NEW YORK STATE CANAL SYSTEM

All mariners are advised that the upper Hudson River dredging  project, administered by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and General Electric (GE), will be in progress during the 2009 Navigation Season at locations between Lock C-6 and Lock C-8, proximate to Lock C-7 in the Town of Fort Edward and the Fort Edward Yacht Basin.  The dredging operations are lighted, have day shapes and arrow boards displayed.   Due to construction activities during the season, mariners may experience occasional short-term delays at Lock C-7 in Fort Edward.

Activities Planned for the Week of May 4, 2009:

• Barge assembly operation immediately south of Lock C-8.

• Tree removal/tree trimming operation in the vicinity of Lock C-7 (north of buoy Red 218)

• Placement of barge anchors outside of the Navigation Channel between River Mile

• (RM) 192.1-192.6 and 193.1-193.5 (between Lock C-7 and Lock C-8)

• Navigation dredging of the Champlain Canal between Locks C-7 and C-8

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For the duration of the 2009 season, Cashman Dredging and Marine Contracting, Co, LLC, (Cashman) will be operating within a portion of the Hudson River located in the Champlain Canal between Lock C-6 and Lock C-8. Project vessels will be operating from as far south as Lock C-6 and as far north as the Project Processing Facility, which is located just south of Lock C-8. At the peak of the dredging operations in July and August, there will be an estimated ninety-two project vessels, including dredges, material barges, tugs and support craft operating within the project site. Cashman will be operating a private Vessel Traffic System (VTS) that will cover from Lock C-6 to Lock C-8. Mariners are requested to contact VTS on VHF Channel 18a upon exiting Lock C-6 when northbound and at Lock C-8 when southbound, for up to date information of project vessel locations.  Mariners are also reminded that Canal Corporation lock personnel communicate on VHF Channel 13.

In addition to the project vessels operating within the project site, there will be a number of fixed structures installed to facilitate the work. These structures include sheeted cofferdams near the eastern bank of the river in the vicinity of Griffin Island at RM 190 (south of Lock C-7), a transfer trestle located on the eastern bank of the river at RM 193.4 (near Lock C-8) and a rock dike located north of the Fort Edward Yacht Basin.

There will be barges moored on fixed moorings outside of the navigational channel between RM 192.1-192.6 and 193.1-193.5 (between Locks C-7 and Lock C-8).  These will be lighted at night with fixed white lights on the corners of the barges.

 During the first several months of the project there will be a fixed gated silt curtain at the southern end of Rogers Island that will span across the navigational channel on the East Side of Rogers Island that accesses the Fort Edward Yacht Basin. This silt curtain will initially only be opened for non-project vessels in the morning and afternoon for a one hour duration between 8:00 am and 9:00 am and a one hour duration between 4:00 pm and 5:00 pm. Once dredging begins in the Rogers Island navigation channel, the one hour durations will be reduced to one-half hour durations. The two opening durations will be published weekly in the Local Notice to Mariners and are available by contacting the Project VTS.

The Fort Edward Yacht Basin will be temporarily closed during early periods of the project. Weekly Notice to Mariners will identify the periods of closure.

The navigation channel on the East Side of Rogers Island from the vicinity of Lock C-7 to the Fort Edward Yacht Basin will not have navigation buoys in place. Boaters seeking to transit the East Channel of Rogers Island should inform the Canal Corporation lock operators at Lock C-6 or Lock C-8 before entering the Rogers Island area.

Mariners are urged to transit at their slowest safe speed through the working area, but at a minimum observing a maximum speed of 5 mph when in the vicinity of project craft. Mariners are also urged to proceed with caution after passing arrangements have been made.

PASS WITH CAUTION- NO WAKE ZONE

Please note that the speed limit between Lock C-6 and Lock C-8 will be 5 mph in all work zones.  Mariners are reminded that excessive wakes are detrimental and dangerous to dredging personnel and equipment.  All mariners are responsible for their wakes and the damages they cause. Please use caution and be mindful of your vessel wakes when transiting these locations and pass at a “No-Wake” speed.  Local and state marine patrols will enforce posted speed limits in this area.  Mariners are further advised to comply with all signage and directions posted in and around the dredge areas.  If mariners have any questions related to the dredging project, please call the EPA at (518) 747-4389 or GE at (518) 792-4087.