News and Links for Illinois River Boaters

Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner, March 7.
RSVP by March 1st.
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Could Dee Bennett Road be Rebuilt on Higher Ground?
The county will apply for grant money to study, engineer and rebuild a section of the road.
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Awesome Frozen Waterfall Photos from You-Know-Where
Huffington Post story features spectacular winter scenery at Starved Rock State Park.
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Beardstown, Not Havana for Fish Plant
A fish processing plant may be coming to Beardstown, as plans to build in Havana falter.
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Tax Deduction for Boaters Extended
If you are making boat loan payments, the mortgage interest deduction has been extended for your 2014 tax return. BoatUS explains.
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Federal Report on Asian Carp Published
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently released its first annual report on Asian Carp. Is the fish population increasing? Are the fish spreading? (Hint: Yes!)
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Shedd Aquarium Studies Great Lake Fishery: What’s Good for Eating?
The scientists at the Shedd recommend smelt and 4 other Great Lakes species for our dinner plates.
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Marseilles Dam Gets New Hydro-Power Equipment
After a 25-year gap, the dam will soon be producing electricity.
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The Coast Guard’s Navcen: A Wealth of Boater Info

“Mariners are urged to use extreme caution while transiting between mile marker 240-241, on the Illinois River. Multiple groundings have taken place near the right descending bank.”

“The Coast Guard has received report of shoaling in the vicinity of the red buoy at mile marker 230.8 on the Illinois river. Mariners are urged to use extreme caution while transiting the area and stay 50 feet away from the red buoy.”

Say what? Where do these warnings come from?

These two announcements are quotes from the January 2015 edition of the “Local Notice to Mariners”, published by the U.S. Coast Guard district office, as a supplement or update to the available navigational charts. The notices are just one of the services offered by the U.S. Coast Guard Navigation Center. There, you can subscribe to receive regular copies of the Local Notice to Mariners by email.

On the Navcen website, you will also find resources such as:

Good to know:

  • The two specific hazards mentioned above are near Bull’s Island/Bob’s Beach (mm 240-241) and just below the Starved Rock Lock (mm 230.8).
  • If there is too much chatter on VHF channel 68, you can use 69 or 71 in just the same manner. Hail your party on channel 16, then switch to one of the other working non-commercial channels.

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