Notice to Mariners: Corps to remove seasonal buoys at Navigation Facilities

Published Oct. 13, 2017
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District is alerting mariners, anglers and other river users that warning buoys marking restricted areas at our navigation facilities may not be in place due to recent high water.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District is alerting mariners, anglers and other river users that warning buoys marking restricted areas at our navigation facilities may not be in place due to recent high water.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District is alerting mariners that beginning Oct. 23, small boat warning signs and pillar buoys at the district’s 23 navigations facilities will be removed from the Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio rivers in advance of winter weather.

The sign and buoy removal will be complete by Nov. 10 pending river and weather conditions. Boaters should take extra precautions while approaching the locks, especially when proceeding downstream.

Please consult navigation charts for the location of navigation facilities, restricted areas and other features on area waterways. River users should check the current river conditions and notifications to navigation prior to using the waterways.

The complete navigation notice may be found at http://ntninotices.usace.army.mil/lpwb/f?p=150:1:0::NO:::. Marines can also contact the locks directly on Marine Radio Channel 13. 

Dashields Contract award:

The district has awarded a $347,550 contract for the installation of waterway signs at Dashields Locks and Dam.

The contract was awarded to Gregori Construction Inc. of Sarver, Pennsylvania. 

“The district is excited to have awarded this contract; however, the physical warning signs are a last defense – awareness is key,” said Jeff Hawk, Pittsburgh District spokesperson. “If a river user arrives at one of our navigation facilities without understanding the hazards it can present, they have already placed themselves in jeopardy.” 

This contract award is a part of a larger community effort to make our rivers safer. In the past year, the Corps has held numerous water-safety awareness events including the first Fixed-Crest Dam Safety Summit, a Paddle Safety Lock Through event and its first LockFest, which was held in the spring to raise awareness of our facilities and how to safely use them. These events were held in partnership with other interested agencies and non-profits to include the U.S. Coast Guard, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission and Venture Outdoors. 

The district also launched its “Know-Take-Wear” campaign at part of the Fixed-Crest Dam Safety Summit. The campaign is a knowledge-based river-safety initiative encouraging recreational river users to “Know” the waterways before they use them; “Take” a water safety course; and “Wear” a life jacket.

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Contact
Carol Vernon
412-395-7500/01/02
(412) 680-5904 (cell)
CELRP-PA@usace.army.mi
1000 Liberty Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15222-4186

Release no. 17-030