From the Harsen's Island News Mailbag

Thank you, Charles Miller, for sending us this Email:

From: "Jay M DeBoyer" supervisor@claytownship.org
Date: February 11, 2010 11:07:20 AM EST
To: "'Don'" brown@mail.house.gov, candice.miller@mail.house.gov
Cc: "'Charles Miller'" cmiller79@comcast.net
Subject: Harsens Island Ferry Service Interruption


Candice,

I hope all is well in Washington. The reason for my email is to ask if there is any possibility of having a conversation about the efforts of the Coast Guard in the ice breaking procedures in the St Clair River and Lake St Clair?

As well intentioned as they may be, their procedure has a little to be desired. Specifically when it comes to the actions executed to relieve ice in the North Channel of the St. Clair River. At no time is the North Channel used in any fashion for commercial vessel traffic except for the crossing of the Harsens Island ferry from mainland Clay Township to Harsens Island. The North Channel, with an average depth of 35’ +/-, empties into a relatively shallow Anchor Bay with an average depth of 10’ +/- as does the Middle Channel portion of the St. Clair River. Clearly just from these parameters it is evident that this is not the proper course of action to relieve any pressure caused in the St. Clair River due to an ice jam. The South Channel however empties into Lake St. Clair via the shipping channel and the Lake is an average of 21’ deep at that point as well as 30’ for the length of the shipping channel. The South Channel is also the route used for all commercial vessel traffic.

This brings me to the reason for our concern. Champions Auto Ferry, which has been operating for nearly 100 years, has it down to a science when it comes to preparing a path of travel for the ferry to navigate the ice filled river. There are over 1000 winter residents currently on Harsens Island. Each and every time the Coast Guard runs the cutter through the North Channel, with zero effective results for the relief of the upper St. Clair River due to the fact that it empties into such a shallow Anchor Bay and stops, they destroy the “ice bridge” created by Champions Auto Ferry and the result is the stranding of the residents of Harsens Island for a minimum of 2 days creating a major inconvenience for them and The Township of Clay from a operational stand point (Police, Fire, Ambulance Service and Public Works).

What I am requesting is perhaps some intervention from your office with respect to the procedure used in the St. Clair River’s North Channel for ice relief. There operations do nothing to relieve the upper river ice issues or to promote commercial vessel traffic because of the geographical conditions related to the North Channel. We have contacted the Coast Guard about this issue with no avail to this point.

Please advise me as soon as possible what you may be able to do with respect to this issue. Time is of the essence as the ice operations are a continual and on going matter at this time. Any and all help with this matter will be greatly appreciated.


Sincerely,
Clay Township Supervisor

Jay M DeBoyer
586-365-8481

Tags: Harsens Island, Harsen's Island Michigan,