U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Sierra Division 11

Department of Homeland Security
United States Coast Guard
U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary
2009 Sierra Division 11 Accomplishments

Summary

Our Division goal for 2008 was to provide an environment where the Flotillas, Division staff members, local agencies and marine interests in our area were willing and interested in developing relationships that would contribute to the common interest of promoting boating safety on Lake Tahoe and our Nevada inland lakes. Last year we accomplished part of this goal through the sharing of flotilla resources to train and re-qualify boat crew and coxswains. We developed and/or continued many partner agency relationships including the National Weather Service, Lake Tahoe Water Trail Committee, Tahoe Maritime Museum, Nevada State Parks, County Sheriff’s Departments (Lyon, Douglas and Washoe), Truckee Police Department, Big Blue Adventure, and the Mike Brown’s Splash-In. We greatly enhanced our relationship with the Nevada Department of Wildlife and the Coast Guard (Station Lake Tahoe, MSST and ANT).

This theme of cooperation was carried through 2009. We continued to build our participation in operations through cross training throughout the flotillas and the Coast Guard. Partner Agency relationships strengthened and grew. We excelled in increasing participation in our Vessel Exam Program. For 2009 we also planned to promote better communication and collaboration between flotillas and staff through the use of our Division website. Our SO-CS Tom Komadina provided the tools for us to promote our Division through news reports, pictures and videos.

We have had accomplishments in several programs this year. As a summary for our members I have outlined what we have all accomplished this year. I have highlighted the items of special consideration in red.

Partner Agency Activities – CG Station Lake Tahoe

•COMO Robert Phifer Award – For the second year in a row Station Tahoe and Division 11 were pleased and honored to receive the award.

•2-Boat Training – 2009 had a series of unusual events that lead to an exponential increase in 2-boat training activity. Due to low lake levels this winter Station Tahoe had to take their Safe Boat off the hoist and moor it in a nearby marina and the second boat was unable to launch at the ramp located next to the station. The Auxiliary obtained 17 MSD900 dry suits from Station Tahoe and 21 members qualified in the suits. Several new recruits arrived at Station Tahoe and needed to be trained and operationally qualified for the summer boating season. Facilities from the Reno and Carson City flotillas trailered to Lake Tahoe to 2-boat train at the Station’s request. In all we have conducted twenty eight 2-boat training and qualifying patrols with Station Tahoe. The Auxiliary was instrumental in helping with the training of three Coast Guard coxswains and eight Coast Guard boat crew. Auxiliarists were frequently included in the debriefing of 2-boat scenarios.

•Watch Standing – Four Auxiliarists are training to become watch standers at Station Tahoe.

•Auxiliary/Station Tahoe Relationship – The Division Offices and the SO-OP regularly meet with Coast Guard cadre to discuss collaborative projects. Projects included providing TCT Training for the Station, Regatta events, inter-agency SAR training, 2-boat training, watch stander training and station personnel changes. Senior Chief Bennett invited us to represent the local Auxiliary at the visit from Commander of the Eleventh Coast Guard District, Rear Admiral Zukunft in January 2009. He also included the Auxiliary in a visit from the Coast Guard’s Master Chief Charles Bowen on August 26 at Station Lake Tahoe. The Master Chief presented the crew with CG Medallions and thanked them for their service.

•Station Change of Personnel – Division and Flotilla 11-01 Auxiliarists attended and recognized with gifts of appreciation the departure of XPO Josh Martin and Auxiliary Liaison Officer BM2 Adam Season. In turn we have welcomed XPO Jason Grimm and Auxiliary Liaison Officer BM2 Graham Potter.

•Joint Auxiliary/Station Tahoe Events - With the increase in active duty turn over at the Station we have actively invited the Coast Guard to participate in Division and Flotilla meetings, public affairs events and fellowship events in order to continue our strong relationship between the two organizations. Auxiliary events this year included the Pre-Snowfest Pizza Party, Snowfest Parade, the Division Training and Picnic, Flotilla 11-01 Picnic, and the Annual Holiday Party. Coast Guard events included Station Tahoe Spring Picnic, July 4th Barbeque, the SAR Orientation Meeting and Picnic, and upcoming Coast Guard Holiday Party.

•Memorial for Walter Genest - The Coast Guard and Flotilla 11-01 provided a marine escort for the scattering of ashes on April 25 for Walt Genest, a 24 year member of Flotilla 11-01. The escort was followed by the planting of a memorial tree at Station Lake Tahoe. The Auxiliary, the Coast Guard cadre and family and friends of Walt and Robyn Genest attended the event.

National Weather Service – Division 11 continues to work closely with the NWS in Reno promoting their recreational forecast product that gives the boating public detailed wind and wave forecasts for Lake Tahoe and Pyramid Lake. Vic Beelik SO-PB/FC 11-04 created an announcement flyer and CD that details the website addresses where the public and marine concessionaires can find the up-to-date weather information. Vic Beelik and Jack Leth SO-OP introduced NWS personnel to the Coast Guard, various law enforcement agencies, marine agencies and newspapers to get the word out. The NWS participated as a speaker at our Division Training in August.

Nevada Department of Wildlife – NDOW continues to be one of our biggest allies and promoters. They continue to keep us stocked in “On Board and Informed” Lake Tahoe Maps and “Play it Safe” Cold Water Immersion brochures. This year they also agree to print 2000 copies of Flotilla 04s (Vic Beelik’s) new Paddlecraft Safety brochures. Auxiliarists attended the retirement picnic of Fred Messmann, head of boating safety for NDOW, and presented him with a gift of appreciation.

CG ANT-SF Team - SO-OP Jack Leth and Vic Beelik continue to support the ANT team in documenting aids to navigation around Lake Tahoe.

Donner Truckee Sheriff’s Department – Personnel from the Donner Truckee Sheriff’s Department attended Flt 01’s flotilla meeting to discuss operations on Donner Lake. Our vessel examiners jointly conduct VSCs on Donner Lake with the Sherriff Department Volunteers.

Lake Tahoe Water Trail Committee –Once again we participated in the Lake Tahoe Water Trail Committee Community Paddle Event at Sand Harbor held on May 16th. Over 90 participants from the Lake Tahoe area and nearby Nevada and California communities gathered at Sand Harbor for a two hour paddle of the East Shore and then returned to a BBQ lunch. The paddle event started with a safety talk by Dee Dee Kincade DCDR and Pat Walter. We reminded every kayaker about required safety equipment and the care needed to paddle on Lake Tahoe where the water temperature on Saturday was 48 degrees. We were joined by Jack Leth SO-OP and Hersh Kohut to speak on emergency procedures and suggested safety equipment.

Various Event Organizers for Regatta Events – Operations covered twenty seven regatta event patrols this year with multiple facilities involved in several of the events. This included fireworks displays, fishing derbies, sailboat races, kayak races, outrigger races, paddleboard races, swims, seaplanes, Fleet Week, a submarine. At nine of these events we also had an Auxiliary Communications Unit. Our SO-OP Jack Leth was not only organizing our Auxiliary facilities and communication units for these events but instrumental in contacting the event organizers and communicating our role as safety zone providers for the events. Many of the organizers worked with Jack and our operational members several times and they soon became very appreciative of our efforts to keep the events safe.

The Undersea Voyager Project - The Coast Guard and Auxiliary provided safety zone patrols at the launching of the Undersea Voyager Project submersible on April 30 held at the Tahoe Keys Marina in South Lake Tahoe, CA. The Undersea Voyager Project organizers contacted Lake Tahoe Auxiliary Flotillas and Station Tahoe concerning support and help with their month long project. The Undersea Voyager Project is a non-profit organization established to circumnavigate and study the Earth's oceans (27,000 miles) at depths of 100–1,000 feet utilizing human piloted submersibles.

Patti Bauernfeind - On May 30 long distance swimmer Patti Bauernfeind contacted us through the Division website asking for guidance regarding her planned swim on August 28. For months leading up to the swim DCDR Dee Dee Kincade corresponded with Patti, answering questions about security and permit issues concerning the swim. Patti successfully completed the swim on August 28. She was very appreciative of the support of the Auxiliary.

Operations

One of biggest accomplishments this year was our increased participation in operations. This was achieved through the joint cooperation of members from all the flotillas and the excellent organizational skills of our SO-OP Jack Leth. As of October 10, 2009 we:
•Conducted 2248.80 hours underway, an increase of 64% from 2008.
•Conducted 949.40 regatta hours underway, an increase of 55% from 2008. Our Division conducts a significantly larger number of regatta hours than any of the other Divisions. Regattas represent direct support to the Coast Guard. Regattas comprise 39% of our total patrol hours for the year. We covered 26 separate regatta events this year: 5 fireworks events, 6 fishing derbies, 4 kayak races, 1 outrigger race, 5 standup paddle board events, 2 sailboat races, 1 trans lake swim, 1 seaplane event, 1 submarine event and Fleet Week. We have become an instrumental part of many of these events providing safety zone protection and assisting in saving lives and property. Our current hours do not include 2 facilities that participated multiple days at fleet week that I would estimate to be around 40 additional hours.
•Conducted most of these patrols with a smaller operational base of facilities and boat crew than many of the other Divisions with a shorter boating season.
•This year we have qualified 3 new Coxswains and 5 new Boat Crew. We have also re-qualified 3 Coxswains, 1 PWC Coxswain and 3 Boat Crew.
•Conducted 28 2-Boat Trainings with Station Lake Tahoe.

Pages: 1 · 2