LETTER: Coast Guard Needs to Hear from Residents on Milton Harbor Plan

Rye City Councilman Josh Nathan and Boat Basin Chair Joe Pecora are urging residents to contact the US Coast Guard and voice objection to the proposal to remove navigational buoys from Rye’s Milton Harbor. You can see MyRye.com’s prior reporting on the issue, Navigational Buoys Could Be Removed from Milton Harbor by February 28th.

Dear MyRye.com Readers,

Re: Milton Harbor

As you may know, the United States Coast Guard is planning to remove the federal navigational aids in Rye’s Milton Harbor. These ten buoys run from the Rye City Marina all the way past Hen Island and Scotch Caps to where Milton Harbor intersects with Mamaroneck Harbor. They are critical to safely navigating our harbor, our mooring fields, and our marina. The Coast Guard’s reason is that they can’t service the buoys during low tide. We understand the Coast Guards concern, but it is not suddenly imperative that the Coast Guard pull the buoys now, especially when the City is going to dredge the channel this year. The interim solution is for the Coast Guard is to service the buoys during mid to high tide when the depth is greater, something the Coast Guard use to do here in Rye and does for other shallow channels.

Removal of the buoys now, when we are so close to dredging and substantially improving the current situation, is a dangerous mistake. It could prove damaging to the over 5000 people who regularly use the harbor for recreational, educational and first responder activities, and it will be costly to our City.

To show our united voice, we are asking that you please email your objection to the Coast Guard by February 11th. Attached is a sample letter that only requires your name be inserted prior to being sent. It is imperative that the Rye community shows their support for this initiative, otherwise it could yield unnecessary, unsafe conditions.

You don’t need to be a boat owner to object to the Coast Guard’s proposal, anyone can. If you have been a guest on a boat or use the harbor for kayaking, paddle boarding, canoeing, or rowing, or simply, do not want to let this happen to our harbor, you may register your objection.

Thank you again for your urgent attention to this matter.

Best,
Joe Pecora
Rye City Boat Basin Commission Chairman

Josh Nathan
Rye City Council Member and Liaison to the Rye City Boat Basin Commission

Download the sample letter.