In 2005, the Association was informed that the yellow balls we had been placing as buoys to mark navigation hazards were not legal. Subsequently, the membership decided at the July 2 2005 meeting that the LWRA would no longer place them to avoid liablility. Since then, anonymous private individuals have taken it upon themselves to place markers at the hazards.
Bruce and Bill assisted with representatives from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans in surveying the sites. The DFO advised us as to the locations and types of bouys that could be placed legally. The costs were greater than the Association was able to bear.
Working with other area Lake Associations through the Huntsville Lakes Council, we lobbied the Town of Huntsville for assistance. After a year of testing prototypes and getting estimates, Huntsville agreed to supply buoys and related hardware to us. Under this agreement, the Town of Huntsville owns and insures the buoys and each respective Association is responsible for placing them in the spring in the specified co-ordinates and then retreiving them and storing them in the fall.
They have now been placed in Waseosa, and look like this:
(click image to enlarge)
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As mentioned above, these are lateral bouys meaning that they conform to international regulations and indicate the safe passage by current direction. The phrase "red, right, returning" reminds us that the red starboard bouys should be on our right hand side when we return upstream. The current (such as it is!) in Waseosa was determined to be primarily south to north:
(click image to enlarge)
That is, it flows from Jessop Lake north into Ripple Lake. So buoys on the east side of safe passage are port (green, flat topped) buoys and those on the west side of safe passage are starboard (red, conical topped) buoys. The buoys are unlit spar buoys, but are topped with a reflective band of the appropriate colour for visibility at night.
Just a reminder: it is a criminal offense to conceal, remove or tamper with a navigational buoy. (It is also an offense to tie up to a navigational buoy.) Duly authorized Association representatives will pick up and place them at the appropriate times and places.
Thanks to all those that have been a part of marking our hazards over the years. (Special mention of the Rhoads clan, who did it for the Association until we officially discontinued the practice) It's not much fun playing around cold water early in spring and late in the fall!!!