Editor,
This is a copy of my e-mail to the Canadian Coast Guard on the potential removal of the Arrowhead Channel Marker.
I cannot believe that the Canadian Coast Guard, which is the authority on safety for all navigable waters, would be so short sighted in their proposal to remove Light Buoy A29,LL40.7 — generally known to the boating public as the Arrowhead channel marker.
This buoy has been in service for many years, and was there when the sternwheeler Minto plied these waters. The Columbia River keeps dumping its load of silt from upstream and the channel was dredged quite often. It's then I believe the buoy was installed. Its solar panels keep its heart alive, and I would think that there is a minimum of cost and maintenance.
There has been over the years, many boaters that were very relieved to see its flashing green light when confronted by a sudden storm, a fog bank or just getting your bearings. It is a vital link in the safe conduct of many boaters coming out of the northeast arm (Beaton), to pick up the light at Whiskey Point, which passes you onto the Arrowhead light and then south to Bannock Point light or Albert Point further south.
It's part of a system that people have come to rely on for safe navigation in these waters. If you remove one part of the chain the system becomes unreliable and that's not what the public would expect from the Canadian Coast Guard.
I for one, seriously question the decision to eliminate this buoy. (Unless it's part of a bigger plan to get rid of all the buoys?) This is not only frivolous, it's downright cheap of the coast guard to save a few paltry dollars and put the boating public at risk.
I sincerely hope that common sense prevails on this issue.
Ken F. Douglas;
Revelstoke