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2023 Year End Report.pdf PO Box 4691 Chicopee Massachusetts 01014 PHONE EMAIL WEBSITE (413) 519-1091 Bill@pvmarine.net www.pvmarine.net PIONEER VALLEY MARINE SERVICES, LLC 10/08/2023 City of Northampton Planning and Sustainability Dept. 210 Main St Northampton, MA 01060 Attn: Sarah Lavalley 2023 Channel Marker End of Season Report 2023 was a particularly challenging year for the Channel Marker Program. Not only did the year start late due to funding and contract delays, but the season also saw a historic 30-year flood event that destroyed 32 of 51 markers. The addition of major equipment failures, reset activity, as well as a vandalism event that destroyed two replacement markers, saw the busiest and most labor-intensive year to date for the program. Given the ongoing funding challenges, and in the interest of fully explaining to the community partners, Channel Marker Committee, and the boating public of what really goes into executing this program, I kept a daily log of activity and events, and a full account of the 319 man- hours invested to date. I present this log for review as the year-end report. We look forward to rebuilding this program in 2024. Thank you for your consideration. Captain Bill Heyn Pioneer Valley Marine Services, LLC PO Box 4691 Chicopee Massachusetts 01014 PHONE EMAIL WEBSITE (413) 519-1091 bill@pvmarine.net www.pvmarine.net 2 Sat May 27 - 8 hrs (Bill) Pre-launch service work on GC. Service crane, inspect cable and lube crane. Change oil on generator. Re-wire rear bilge pump and verify operation. Replaced water pump, fuel filters, spark plugs, lower unit oil on outboard. Re-secure crane to deck and inspect mountings. Tighten all mounting bolts. Sat Jun 3 – 4 hrs (Bill, Nick, Jacob) Launch crane boat (GC). Pick up stands, blocks, and clean work area at Oxbow. Inspect GC for leaks, shakedown cruise in Oxbow. The generator set does not start, need to be repaired. Found leak in hull on Starboard side just forward of transom under battery mounting plate. Sun Jun 4 – 2 hrs (Bill) Marine-tex repair leak in hull. Inspect for further leaks. Tues Jun 6 – 6 hrs (Bill & Jacob) Repair genset that does not start. Found points corroded. Remove and replace points, condenser, and clean spark plugs. Start and test run and operate crane (ok). Clean front deck, scrub and remove remnants of last year’s work. Pressure wash vessel and crane. Jacob detailed and cleaned GC cabin for upcoming season and interview with Hampshire Gazette. Weds Jun 7 – 2 hrs (Bill) Interview and cruise with Hampshire Gazette reporters and Paul Nowak. Fri Jun 16 – (Bill) 2 hrs - “3A” base fractured during winter from freezing. Fabricate new light base and replace “3A” with old “7” barrel that was new in 2021 and discontinued in 2022. Sun Jun 18 – 6 hrs (Bill) Inventory chains and measure/ inspect lengths. Discard junk / worn chains and order new chains. Inspect markers and apply numbers to new replacement markers ordered in spring. Fabricate new light bases for “9”, and “2”, and affix new LED flashing marker lights. Replace battery for old “013” flashing green light. Mon Jun 19 – 9 hrs (Bill, Nick, Adam) Loaded pole markers and oxbow markers. Emplaced No Wake’s “H”, “I”, and “07”. Attach light and emplace “013” at oxbow marina entrance. The water was too high to emplace the remaining pole markers. Tues Jun 20 – 16 hrs (Bill, Jacob) Received contract documents from Northampton. Make repairs as needed to numerous markers, replace decals, etc. replace base on HA with good used, replace bolts and hardware as needed. Travel to Hardwick to pick up 270’ of new chain and shackles. PO Box 4691 Chicopee Massachusetts 01014 PHONE EMAIL WEBSITE (413) 519-1091 bill@pvmarine.net www.pvmarine.net 3 Weds Jun 21 - 2 hrs (Bill) Attempt to emplace “9” marker on Rockpile. The water level was too high and the flow too great to access the rockpile safely. Return to port. Fri Jun 23 - 18 hours (Bill, Bill Sr., Jay) Load and Emplace HG1-3, X, Y, W, 02, OB, E, and 3A. Sat Jun 24 - 28 hours (Bill, Jay, Nick, Adam) Load and emplace L, M, N, O, P, Q at Brunelle’s, and C, D, F, G at Rainbow Beach. Flow too high and fast to emplace 9 on rockpile again. Sun Jun 25 28 hours (Bill, Jay, Nick, Adam) Load and emplace South Hadley channel markers R, V, 4A, 3X, 3, 4, HA, 1B, 1A, 1, 2. 1B was waterlogged and flipped on side after emplacing. Recover. Mon Jun 26 - 3 hrs (Bill) “Y” No Wake at Mitch’s Marina sank. Anchor up and scuba recover sunken marker. Attach spare former “H” marker to chain. Found bung was tight but plug ½” pipe center knock -out ruptured and was missing allowing barrel to flood. Will Repair and re-emplace. Tues Jun 27 – Water levels rising and flow increasing due to rains up north in VT and NH. Operations to emplace the remaining Sportsman’s Marina and pole markers suspended until water levels decrease. Sat July 1 – 6 hrs (Bill) Reset No Wakes “P”, “Q”, “T” on south side of Brunelle’s Zone dragged from high water. Reset No Wakes “X”, and “Y” Mitch’s Marina dragged from continued high water. Check remaining markers and verify no more out of position / or clear logs and debris from markers. Sun July 9 – 2 hrs (Bill & Jay) Water level forecasts show historic water levels coming. Projected to be highest since Hurricane Irene in 2011. Attempted to take GC out of Oxbow to recover any markers possible, cannot clear rail bridge to high water. Return to dock. Mon July 10 – 2 hrs Removed Towboat from water and secured GC with extra lines, fenders for upcoming flooding. July 11-13 - Catastrophic flooding. No wake visible tangled in Brunelle’s docks, 3A flasher visible in vicinity of SH power lines north of Brunelle’s. “4” is only marker visible from Route 5, none from Route 47, or other vantage points. Estimate close to 100% losses of markers. July 13-22 Flooding continues. All operations suspended until water levels and flow come down. Sun 7/23/2023 – 4 hrs (Bill) Relaunched Towboat at Oxbow. Water slowly receding. Located off station No Wake “H”, “I”, and 07 inside Oxbow, and re-emplaced. Towboat can hardly clear rail bridge at oxbow, water level severely high. Estimate 6-7mph PO Box 4691 Chicopee Massachusetts 01014 PHONE EMAIL WEBSITE (413) 519-1091 bill@pvmarine.net www.pvmarine.net 4 current on outside of rail bridge. One unidentified No Wake marker visible to north by cable crossing, no more visible. Sun 7/30/2023 – 12 hrs (Jay & Bill) Recovered “E” oxbow no wake at Brunelle’s A dock area, anchor abandoned wrapped in cables and downed trees, re-emplaced “E” at oxbow entrance. Recovered “02” at oxbow entrance and re-emplaced. Recovered “3A” SH power lines side north of Brunelle’s, abandoned anchor and chain wrapped in tree. Re-emplaced “3A” at Spooky Hole. Recovered “X” no wake and repaired previously sank “Y” No Wake and re-emplaced two of three at Mitch’s Marina. Thu 8/3/2023 12 hrs (Jay & Bill) Recovered nine anchors from Mitch’s Island drop area unused from North markers. Tree down on markers and due to high water/flow and poor visibility had to get in water to attach crane to markers. Emplaced replacement HG1 and HG3 on Cable crossing (utilized old, deactivated markers from previous years). Recovered “8” on west side of Mitch’s Island hung up in downed tree, utilized scuba to remove anchor and chain wrapped in tree. Attempted to scuba recover “3A” Marker chain and anchor in wrapped in tree on SH side power lines. Visibility and current too severe to effect recovery, anchor wrapped in 6’ of water in tree. Fri 8/4/2023 – 20 hrs (Bill & Jacob) Fabricate, decal and affix seven new barrels to bases to create new No Wake Markers “L” “M” “N” “O” “P” “Q” for Brunelle’s. Load truck for following morning. Travel to Oxbow that evening, repair wiring for crane up controller. Wire pinched and broken during removal of anchors from Mitch’s Island. Sat 8/5/2023 – 14 hrs (Bill & Bill sr.). Emplace six new No Wake Markers “L” “M” “N” “O” “P” “Q” and re-establish Brunelle’s No Wake Zone. Proceed South through channel and recover old “L”, “OB”, and “R”. R and OB damaged beyond repair. OB anchor hung up and abandoned. “L” to be redesignated and re-emplaced. “HA” rock hazard marker at Camel’s Hump missing. Unable to locate chain, 4 mph water flow moving too severe to enter water to attempt recovery of chain. Fri 8/11/2023 – 2 hrs. (Bill) Check report of No Wake “L” sinking off Brunelle’s. Pick up Brunelle’s Staff for assistance and remove large log off marker. Current moving too strong to retrieve marker, suspect full of water and sinking. Sun 8/13/2023 – 4 hrs. (Bill) Replace light on 013 damaged from flooding. Remove No Wake “L” off Brunelle’s half submerged. Found damage from intentional gun shots. Two at waterline, and one in top as shooter intended to sink barrel. Check remaining buoys, found “O” off Brunelle’s sustained damage as well but is floating. Check all buoys and remove debris accumulated from continued high water. Friday 8/18/2023 -2 hrs. (Bill) Meet Environmental Police at Oxbow Marina because of barrel with holes. EP’s wanted barrel for evidence. Camera footage at Brunelle’s showed damages occurring on Thurs 8/10. EP’s suspect pontoon boat operator at Brunelle’s Marina A dock with gang connections responsible for damages, and firearms may have been used. State Police to analyze. Remove barrel from base, and hand over PO Box 4691 Chicopee Massachusetts 01014 PHONE EMAIL WEBSITE (413) 519-1091 bill@pvmarine.net www.pvmarine.net 5 to Ofc. Tony Tranghese as requested for evidence. Decal and affix new barrel to marker base for replacement of “L”. Monday 8/21/2023 – 5 hrs. (Bill, Nick, Adam) Load No Wake A, B, and S into truck to take to Oxbow and deploy at Sportsman’s Marina. Get to Marina and found GC has no forward gear. Unable to leave dock. When Nick, Adam arrived spin boat around in slip and investigate. Found lower unit has internal failure, needs to be replaced. Offload damaged buoys on deck. Return to shop and unload buoys. Weds 8/23/2023 – 4 hrs. (Bill) Load replacement No Wake “L” into towboat. Proceed to Brunelle’s Marina and swap out marker to chain and anchor. Proceed to Mitch’s Marina and repair buoy “Y” that had been impacted and barrel portion hanging onto base by one bolt. Raise barrel to boat and re-attach barrel to base. Sat 8/26/2023 – 8 hrs. (Bill) Remove and install new lower unit to GC engine. Work performed in the water at the dock, stand on step ladder in water to reach engine. Unable to adjust shifter, will need to run boat to shallow water where linkages can be accessed and adjusted correctly. Monday 8/28/2023 – 3 hrs (Bill, Bill Sr.) Bring GC to ramp at Oxbow where I can stand in shallow water and adjust linkages. Found linkage rod in intermediate housing has twisted. During attempt to rectify linkage rod broke internally in housing. Known issue with Yamaha’s of this vintage. Outboard engine will need to be replaced. Crane barge is done for season, hauling out. Tuesday 8/29/2023 – 3 hrs (Bill and Nick) Go to Oxbow with two trucks and offload remaining markers from deck. Remove anchors, chains, pole markers as well as boat can’t be brought out with weight on deck. Friday 9/2/2023 – 8 hrs (Bill and Nick) Gary at Sportsman’s advises boats are in the water at his docks. Labor day coming, weather good, expect busy weekend. Load No Wake A, B, and S as well as Hazard #9 into truck and proceed to Oxbow. Load up on towboat. Proceed to #9 rockpile and emplace #9. Water still too high to walk on rockpile, suspect pile may have been eroded somewhat during high water. Attach marker with light to mooring chain and use long chain length as counterweight. Proceed to sportsman’s Marina area. Deploy A, B, and S utilizing 130# truck cast iron brake drums as weights. Sunday 9/4/2023 – 2 hrs. (Bill) Travel river and take drone footage / pictures of area for presentation at Northampton City Hall on September 11. Tuesday 9/5/2023 – 8 hrs (Bill) Prepare presentation for Channel marker meeting on September 11 Weds 9/6/2023 – 3 hrs (Bill) Complete presentation for Channel marker meeting and submit to Sarah Lavalley and Paul Nowak Monday 9/11/2023 – 3 hrs (bill) Presentation and meeting at Northampton City Hall. PO Box 4691 Chicopee Massachusetts 01014 PHONE EMAIL WEBSITE (413) 519-1091 bill@pvmarine.net www.pvmarine.net 6 Thursday, 9/28/2023 – 6 hrs (bill & Nick) Remove and transport X, Y markers from Mitches Marina. Lift bag and tow anchors. Thursday, 10/5/2023 – (Bill, Nick) - 16 hrs - Remove S, A, B, 9, HG1, HG2, E, 02, and 3A markers. Friday 10/6/2023 – (Bill, Nick, Ron) 18 hours - Remove final 6 Brunelle’s markers, H, I, 07, 013 pole marker, and #4 from river. Leave Brunelle’s marker’s at Marina. Transport all back to shop. Sunday 10/8/2023 – 4 hrs (Bill) final unload, inspection, inventory, and close out season paperwork. 319 total manhours in 2023. Still time required to remove boats, winterize, and wrap.