USCG Waterways Analysis Meeting for South Louisiana

The Coast Guard will host a public meeting on Aug. 6 at the Greater La Fourche Port Commission office in Galliano, La., at 6 p.m. regarding a Waterways Analysis and Management System (WAMS) review of district waterways. Chief Petty Officer Randy Ryan, officer in charge of Coast Guard Aids to Navigation Team Dulac, La., will conduct a WAMS review of Bayou La Fourche, Belle Pass, Southwest Louisiana Canal, and Caminada Bay. WAMS comprehensively analyzes the quality of each waterway’s navigation system. During this process, the Coast Guard contacts waterway users for their input and feedback and welcomes comments on the Aids to Navigation system at any time, independent of the WAMS. The Coast Guard Aids to Navigation Team Dulac evaluates recommendations for changes to the navigation system. The public may also mail their comments to: Officer in Charge, U.S. Coast Guard Aids to Navigation Team Dulac, 241 Coast Guard Road, Dulac, La. 70353. Coast Guard Aids to Navigation teams primarily mark channels and other areas of safe water in order to facilitate marine transportation. Specific criteria for Aids to Navigation include promoting safety, aiding national defense, aiding navigation, preventing collisions, preventing wrecks, serving commerce, assessing the amount and nature of traffic, benefiting the public and preserving natural resources. The Coast Guard considers the needs of all categories of users as well as the operating environment; weather conditions, channel lengths and widths, traffic density and traffic patterns. Benefits evaluated include the number of vessels moving through the area, vessel tonnage, cargo value and nature, level of economic activity, pleasure boating and fishing.