BROAD CREEK “1” HAS BEEN MOVED
As of November 10, 2015, the following change has significant impact to boaters entering or leaving Broad Creek Channel on the Rappahannock River near Deltaville, Virginia.
The entrance mark for Broad Creek Channel was recently moved about 520 feet to the SSW. This effectively makes the marked channel about 520 feet shorter. While the entrance mark originally set in deep water and could be approached on a course parallel to the shore from either upriver or downriver, the new entrance mark is set at the edge of shallow water. If boaters make a sharp turn upriver or downriver at that mark they will encounter shallow water. There is now shallow water immediately downriver of the mark.
When leaving the channel, boaters should continue along the general course of the channel for at least 500 additional feet past the new marker before turning up or down the river. Likewise, boaters entering the channel should stay out in the river 500 or more feet away from the channel entrance mark until they are roughly in-line with the channel before turning toward the entrance mark.
The change was published in the USCG Local Notice to Mariners, District 5, Week 44, 2015 (dated November 3 2015). The specifics are
CHART VA -CHESAPEAKE BAY: RAPPAHANNOCK RIVER ENTRANCE (PIANK & GRT WIC RV). 12235
Change Broad Creek Channel Entrance Light 1 at from 37-34-18.403 N 076-18-28.240 W
to Broad Creek Channel Entrance Light 1BC, Fl G 2.5s, 15FT, 4M , 37-34-13.604 N 076-18-30.861 W
In decimal minutes often used with GPS, the new coordinates are 37° 34.227’ N 076° 18.514’ W