is on the South shore ofLake Ontario located inWayne County, New York.

MOST PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW THAT CHANNEL DREDGING AND NAVIGATIONAL AIDS ARE FUNDED 100% BYTHE PORT BAY IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION.

THE PORT BAY IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION IS SEEKING PERMISSION TO USE THE DEC FISHING ACCESS SITE ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE CHANNEL FOR THE ANNUAL JULY 3RD FIREWORKS CELEBRATION.THIS EVENT HAS A DIRECT IMPACT ON MEMBERSHIP NUMBERS WHICH IS KEY TO FUNDING PORT BAY CHANNEL MAINTENANCE.

EVERY YEAR LAKE ONTARIO WINTERSTORMS POUND PORT BAY’S BAR ANDCOMPLETELY FILL IN THE CHANNEL MAKING NAVIGATION IMPOSSIBLE.

AN OBSTRUCTED CHANNEL ALLOWS PORT BAYTO RISE TO DANGEROUSLY HIGH LEVELS.

LOOKING NORTH ON PORT BAY’S PIER DURINGA WINTER STORM SHOWS MOST OF WHAT FILLSIN THE CHANNEL COMES OVER THE TOP.

EACH YEAR A CONTRACTOR IS HIRED BY THE PORT BAY IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATIONWHICH FUNDS 100% OF THE DREDGING COST.

THE DREDGED CHANNEL GIVES SAFE AND EASYACCESS TO LAKE ONTARIO FOR ALL BOATERS.

THE DREDGED CHANNEL ALSO PROVIDESA FLUSHING EFFECT FOR THE BAYTHAT HELPS WATER QUALITY.

THE PORT BAY IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATIONHAS INSTALLED NEW DUSK TO DAWN AND NAVIGATIONAL LIGHTS AT THE CHANNEL TO PROVIDE SAFE AND EASY NIGHT BOATING FOR EVERYONE ENTERING OR LEAVING PORT BAY.NEW CHANNEL LIGHTING

NIGHT BOATERS CAN SEE THESE LIGHTS FOR MILES PROVIDING EASY LOCATION OF PORT BAY.

A NEW 3 TO 5 NAUTICAL MILE RED BEACON AND SPEED LIMITSIGN HAVE BEEN INSTALLED AT THE END OF THE PIER.

THREE NEW NAVIGATION LIGHTS HAVE BEEN INSTALLED ONTHE EAST SIDE OF THE CHANNEL.IN ORDER TO COMPLY WITH COAST GUARD REGULATIONS ADDITIONAL FUNDS (BEYOND DUES) NEED TO BE RAISED YEARLY BY THE PBIA MEMBERSHIP.

PORT BAY IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION MEMBERSREPRESENT ONLY A FRACTION OF THE PLEASURE BOATERS AND FISHERMAN THAT NAVIGATE TO AND FROM LAKE ONTARIO. EMERGENCY RESPONSES AND ROUTINE PATROLS ARE ONLY POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE OF PBIA.WHO USES THE CHANNEL?

CHANNEL MAINTINENCE PROVIDED BY THE PORT BAY IMPROVEMENT ASSSOCIATIONALLOWS THE WAYNE COUNTY SHERIFF TO ENTER THE BAY FORROUTINE PATROLS AND EMERGENCY RESPONSES.

THE COAST GUARD ALSO USES THE CHANNEL TO ENTER PORT BAY FOR ROUTINE PATROLS AND EMERGENCY RESPONSES.

THE DEC ANGLER SURVEY BOAT COLLECTS IMPORTANT DATA FROM FISHING BOATS RETURNING FROM LAKE ONTATIO USING THE CHANNEL DREDGED AND MAINTAINED ENTIRELY BY THEPORT BAY IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION.

PORT BAY IS NOT AN OFFICIAL SAFE HARBOR BUT IT DEFINITELY SERVES AS ONE FOR MANY LAKE ONTATIO BOATERS SEEKING REFUGE WHEN LAKE ONTARIO CONDITIONS BECOME UNSAFE.

THE PORT BAY IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATIONhas one important major celebration each year that bonds and maintains current membership and encourages new members to join our cause. Our fireworks display takes place on July 3rd each year and has been a tradition for over 40 years. The barge used to launch the fireworks is no longer available and we need an alternative location. After meeting with Young Explosives we have determined there is only one place on Port Bay that meets the criteria necessary for launching the fireworks.

THIS PLAN PUTS THE FIREWORKS SITE AT THE BOAT LAUNCH AREA. THE CHANNEL WOULD CLOSE AT ABOUT 9:30 PM AND REOPEN AT 10:30

THE AREA NEAR THE BOAT LAUNCH IS AN IDEAL LOCATION FOR LAUNCHING THE FIREWORKS. IT IS A LARGE AREA THAT IS EASILY BLOCKED OFF FOR SAFETY PURPOSES..

During the time period when the fireworks area is secured, boats may be launched and retrieved at four alternative locations for emergency and nonemergency situations.BOAT LAUNCH ACCESS SITES DURING THE FIREWORKS

PLAN OF ACTIONSubmit application to the DEC for a Temporary Revocable Permit to use the state land on the West side of the channel to launch the fireworks.Submit application to the NYS Office of Fire Prevention and Control for permission to launch fireworks from state land.Contact and submit appropriate paperwork to the Coast Guard, Wayne County Sheriff, Wolcott Fire Department and the Wolcott Volunteer Ambulance.Post signs at least two weeks in advance on the proposed site to notify the public the area and boat launch will be closed the evening of July 3rd. They will also be advised of the four other launch locations that may be used during that time.Notify the sheriff to close the access road at 6:00 pm and to patrol the secured area by boat during the fireworks.Barricade the east bar so spectators will remain away from the secured area.

ON JULY 3RD 2013 THE FIREWORKS CELEBRATION WAS FROM THE BARGE. PARTIES, DRINKING, AND FIRES AT THE FISHING ACCESS SITE CONTINUED WAY PAST THE 10 PM CLOSING TIME. THIS PORTABLE TOILET FOR THE HANDICAPPED WAS SET ON FIRE AND DESTROYED. SECURING THE AREA FOR THE FIREWORKS COULD HELP PREVENT THIS INAPPROPRIATE ACTIVITY.THIS SIGN IS POSTED AT THE ENTRANCE OF THE PORT BAY FISHING ACCESS SITE. LITTERING, FIRES AND ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES ARE PROHIBITED.IT IS ALSO CLOSED AT 10 PM.

THIS BEAUTIFUL SITE GIVES EVERYONE FISHING AND RECREATIONAL ACCESS TO PORT BAY. THE FUNDING FROM THE PORT BAY IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION EXTENDS THIS ACCESS TO AND FROM LAKE ONTARIO. CONTINUATION OF THIS PUBLIC SERVICE IS ONLY POSSIBLE BY MAINTAINING AND INCREASING PBIA MEMBERSHIP.

THE PORT BAY IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION IS RESPONSIBLE FOR FUNDING 100% OF DREDGING AND LIGHTING COSTS.WITHOUT SUSTAINING AND GROWING MEMBERSHIP NUMBERS, CHANNEL MAINTENANCE WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE.THE ANNUAL FIREWORKS DISPLAY IS KEY TO BONDING AND GROWING OUR MEMBERSHIP.THE ONLY SUITABLE LAND LOCATION IS THE FISHING ACCESS SITE ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE CHANNEL.THE PORT BAY IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION IS SEEKING PERMISSION FROM THE DEC TO USE THE PORT BAY FISHING ASSESS SITE FOR A FEW HOURS ON ONE EVENING OF THE ENTIRE YEAR FOR OUR ANNUAL JULY 3RD FIREWORKS CELEBRATION.