to 2000 lbs. cement blocks. these are 4x4x3. The tops of these sinkers hover above bottom while the chain scope is 30'. This means the marker can be watching a boat length or more distance from the mooring block.
The depth of water over the sinker at N '4' is 5' 0" MLW. The depth of water over the 'W' Junction Can is 7' MLW. Exception N'2' is secured with Dorr-Mor sub-bottom anchor watching on 15" chain.
Just to show we stay on top of things: this is the large object that was discovered and removed from Allen
Channel near nun '6' in November 1998.
June 2nd, 1999 a large heavy mooring block was removed from the Saquatucket entrance channel. The 2000 lb. concrete block was located by Woods Hole Diver 30' west of Nun '2' and towed to deep water in the outer harbor mooring field using COMMANDER.
The object was the subject of a strike by CHINOOK a Sabre 34 with 6.5' draft. The owner insisted he had struck a hard object puting a ding in the lead keel and not simply run aground.
Coast Guard records showed the mooring block had never been recovered and was listed missing since 1994.
(story left here to keep a boring page interesting)
In 1998 the object at the Allen Harbor Channel that was
plagueing boaters was discovered and cleared,(November 1998).
Something solid was reported way back on July 19, 1998. However, three
separate reconaisance dives came up empty. Then last November with clear water Steve
Bradbury of the County dredge CODFISH happened over what looked like a boulder showing above
the bottom, along the east side of the channel near N'6'.
(story left here to keep a boring page interesting)
Round Cove channel was last dredged by the County Dredge in a project
completed in January 2007 in time to miss dredge closure windows in Pleasant Bay for winter flounder spawning. The Conservation Commission has altered the Order of Conditions placing the sand from
the project above the mean low water mark on the barrier beach protecting Round Cove. Steps to preserve this material on the beach are to be taken by the Wequassett Inn.