The Clover Island Yacht Club has instigated a program of installing a series
of anchor buoys along the Columbia and Snake Rivers for the use of the
recreational boater. The cost of installing these anchor buoys was derived
entirely from donations made by Individuals and companies along with a lot
of volunteer labor to make it possible. As of this date, June 2000, there
are 30 of these anchor buoys installed and ready for service.
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BUOY # 299A Hat
Rock State Park, Oregon
GPS Latitude is 45* 55" .04. GPS
Longitude is 119* 10" .42.
Water depth is 10 to 20 feet, depending on the swing around the buoy. This
anchor buoy is located at the far end, or south end of the inlet at Hat Rock
State Park, There is a launching ramp nearby and the Buoy is just beyond the
launching ramp. The location protected from all but a strong north wind,
which is seldom observed. This should be a rather pleasant location to spend
a night or two. Commercial traffic and other boat wakes should be minimal at
this location but not entirely absent.
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Buoy # 299BMcNary
Yacht Club, Oregon
GPS Latitude is 45* 55" .24. GPS Longitude is 119* 10" 68.
Water depth 10 feet more or less, depending on swing around the buoy,
shallower towards shore. This anchor buoy is located in the outer harbor
just east from the entrance to the McNary Yacht Club harbor entrance.
Another white ball float is located about 300 feet northeast from #299B.
There are also two cylindrical "No Wake" buoys in the vicinity. An island is
located to the north east with a rocky shore. Stay clear of the island's
shoreline. The water depth approaching the anchor buoy is 20 feet or so out
to the main part of the river. Out in main part of the river on the north
side of the islands, please note the two U.S., Army Corps of Engineers
markers cemented on rock outcroppings. The depth drops off rapidly to the
north of these markers. Stay clear of these islands without local knowledge,
There is only a little protection from commercial traffic or other boat
wakes.
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Buoy # 300ACold
Springs Junction beach (Warehouse Beach), Oregon
GPS Latitude is 4*' 55" .28, GPS
Longitude is 119*' 08" .65.
Water depth is 20 feet decreasing towards the shore a hundred feet or so
away and to the northwest where there are rocks underwater. The swing area
around the buoy has about 20 feet of water. Approach the buoy from the main
part of the river on a maximum compass heading of 2 1 0 Degrees, or less.
There is a rock cliff about 20 feet high to the southeast where the
youngsters like to leap off in to 15 feet of water along the base of the
rock. The water is fairly deep all the way over to the 20-foot high cliffs.
This anchorage provides some protection from wind driven waves from the
prevailing southwest winds The offshore shallow areas should provide some
protection from commercial traffic and other boat wake action going upriver.
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Buoy # 300BOregon
Cold Springs Junction beach (Warehouse Beach), OR
GPS Latitude is 45* 55" .27. GPS
Longitude is 119* 08" .31
Water depth is 21 feet. Located just southeast of a small island and several
hundred feet from a marked swimming beach to the south. Approach can be made
from either end of the island. Reasonable protection from prevailing winds
and commercial traffic wave action. The depth decreases rapidly towards the
sandy shoreline, but appears to be adequate for swing room around buoy.
There should be fair protection from Commercial traffic and other boat wakes
out in the river.
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Buoy # 300COregon
Cold Springs Junction beach (Warehouse Beach.), OR
GPS Latitude is 45* 55" .33. GPS
Longitude is 119* 08" .05.
Water depth is 23 feet, but decreases rapidly towards the nearby shore and
increases rapidly towards the main part of the river. Watch for a shallow
area sticking out from a low rock outcropping to the south, A small island
is located to the west several hundred feet away. The depth approaching from
the main river is very good. Some protection is provided from wind driven
waves coming up the river from the nearby island, but not commercial traffic
or other boat wakes.
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Buoy # 305BRefuge
Island, Washington side, Benton County.
GPS Latitude is 45* 57" .84, GPS
Longitude is 119*' 03 " .92.
The water depth at the buoy is 16 feet, This anchor buoy is located just off
the upstream and downwind end of Refuge Island. Refuge Island is the result
of an old railroad cut along the river that was flooded when the McNary pool
was raised. The present railroad grade is upland just along the shoreline,
parallel to the old cut. The depth through the old cut is a flat 10 feet all
the way. While the cut is not very wide in places, it is navigable by just
about any vessel found in this area. The anchor buoy will provide protection
from the worst of the wind driven waves that frequently occur in the Walulla
Gap when the wind kicks up. Approach the anchor buoy either through the old
railroad cut or directly from the main part of the river. Protection should
be provided from the worst of the prevailing wind driven wave action, but
not from passing commercial traffic and other boat wakes.
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Buoy # 312AWalla
Walla Yacht Club located at Port Kelly at the Walulla Gap.
GPS Latitude is 46* 01" .70. GPS
Longitude is 118* 56" . 10.
This anchor buoy is located in the bay just to the north of the Walla Walla
Yacht Club in 13 feet of water. There is plenty of swing room all around
this buoy. The land to the south towards the grain elevator and the trees at
the C provides some protection from the prevailing winds coming up the
gorge, but no protection from the wakes of passing commercial traffic or
other boat wakes. The commercial traffic usually passes by far across the
river on the Benton County side of the river and creates slow rollers rather
than breaking waves at this location. The WWYC has a caretaker and
telephone.
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Buoy # 312BWalla
Walla Yacht Club located at Port Kelly at the Walulla Gap.
G-PS Latitude is 46* 01" .74. GPS
Longitude is 118*' 56" .09.
Same as anchor buoy 312A above except for position and water depth which is
15 feet.
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Buoy # 317AHover
Park near floating green day marker buoy # 27 across the
river from
the Boise Cascade Pulp Mill.
GPS Latitude is 46* 06" 14. GPS
Longitude is 118* 57" 89.
This anchor buoy is located
adjacent to Hover Park, but is out in the main stem of the river and just out of
the marked channel. There is no protection from the prevailing winds or the
commercial traffic or other boat wakes. Swells will come up river from the
Walulla Gap during windstorms. The water depth is 11 feet and decreases
towards the shore. There is a launching ramp inshore, but use caution as to
the depth of the water there. Strongly advise the use of your anchor light
for overnight stays. There will be lots of light from the pulp mill all
night. Floating milfoil weeds come down the river from the shallow areas
around Agate Islands.
Another anchor buoy is located just nearby.
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Buoy # 317BHover
Park near floating green day marker Buoy # 27 across the
river from
the Boise Cascade Pulp Mill.
GPS Latitude is 46* 06" .2 1. GPS
Longitude is 118* 57" .90
Same as anchor buoy 317A above
except for position and water depth which is 9 feet.
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Buoy 323AShot
Rock Islands (The Mud Hole at the mouth of the Snake River)
GPS Latitude is 450 1 0" .94. GPS
Longitude is 119* 0 1 " .0 I
This anchor buoy is located at the extreme down river end of the Shot Rock
Island chain and is just above the Kalen Rail Road Bridge. The water depth
is 19 feet and the depth drops off fast away from the island, Protection
from the prevailing winds is provided, but not from the passing commercial
traffic wakes. Another anchor buoy is located nearby.
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Buoy 323BShot
Rock Islands (The Mud Hole at the mouth of the Snake River)
GPS Latitude is 46* 10" .98. GPS
Longitude is 119* 00" .97.
Same as 323A above except for position and water depth which is 17 feet.
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Buoy 324FShot
Rock Islands (The Mud Hole at the mouth of the Snake River)
GPS Latitude is 46* 11" 3 1. GPS
Longitude is 119* 01 ".3 1.
This anchor buoy is located in the small bay between the upstream and the
middle Shot Rock Islands. Reasonably good protection is given from
prevailing winds by the bluff on the island to the west and from the wakes
from passing commercial traffic, There are several cables anchored on the
island to the west to allow for tying off between the anchor buoy and the
shore. The water depth is 17 feet all around the buoy. This is a nice place
for overnighting after the daytime water activities go home for the night.
Another anchor buoy is located nearby.
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Buoy 324EShot
Rock islands (The Mud Hole at the mouth of the
Snake River)
GPS
Latitude is 46* 11" 33. GPS Longitude is 119' 01" .28.
Same as anchor buoy 324F above except for position and water depth which is
13 feet.
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Buoy 323DShot
Rock Islands (The Mud Hole at the mouth of the Snake River)
GPS Latitude is 46* 11" .49, GPS
Longitude is 119* 01" 01 47.
Same as anchor buoy 324F above except for position and water depth which is
10 feet.
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Buoy 323CShot
Rock Islands (The Mud Hole at the mouth of the Snake River)
GPS Latitude is 46* 11" .55. GPS
Longitude is 119* 01" 49.
Same as anchor buoy 324F above except for position and water depth which is
12 feet.
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Buoy 323BShot
Rock Islands (The Mud Hole at the mouth of the Snake River)
GPS Latitude is 46* 11" .63. GPS
Longitude is 119* 01" 52
Same as anchor buoy 324F above except for position and water depth which is
11 feet.
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Buoy 324AShot
Rock Islands (The Mud Hole at the mouth of the Snake River)
GPS Latitude is 46* 11" 69, GPS
Longitude is 119* 01" .55.
Same as anchor buoy 324F above except for position and water depth which is
10 feet.
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Buoy # 326BIndian
Island, just upstream from Sacajawea Park on Pasco side of river.
GPS Latitude is 46* 12" .22. GPS
Longitude is 119* 03" .25.
This anchor buoy is located just upstream from the green and red Junction
Marker " S " at the mouth of the Snake River and along the north side of Indian Island. The Buoy is
located in 19 feet of water with good swing room. A little protection is
provided by Indian Island from the prevailing winds. There is only a little
to no protection from passing commercial traffic wakes. Indian Island has a
small sandy beach. Another anchor buoy is located nearby.
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Buoy # 326AIndian
Island, just upstream from Sacajawea Park on Pasco side
of river.
GPS Latitude is 46' 12" .28. GPS
Longitude is 119' 03" .38.
This anchor buoy is located just upstream from the green and red Junction
Marker " S " at the mouth of the Snake River and along the north side of Indian Island. The Buoy is
located in 8 feet of water with good swing room. A little protection is
provided by Indian Island from the prevailing winds. There is little
protection from passing commercial traffic wakes. Indian Island has a small
sandy beach. Another anchor buoy is located just downstream a few hundred
feet.
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Buoy # 229AClover
Island to the Blue Bridge
GPS Latitude is 46* 13' 09. GPS
Longitude is 119* 07' 13.
This anchor buoy is one of five located in a curving line between the
upstream end of Clover Island and the Blue Bridge between Kennewick and
Pasco, This buoy is located in 11 feet of water with good swinging room.
There is no protection from the prevailing wind or commercial traffic wakes.
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Buoy # 229BClover
Island to the Blue Bridge
GPS Latitude is 46* 13" 10. GPS
Longitude is 119* 07".24.
Same as anchor buoy 229A above except for position and water depth which is
18 feet.
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Buoy # 229CClover
Island to the Blue Bridge
GPS
Latitude is 46* 13" 11. GPS Longitude is 119* 07' .37,
Same as anchor buoy 229A above except for position and water depth which is
18 feet.
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Buoy # 229DClover
Island to the Blue Bridge
GPS Latitude is 46* 13". 14. GPS
Longitude is 119* 07" 51
Same as anchor buoy 312A above except for position and water depth which is
18 feet.
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Buoy # 229EClover
Island to the Blue Bridge
GPS Latitude is 46* 13".20. GPS
Longitude is 119* 07".64.
Same as anchor buoy 312A above except for position and water depth which is
18 feet.
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Buoy # 331BGoat
Island just downstream from the island.
GPS Latitude is 46* 14" .07. GPS
Longitude is 119' 11" .52
This buoy is located in 17 feet of water just outside of the marked
navigation channel right off the downstream tip of Goat Island which is just
upstream from Hydro Island. There is good swing room. There is no protection
from prevailing winds or wakes from commercial traffic. Good view up both
sides of Goat Island.
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Buoy # 331AAcross
from Goat Island just downstream along the Pasco
shoreline.
GPS Latitude is 46' 14" .1 7. GPS
Longitude is I 1 9' 1 1 " .31
This buoy is located in 18 feet of water well outside of the marked
navigation channel just upstream from Hydro Island. There is good swing
room. There is no protection from prevailing winds or wakes from commercial
traffic. There is shallow water extending upstream from the end of Hydro
Island, but it is some distance away from the anchor buoy.
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Buoy # 335 (no letter)Yakima
River Delta.
GPS
Latitude is 46' 15 " .3 5. GPS Longitude is 1 19' 14' .22.
This mooring buoy is located upstream of the mouth of the Yakima River
several hundred feet north of a small island with a big tree on it,
relatively speaking that is. The buoy is located in a water depth of 10 feet
and has very good swing room around it. There is an old U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers dock floating to the southwest that usually has a bunch of
Cormorant birds sunning themselves on it. All the water to the south beyond
the island and to the east towards the Yakima River channel is shoal water with a mud bottom with occasional trees
or tree branches imbedded in the mud. Some protection from the prevailing
southwest wind induced waves is provided, but no protection from passing
boat wake action. Generally a quiet pleasant place to spend a night or two.
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Buoy # 7Leavy
Landing, Snake River
GPS Latitude is 46* 16" .89. GPS
Longitude is 118* 50" .04.
This mooring buoy is located in a small bay just upstream from Leavy Landing
Park on the Ice Harbor Dam pool. The buoy is located about 500 feet from the
park's launching ramp. The anchorage is fairly well protected from the
prevailing wind and waves. There is no protection from the commercial or
other traffic wakes. The water depth is 18 feet with good swing room around
the buoy, The water depth is about 10 feet towards the south shore. There is
a mud bottom all around the buoy along the shore.
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Buoy # 8Dalton
Lake, Snake River Mile 15.25
GPS Latitude is 46* 17" .70. GPS
Longitude is 118* 48" .20
This buoy is located in a small bay that leads to the causeway that
separates Dalton Lake from the Snake River proper. The buoy is located in 10
feet of water with good swing room all around the buoy. The depth quickly
gets less towards the shore, which is all mud. There is no protection from
the prevailing wind driven waves or passing commercial traffic and other
wakes, but the anchorage is quite some distance from the passing traffic.
There is a mud bottom all around the buoy but no alligators reported.
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Rules for the use of these buoys posted on the sides of the buoys. Basically
they are a first-come, first to use, with no reservations. There is no cost
for using these buoys. There is a time limit of 72 consecutive hours for
using an anchor buoy. Long term moorage to an anchor buoy is not permitted.
The rules for the use of the anchor buoys are enforced by local law
enforcement agencies.
The numbering of the anchor buoys is related to their location according to
the river mile they are located at. When there are several anchor buoys
located near each other, then in addition to the river mile number, there is
a letter designator starting with the downstream buoy being called "A" the
next upriver being "B" and so on.
All the anchor buoys are set
in such a way as to allow the boat to swing around the buoy without going
aground. Many of the anchor buoys are set in locations that will be
protection from the prevailing wind driven wave action. Appropriate
locations provide protection from the prevailing wind driven wave action.
Appropriate locations that would allow protection from all wave action and
wind are few and far between, so some compromises had to be made in the
placement of some of the anchor buoys.
Each anchor buoy has an
anchor consisting of approximately 4000 pounds of concrete attached to 45
feet of heavy hot dipped galvanized chain. Please use a length of nylon line
to attach your boat to the anchor buoy. The nylon is necessary to reduce
the shock load when the line comes tight so you do not rip out your deck
cleats or other fittings. While these anchor buoys do not have radar
reflectors, there is a sufficient amount of metal in them so they will show
up on the radar screen at several hundred yards or so.
If you have any questions
about these anchor buoys, or if you want to donate towards the cost of
installing additional anchor buoys, please contact the Clover Island Yacht
Club in Kennewick Washington for further information. A list of the buoys
and their locations along with some description of the location follows. The
depth readings were taken with a depth finder transducer located 2 1/2 feet
below the water line so the actual depths may be greater than indicated. If
the river level is lowered, then the depth may actually be less. Use caution
in any case, as you alone are responsible for safely navigating your vessel.
Disclaimer
The accuracy of the data and
observations was compiled by Russ Hughes of the Columbia Point Yacht Club.
The data and obstinateness are not guaranteed to any specific accuracy. The
data is as taken from the boats GPS unit and the depth finder as it way
presented. Normal care was taken to insure reasonable accuracy ,of the
reading. Uncharted, or unknown objects, could exist underwater in the
vicinity of the anchor buoys. Any use of this data and the attached
observations are entirely at your own risk!
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