KPLC 7 News, Lake Charles, Louisiana |Hurricane Debris Causing Problems in SWLA Waterways

Hurricane Debris Causing Problems in SWLA Waterways

June 22, 2006

Reported by Libby White

Preparations are underway for the Marine Debris Marking and Mapping Project on the Calcasieu Lake. Troy Stine with the Calcasieu Conservation Association says, "It's a big roadway that has no lines or barriers. We're trying to give some guidance of where to avoid." Stine says when it comes to debris, you name it - it's in the water. "There is some floating debris like wood, but there is also stuff that is stuck in the mud that people are hitting," said Stine. "There's just a lot of things that people don't see when they're going a certain speed out on the water." That's causing a big problem for boaters. "Talking to marinas and local boat shops, they are averaging three lower units a week, which is a very high number," said Stine.  

Kevin Savoie with the LSU Ag Center says, "This is the first step. Hopefully we can shop it around and get some removal funds." Here's what volunteers will do: "We're going to supply the buoys and PVC markers as well. We ask them to run lines which are going to be set up on maps that we give them. We want them to record GPS numbers of any obstructions they encounter, where they marked it and return that sheet to us," said Savoie. They're hoping the buoys and PVC pipe will help boaters avoid debris and that they'll get funding to take these hazards out of the water. "We need to have it removed fairly soon and there is concern that we make this big effort and have another storm and have it shift on us," said Savoie. 

Volunteers are asked meet Saturday, June 24, at 8 AM at Calcasieu Point Landing. It's located at 3955 Henry Pugh Boulevard. For more information call Ship to Shore at 474-0730. Marked positions will be posted on the Coast Pilot Disaster Impact Web site: http://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/nsd/cpgulf/cpgulf.htm and on the Louisiana Sea Grant Web site: www.laseagrant.org/debris.