BSPS Co-op Charting
Cooperative Charting Program of the United States Power Squadrons is conducted in close coordination with the Marine Chart Division, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The Program is a major public service of USPS. Under it, members supply information to the Marine Chart Division.
As the Federal Government
continues to cut budgets, it becomes ever
more important for the USPS to re-emphasize its participation in
Cooperative Charting. USPS
provides updated and current information leading to corrections to
nautical charts, small craft charts, the USCG Light Lists and the Coast
Pilot publications. Without these USPS observations and reports, many
hazards would go undetected until tragedy strikes through a nautical
mishap.
Recognizing this increased need, an aggressive Coop Charting program
has been launched by BSPS Coop Charting Co-chairs Terry Hummel and Matt
Brown. The program begins in April with five different projects staffed
by BSPS teams.
The projects include
- Nautical Chart Survey of Drayton Harbor
- Nautical Chart Survey and Coast Pilot Update of Cherry Point
- Small Craft Report of Squalicum Harbor Marina
- Range Line Survey of Squalicum Creek
- Nautical Chart Survey of Bellingham Bay
Completion of the projects will lead to updating of nautical information for our boating area. Coop Charting is a core function of USPS and BSPS plans to be on the Coop Charting Honor Roll for the upcoming season. The more BSPS members we have participating the more and varied projects we can tackle. If you have any questions or if you are interested in learning more about the BSPS Coop Charting program for 2011, contact Terry Hummel or Matt Brown, phone (360) 671-7553.
