US Freshwater Boaters Alliance

August 2016
Volume 1, Issue 5

The Watch Keeper

News and Boating Tips
from the USFBA
Low Water Levels, a Droughts Impact
As summers boating season has progressed weve seen a major drought in West Central Ohio and the impact on lake levels
has been significant. Thats particularly true on manmade canal feeder lakes like Grand Lake St Marys, Indian Lake, and
Lake Loramie. Our own members have damaged props and
some have started to pull their boats out of the water.
In this issue of the Watch Keeper well share some information
about how the people charged with managing our state park
lakes are dealing with lake levels. On page 2 we talk with David
Faler, the State Park Manager at Grand Lake St Marys about
water level management of the lake and the existing canals it
still supports. David gives us insight into some aspects of managing this huge resource that may not be apparent to the lake
visitor or even to those of us who live on the lake.
In a sidebar to the article, Kevin Mast of the Boathouse, shares
some thoughts that might help you avoid serious damage to
props and lower units in shallow water conditions. But if you
do run into an issue and need assistance, remember, the
USFBA will be there to try and help.
And on a sad note, we say goodbye to a good friend and leader
of the USFBA, Mark Axe. Lost to his family and friends much
too soon, we want to remember this good man.

Inside this issue

Water Level Management .......... 2
Low Water Precautions .............. 4
Member Highlight Rich Branch ... 5
Announcing USFBA Vessel 1........ 5
David Friedman .......................... 6
Farewell to a Friend .................... 8
Tows This Season ........................ 9
A Bump in the Night.................... 9
USFBA By The Numbers .............. 9

2016 Upcoming Events

Grand Lake Marathon Runners
StationSeptember 24, 2016

Water Level Management

A Conversation with ODNRs David Faler
This summer has seen drought conditions to parts of the Midwest affecting lake levels. Its been a particular concern lately at
Grand Lake St Marys (GLSM). The responsibility for managing
this 13,500-acre reservoir falls to the Ohio Department of Natural
Resources.
David Faler, State Park Manager at GLSM and his team are
charged with managing the water level in the lake and in the canal system it feeds.
Earlier this week, we sat down with David to talk about the water
levels on GLSM and the challenges he and his team face in trying
to control them.
Heres what we learned.
There are two earthen dams at GLSM with gates that can be used
to release or hold water in the lake. The dam on the East side
contains a bulkhead and two gates which can release water to
the canal flowing north to Delphos. The one on the west side has
the horseshoe dam with 2 gates that release water into Beaver
Creek. That water flows into the Wabash river and ultimately
south to the Ohio.
Most of us who boat on GLSM, Indian Lake, and Lake Loramie
know the lakes were built as reservoirs to service the canal. And
although commercial traffic ended long ago, a large section of the
200-year-old canal still provides valuable service to local communities. In addition to being a historical and scenic resource, the
canals are used for fire protection in some of the villages and
cities. In November of 2004, seven fire departments responded
to a fire that broke out in the Donnerberg Building in downtown
St Marys. Known locally as the Glass Block, the building was built
in 1902. Water was used from the canal to fight the fire. At one
point the citys water towers were almost drained. At the request of firefighters, park staff opened the canal gate at GLSM
from its usual 5 inches to 24 inches to make maximum water
available. Had it not been for the canal, St Marys would likely
have lost more buildings that night.
The lakes play a major role in management and maintenance of
the canal. GLSM feeds the canal running north, Loramie is at the summit and feeds the canals both north and
south, Indian Lake feeds the canal south. The canal, referred to as the Hydraulic Section, has gates along the way.
Continued on Page 3

A Conversation with ODNRs David Faler

Continued from Page 2
The canal walls are earthen dams in many stretches and are monitored by David and his staff for leaks to
prevent a major breech. They try to maintain the water level in the canal to protect the structure.
Groundhogs, turtles, and crawfish create problems by digging into the canal dams. Drought years are
especially bad and after this years drought and normal rainfall next year, David expects to have many
leaks to repair. The goal in maintaining a consistent water level is to avoid a catastrophic failure of a canal wall.
At GLSM, water level maintenance is driven by a number of factors. The integrity of the earthen dams,
flood control on Beaver Creek, prevention of damage to lakeside properties, and recreational needs all
play a role.
The spillway at GLSM is designed with a notch
in the top. The notch allows release of some
water as the lake rises and is intended as a passive way to control the level. But fluctuations
in rain require some adjustments and that is
done by opening and closing the 2 gates. A few
years ago an advisory council was formed to set
policy on lake levels. At their direction, water
level is measured and maintained in relation to
the notch. The goal is to keep the lake no more
than 9 inches above or below the notch. The
speed of drawdowns or increases is controlled
because of potential structural impact to the
earthen dams. The council decided that from October to March 31st they would keep the level at 9
inches below the notch in anticipation of spring rains. The level was 6 inches below on 3/15/2015. They
drew it down by April 3rd of that year to 9 inches below.
This year on March 15th the lake level was 4 inches below the notch. As theyve tracked weather over
the years theyve found a direct relationship between precipitation occurring from December to February and what it will be like as the year progresses. Because of the low level of precipitation in the winter,
they became concerned that we could see much lower rainfall this year. So they lowered the drawdown.
April 1st the level was 1.8 inches above the notch. It was 2.6 inches above in May. At the beginning of
July, it was 1 inch above the notch.
But as we moved through July and August the rain stayed away. Last years rainfall to August 28 was
48.8 inches, this year 18.7 inches., a difference of 30 inches.
Continued on Page 4

A Conversation with ODNRs David Faler

Continued from Page 3
In addition to the lack of rainfall, evaporation can have an impact.
On a 90-degree day with low humidity and a sunny sky, the lake
level can drop as much as an inch due to evaporation.
Right now the gate on the west end is currently open 3 inches to
keep fish alive in Beaver Creek. The gate on the east end feeding
the canal remains set to 5 inches to maintain the canal level.
So there you have it. A large shift in precipitation combined with
the effects of evaporation have resulted in the lake currently at
11 inches below the notch. And that means stumps normally low
enough that theyre not a danger to boats are now becoming a
problem.
Some folks around the lake have thought that perhaps more water has been released to the canal than normal and thats caused
the lake to go down. Some have speculated that the lake was
drawn down more in the spring than usual. But neither of those
happened. Were just at the mercy of Mother Nature. But the
good news is that we have an excellent team of professionals in
ODNR balancing all of the issues that affect water levels in the
lakes and canals. And they do it quite well. For that we can all be
grateful.

Boating Precautions in
Low Water Conditions
Kevin Mast of the Boathouse at
Grand Lake St Marys offers the
following thoughts on boating in
these low water conditions
1. I do not recommend using a stainless steel prop in shallow lake conditions. The stainless will give more
performance but will not give as
easily and therefore may cause
damage to the lower unit or outdrive. A lower unit or outdrive will
cost several thousand dollars.
2. When entering a channel stay on
a straight in or out course with the
channel marker. Don't try to cut off
the corners. (In GLSM the dredge
runs a straight line into a channel) It
is usually more shallow off to the

David Faler grew up in Wapakoneta and from an

early age set his sights on being the Park Manager at GLSM. While in high school and college, he
held internships for ODNR and the state of Utah.
When an opening became available, he came into
ODNR as a full time employee. As a hydraulic and
dam expert for ODNR, his expertise is called on at
Indian Lake, Lake Loramie, GLSM, Kiser Lake, and
the canal. Hes responsible for all dam inspections and maintenance on the flood control structures. Over his 19 years with
ODNR hes had assignments at both GLSM and Indian Lake. Hes
worked in the fish hatchery, dredge operations, and managed canal operations, a duty he continues to carry in addition to his role
as Park Manager. An avid fisherman and hunter, David, his wife,
and two children continue to live in Wapakoneta but youll find
him at GLSM 7 days a week, either at work or chasing bass in the
channels.

sides of the channel.

3. Trim your motor or outdrive up
especially when entering channels.
4. Pay attention to your depth finder
if your boat is equipped with one
and it is helpful to know how much
water your boat drafts.
5. Stay in the main channels of the
lake when running at higher speeds.
6. When accelerating up to speed,
do so slowly. This will prevent the
stern from dropping lower into the
water.
7. Lastly, GO SLOW in and out of
channels and bays.

USFBA Vessel 1
Member Highlight

Rich Branch
I was born in Minnesota and
started boating at an early age.
Our family always vacationed at
the lake and spent a lot of time
on the water. I learned to ski at
age 6 or 7 behind a duck boat
with a 10 hp Johnson.

I graduated from Coldwater

High School and live in Coldwater. I am on the Coldwater village council. My wife June and I
have been married for 39 years
and have 2 kids and 3 grandkids.
I have been boating on Grand
Lake since I bought my first boat
in 1975. I have owned several
boats over the years and
boating has been a fun family
activity for us. I hope our kids
and grandkids have fond memories of the time we spend
boating together.
The reason I joined the USFBA is
because I like to be on the lake
and this gives me more reasons
and opportunities to do that
while getting involved with lake
activities and promoting Grand
Lake.

The USFBA recently took ownership of a service boat, a Zodiac Rigid Inflatable with twin Honda 90 outboards. Right
now were doing
some necessary
checks and
maintenance on
the outboards,
reviewing and
replacing needed electronics,
and preparing the boat for service. Originally a Coast Guard
fast rescue boat,
shes already set up
for towing and can
easily accommodate our requirements. We have a
tandem axle FloatOn trailer to
transport her from one lake to another and can use her for
special events as well as responding to calls for assistance.
A safe boat for those occasions when the weather may kick
up conditions on the lake she should serve us well for many
years. Over the winter shell get new paint and graphics
and should be ready for service at the start of the 2017
boating season.
To keep up to
date on our progress in outfitting
this boat, just visit our Facebook
Page or go to our
Website.

More Observations
By David Friedman
Last month I made some comments about being in a July 4th boat parade and I made some observations
about some of the participants and then moved on to some general thoughts about boating. Heres more.
Lets pretend you are on a river that has a current most do and it runs north and south. Lets also pretend that a fuel dock is on that river and it runs parallel to the river. The third pretend is that you need
fuel!!!

Many beginning boaters think, Well, since the fuel filler on my boat is on the starboard side and I have a
power boat, Ill just pull up to the dock on the starboard side and put the hose from the pump in the tank.
Well, thats sounds easy enough, but is it?
The fact of the matter is the hose from the pump is designed to stretch across the boat, if necessary. What
is most important is what has the most effect on the boat in coming into the dock not only from the standpoint of ease of maneuverability, but also, what is safer for both the boater and the dock hands.
Back to the example. In our situation above, the current is running north to south downriver. You are
coming down the river and headed toward the dock. At this point, many beginners think that since they
have a power boat they can just pull up next to the dock and stop with their starboard side next to the dock
not realizing that they are opening themselves, the dock hands, and other boats already on the dock to
some real hazards.
There are two major effects on a boat wind and current. On Grand Lake St. Marys and Indian Lake there
isnt a current; however, there is wind, which can have the same effect as current.
Now, what happens? Remember, boats dont have brakes!!!! Another little detail is that engines fail or stall
(oh no, that cant happen to me) leaving you with no control. Lets continue this example and say the wind and
the current are running in the same direction. Next, your
engine stalls or you are over-confident and you have cut
your engine just before you have tied up. The next thing
you know is the wind and/or the current starts taking the
boat further south and pushing the stern of your boat
away from the dock and into the other boats on the dock.
Crash, Bang, Boom! Your whole day is ruined.
What should you have done? The first thing is to continue past the dock, make a safe U-turn and come in against
the wind and current and use them as a brake. There are
other things as well, but that can be for another discussion. The point here is that there are many points that
you can pick up in a classroom by good instructors who
can share their experiences with you

Continued on Page 7

More ObservationsContinued From Page 6

By David Friedman
The reason I am writing about this is because I have kept my boats at one marina here for almost 40 years. While I am only here basically during the winter for dry storage and then move
it south to my yacht club for the summer, I am around in the spring and fall and I come up occasionally for repairs. Most of the boats in this marina are like most of the boats in Grand
Lake St. Marys or Indian Lake. Average length is around 24 feet and many, up to 75%, never
leave the dock during the summer.
People come down and sit on their boats and maybe stay on board overnight. Its like having
a waterfront condo. The few times they go out they need at least four people to get them off
the dock and even more to bring them in. When they go to get fuel, they ALWAYS run into
trouble. Invariably the comment is the same. The fuel filler is on the starboard side so thats
where they are going to come in.
How much more fun could they have had if they had known better? How much more time
could they have actually been on the water if they had more confidence? How much more
fun could they have shared with their kids and set a good example for them?
Let me go off on a tangent for a moment. Lets pretend again that you are very ill and you
need major surgery. Would you want a doctor working on you who has only trained on-line
and has only done pretend procedures? I dont think so.
Go talk to your local Coast Guard Auxiliarist or US Power Squadron member and see what they
might be able to do to make your days on the water more enjoyable. For questions or comments please feel free to contact me at David.Friedman@USFreshwaterBoatersAlliance.com
or click HERE for more information.

David Friedman is a long time boater with over 70 years of experience

on the water from small lakes and rivers to coastal off-shore work
boating. His experience ranges from operating and racing small power
boats as a youngster to currently sailing a 33 foot sail boat on Long Island
Sound and points east.
He is a 34 year member of the US Coast Guard Auxiliary Hes held many
officers positions and has served as an Instructor of boating safety courses for the Auxiliary.

Farewell to a Friend
The USFBA lost a member and friend when Mark S. Axe, 58, of Belle Center, passed away in the afternoon on Sunday, Aug. 14, 2016, at his home encircled by his loving family.
Mark was born in St. Marys to Paul and Bernice Axe
on Aug. 18, 1957.
Mark is survived by his loving wife Brenda Axe; his
daughter Leslie Petrozello and Benjamin; his sons
Brian Axe and Katie, and Brett Axe; his stepsons
Craig Chandler and Corporal Jason Chandler; his
parents Paul and Bernice Axe; his brothers
Matthew Axe and Linda, and Daniel Axe and Kelly;
his four grandchildren Andrew and Charlie Axe, and
Macy and Greta Chandler.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents.
He graduated high school in 1977 at Memorial High School in St. Marys and attended Wright State University.
He married Sandra Elsass in August 1978 and they later divorced.
He married Brenda Chandler of Black River Falls, Wis., and was happily married for 14 years.
Mark worked for Curascript, an Express Scripts company for eight years as director of sales, corporate
accounts, spending more than 40 years in healthcare.

He was Director of the Indian Lake Chapter of the US Freshwater Boaters Alliance and was an elder and
member at the Indian Lake Community Church. Mark was an avid Ohio State Buckeyes and Green Bay
Packer fan. Mark loved living at the lake, boating, fishing and spending time with his family, grandchildren and Long View Cove friends and neighbors.
Mark joined the USFBA in early 2015 and took on the role of Chapter Director with a goal of building a
chapter at Indian Lake. His love of boating and desire to give back to the community were apparent.
The enthusiasm and leadership skills he brought to the organization were of the highest caliber. But
what made Mark special was his friendship. Always smiling, ready with a joke, wanting to help, and never a negative word, hell be missed by all who knew him.

Mark Axe, a good man.

Fair winds and following seas, may forever you feel, upon your cheek, the salty breeze. Your spirit
lives on in many a heart, your words captured, and never to depart. May your loved ones have the
comfort in knowing, to heaven is where you are going. For all that they have to do is look above,
and they will be reminded of your love. .
Author Unknown

20 Tows So Far This Season

Last year we completed 15 tows for
the season. This year we started off
in March at Indian Lake with a first
tow by Thomas Morris and Brian
White (pictured left). And we had
our 20th at Indian Lake as when Brian and Lucinda Schindley on Endless Summer towed a boat to the
Blackhawk Boat Ramp.
Our latest tow on GLSM
was completed by Dick
and Beth Heiby on Bulldog
(pictured right).

A Bump in the Night

Two of this months tows have
been at night. The photo below
was from August 17th around
9:00 pm. As you can see, visibility

is very reduced at night. Look

closely and you can see the boat
being towed. If you're boating at
night, remember to make sure
your lights work before you go
out. In the event your boat breaks
down on the water have a spare

USFBA 2016 by the Numbers

Year to Date
Even with reduced boating because of the low water conditions this looks to be another good year for the USFBA as we
move into September.

light in case your normal anchor

light doesn't function. A flashlight
or any light you can use to be
visible to other boaters is better
than sitting in the dark with other
boats moving about. Also make
sure you have some means of
communication. A VHF radio,

Patrol Hours:

Boats in Service:

and/or a mobile phone. For the

tow pictured, the boat owner

2014 617

201410

2015 996

201515

office and they dispatched the

2016 YTD 730.5

2016 YTD27

USFBA to handle the call. The

called the Mercer County Sheriff's

Event Hours:

Tows completed:

2015835

2014 10

2016 YTD 722

201515

2016 YTD20

USFBA response captain contacted the boater by cell phone and

was able to locate the boat
through the phone call. Make
sure all boat occupants have on
PFD's, set your anchor, and turn
on your anchor light or its backup

The US Freshwater Boaters Alliance

to await the arrival of the tow

boat.

Boaters Helping Boaters

9

US Freshwater Boaters Alliance

The mission of the US

Freshwater Boaters Alliance
is to encourage safe boating

Consider joining the USFBA

Not only will we help you become a better boater, but your boat fuel and other expenses may be tax deductible.

practices by promoting

But the most important reason for joining the USFBA is the opportunity to serve your
boating community while you continue to enjoy boating as you always have.

boater education, con-

We dont have uniforms. We dont require crews. Your family is welcome.

necting member boaters

What we do require is a commitment to safety, the use of a VHF radio, a current vessel safety inspection of your boat, and the completion of an acceptable About Boating
Safety class.

through formal marine radio communications when

on the water, and providing

Interested in learning more?

assistance to other boaters

Visit our website at www.USFreshwaterBoatersAlliance.com, call our main number at

(419) 318-9139 or email us at CIO@USFreshwaterBoatersAlliance.com.

when appropriate and safe

And if you run into an issue on the water, call us.

to do so.

US Freshwater Boaters Alliance

Primary Business Address
PO Box 101
Celina, OH 45822-0101

Phone: (419) 318-9139

E-mail:
CIO@USFreshwaterBoatersAlliance,

We are after all, Boaters Helping Boaters.