2021 Year End Report
PO Box 4691
Chicopee
Massachusetts
01014
PHONE
EMAIL
WEBSITE
(413) 519-1091
Bill@pvmarine.net
www.pvmarine.net
PIONEER VALLEY MARINE SERVICES, LLC
10/30/2021
City of Northampton
Planning and Sustainability Dept.
210 Main St
Northampton, MA 01060
Attn: Wayne Feiden
2021 Channel Marker End of Season Report
• May 2021 – Prepared new channel markers as authorized for season including Red 6,
10, and 12, Green 1, and 7, Hazard HG1, and No Wake “E”. Added White reflective tape
strips to all river markers to mitigate night time impact damages. Repaired bases,
replaced attaching bolts, and reflective tape, decals, and numbers on markers as
needed. Replaced chains on roughly 50% of markers due to severe corrosion and
abrasion.
• Emplaced #9 Rockpile hazard and HB “Camel’s hump” marker prior to Memorial Day
weekend as requested.
• June 2021 - All markers emplaced by 6/21/2020.
• 7/9/2021 – 1st high water event of season. Most markers in river out of position.
• 7/18/21 – 2nd high water event of season. Water and flow had not subsided enough to
begin resetting from first high water event.
• 7/24/21 – Begin to reset markers. Reset central portion of river (Brunelle ’s through
Mitches Marina)
• 7/27/21 – Untangled and recovered northern markers found in vicinity of Rainbow Beach
bend, and airport. Reset up through Sportsman’s Marina area. Water level and flow
rates continued to be higher than normal, many markers tangled in trees or in
inaccessible areas due to river conditions. #9 flashing light was knocked off marker.
PO Box 4691
Chicopee
Massachusetts
01014
PHONE
EMAIL
WEBSITE
(413) 519-1091
bill@pvmarine.net
www.pvmarine.net
2
• 7/30/21 – 3rd high water event of season. All markers in river out of position again.
• 8/10/2021 - Begin to reset markers second time. Reset central portion of river (Brunelle’s
through Mitches Marina). Continued rain and higher than normal water levels delayed
resetting efforts.
• 8/18/2021 – Reset northern portion of river again (up to Sportsman’s Marina). Higher
than normal flow rates and water level continue to impede recovery and resetting of some
tangled and inaccessible markers. Several manually recovered, and untangled from
trees or obstructions by diver. Recovered 12 Red nun drifting inside Oxbow, missing
anchor.
• 8/22/2021 – Tropical Storm Henri – Several northern markers (No Wake’s at Sportsman’s
Marina and Coolidge bridge) were moved by trees / debris coming downriver. #13 now
missing. Wind and water flow continues to impede resetting efforts.
• 8/27/2021 – Completed resetting of markers for central and northern portions of river.
Salvaged and recovered sunken #9 marker swept off Shepherd’s Island rockpile, and
replaced flashing green solar light.
• 9/7/2021 – Ceased efforts to reset markers, begin to recover for season. Southern
channel markers were not reset, only recovered south of channel.
• 9/25/2021 – Located and raised missing “W” No Wake marker off of Mitches Marina.
Impact damaged, shattered and sank. Recovered chain and anchor. Pole marker #011
found and recovered, knocked over in Oxbow channel. Pole marker #09 pole fo und
signs missing.
• September – October 2020 - Recovered, inventoried, and stored all 56 channel markers.
• 10/11/2021 - #4A was recovered from behind dam safety barrier barrels once conditions
allowed, anchor missing chain only still attached.
PO Box 4691
Chicopee
Massachusetts
01014
PHONE
EMAIL
WEBSITE
(413) 519-1091
bill@pvmarine.net
www.pvmarine.net
3
FINAL LIST OF MISSING OR DAMAGED MARKERS AS FOLLOWS:
• #10 Red Nun (Missing, south of July 4 beach)
• #05 Green Can (Missing, Oxbow channel bend)
• "C" No Wake (Missing, Northampton side Coolidge Bridge)
• #5 Green Can (Missing, South of Mitches)
• #13 Green Can (Missing, North of Coolidge Bridge)
• #3X Green Can (Missing, North of Holyoke Channel)
• #09 Green Pole Marker (Sign Missing, Oxbow Channel)
• “W” No Wake (Sank – raised, impact damaged, Mitches Marina)
• “O” No Wake (impact damaged, Holyoke Canoe Club)
• “S” No Wake (impact damaged, north of Coolidge bridge)
• “D” No Wake (impact damaged, oxbow channel by state ramp
Bill Heyn
Pioneer Valley Marine Services, LLC