carbonmarine
05-31-2004, 03:44 PM
Dangerous CO levels force Channel closure
By Gary Weiand
Sunday, May 30, 2004 11:32 PM MDT
Carbon monoxide reached dangerous levels in Bridgewater Channel on Sunday, and for the second time in two days boats were prevented from entering the watercourse.
The 2 1/2-hour action caused some boaters to question how serious the city was about its health measures.
Frank Foti, Lake Havasu City battalion chief in charge of monitoring carbon monoxide levels in the Channel, said a sudden drop in wind triggered the high readings.
"We had a breeze of 7 to 9 mph all day - then suddenly the wind stopped. By about 7 p.m. levels of carbon monoxide were rising rapidly. It just spiked when the wind died," he said.
Foti said that it's a public health issue, and the city does all it can to protect the health of the public. He noted that six units that monitor carbon monoxide now line the Channel - three on each side - and that a sign erected Thursday explains the levels of danger - green for good, yellow for moderate, red for unhealthy, and purple for hazardous.
But some boaters said that the carbon monoxide problem is worsened by the closure of the Sandbar, a literal sand bar some 5 or 6 miles north of the city, at one time a mecca for boaters.
Jennifer Bolanis of California spoke for many when she said, "Open the Sandbar back up and this won't be a problem."
Brian Jeffrey, who lives in California but owns a home here, put it more strongly, saying that the Channel should be restricted to families, while those who want to behave more freely should use the Sandbar. He said that closing it had been done out of fear that something bad might happen - not because something bad really had happened.
"I'd like to see them show a single carbon monoxide death before closing the Sandbar. The city is only trying to avoid liability with signs," he said.
Kevin Dean, also of California, agreed that relieving congestion in the Channel might alleviate the problem.
"It's like L.A." he said. "If it had only one freeway open, you'd have lots of congestion -open more and you have less carbon monoxide."
City public information officer Charlie Cassens said that although there was no proof, there was a possibility that closing the Sandbar contributed to the problem, because it would be reasonable to assume that those boaters who congregated there now flock to the Channel. But he said that safety was paramount for the city.
"The main priority is to limit emissions, and to help educate the public. The police chief has the authority to evacuate the beach if necessary, but we don't expect that to happen if we remove the emissions."
At 9:40 p.m. Sunday, Cassens announced that the Channel had been reopened. He said that boating will take place as usual this morning.
You may contact the reporter at gweiand@havasunews.com.
By Gary Weiand
Sunday, May 30, 2004 11:32 PM MDT
Carbon monoxide reached dangerous levels in Bridgewater Channel on Sunday, and for the second time in two days boats were prevented from entering the watercourse.
The 2 1/2-hour action caused some boaters to question how serious the city was about its health measures.
Frank Foti, Lake Havasu City battalion chief in charge of monitoring carbon monoxide levels in the Channel, said a sudden drop in wind triggered the high readings.
"We had a breeze of 7 to 9 mph all day - then suddenly the wind stopped. By about 7 p.m. levels of carbon monoxide were rising rapidly. It just spiked when the wind died," he said.
Foti said that it's a public health issue, and the city does all it can to protect the health of the public. He noted that six units that monitor carbon monoxide now line the Channel - three on each side - and that a sign erected Thursday explains the levels of danger - green for good, yellow for moderate, red for unhealthy, and purple for hazardous.
But some boaters said that the carbon monoxide problem is worsened by the closure of the Sandbar, a literal sand bar some 5 or 6 miles north of the city, at one time a mecca for boaters.
Jennifer Bolanis of California spoke for many when she said, "Open the Sandbar back up and this won't be a problem."
Brian Jeffrey, who lives in California but owns a home here, put it more strongly, saying that the Channel should be restricted to families, while those who want to behave more freely should use the Sandbar. He said that closing it had been done out of fear that something bad might happen - not because something bad really had happened.
"I'd like to see them show a single carbon monoxide death before closing the Sandbar. The city is only trying to avoid liability with signs," he said.
Kevin Dean, also of California, agreed that relieving congestion in the Channel might alleviate the problem.
"It's like L.A." he said. "If it had only one freeway open, you'd have lots of congestion -open more and you have less carbon monoxide."
City public information officer Charlie Cassens said that although there was no proof, there was a possibility that closing the Sandbar contributed to the problem, because it would be reasonable to assume that those boaters who congregated there now flock to the Channel. But he said that safety was paramount for the city.
"The main priority is to limit emissions, and to help educate the public. The police chief has the authority to evacuate the beach if necessary, but we don't expect that to happen if we remove the emissions."
At 9:40 p.m. Sunday, Cassens announced that the Channel had been reopened. He said that boating will take place as usual this morning.
You may contact the reporter at gweiand@havasunews.com.