Seneca Lake Sensor (Geneva)

[kelshipman]

Hi Sailors,

I am working with WeatherFlow to get the Seneca Lake Sensor installed and back up and running. Most of you know that the city took down the Chamber Building for some waterfront improvements.

I am working on making a pitch to the city to allow us to install it on the Long Pier just south of the Raddison hotel.



I plan to talk to the City Manager, Matt Horn, soon. If anyone thinks they have connections or ideas to help get this done done, please let me know!

You can reach me at [e-mail] or call me at 585-770-3519.

Thanks

Kel

[kelshipman]

Trying to a picture of the proposed installation here:

[genevan]

Kel:
I'm afraid the unit wouldn't last a day in this location. Our local stooges in this dump town would have that off in seconds. They have already thrown a trash barrel in the water that was there (ironic because Genevans want to turn the town into a trash economy with corporate landfill expansion) and managed to loosen the cage on the boat light (until I fixed it). It will need to be up high...very high. Also - I heard they scrapped the idea for a boat museum (which was why they destroyed the building in the first place)...burned down a perfectly good building...love my lake - hate the town...you might want to call HWS' geoscience department. I hear they have some type of station in the middle of the lake that might be ideal.

[kelshipman]

Thanks for the thoughts. I will let WeatherFlow know that vandalism could be a problem.

They wanted to mount the photo cell and comm box lower behind the railing with the mast just holding the sensors.

I will talk it over with them.

[jgordon]

Thanks and props to Brad and Kel for actively pursuing the relocation of this oft-referenced meter and communicating with the folks who manage it at iwindsurf!!!

[windkid]

There is a bouy that supplies some data @
fli-data.hws.edu/clarkpt/
Right now it is shut down for the winter.

Is it really true that the boat museum has been cancelled and that the Chamber was burned down for no real purpose?

That's totally insane.

[gemoore]

Thank-you for that link! I like it better than the one they tore down. I wonder if we could persuade the HWS folks to allow Sail Flow to use the data feed? I assume you have the Sail Flow gear, Brad?

I sailed past this buoy when I was out on the MegaCat in a W wind. I got quite a bit further south than the buoy...made me wonder if anyone has ever windsurfed from Watkins Glen to Seneca (or vice-versa). On a longboard and a long summer day with a decent NW breeze of 10-15, I should think it quite do-able....

[genevan]

Just sneaked a sunset sesh at seneca....thought we were going to get skunked today - whew...anyhow, I believe Kel has the gear. I did my best to get Iwind connected with the Seneca Marina but it looks like it will take time, Kel seems to be the lead on this. I did chat with the HWS meteorology professor who has a station on top of the guard shack at the park, he said it doesn't have a feed and wasn't too keen on my idea of co-writing a grant to do so. The HWS bouy might not be a great idea if there is no power.

[Windydoug]

Windkid, how long have you been holding out on that mid lake meter!? Does it read true when it is working?
Much thanks to Kel for his dedication to the Seneca meter over the past couple years, he has worked us through lighting strikes and various other interruptions. I'm glad to know the gear didn't parish in the blaze. What a bummer to hear that the museum may be up in the air. I researching the control burn I came across an article that mentioned that the bid process hadn't even been ironed out for the construction of the new facility. Hmmmm curious.
All these options have my head spinning. A positive for relocating it where it was (eventually) is that it was a known.

[kelshipman]

WOW - great to hear about those awesome December sessions!!!

Here is the latest on the Seneca Lake Meter:

The City Manager and City Engineer are on board with helping us find a new location and have been helpful.

They were equally concerned about vandalism relative to a location on Long Pier. But otherwise fully support us getting the meter back up and running.

A new building is going to be built, but it probably will not be complete until the end of 2013. Because of that, they are willing to help us find either a temporary or permanent location, which ever is possible.

Right now we are looking at a utility pole that is at the foot of the rock pier at the current NW launch beach.

If anyone is in the area and can take some pictures of the pole, we could move this along pretty quickly. I am out of the area until after new years, or I would go do it myself.

If anyone can help me get some pictures, just email or call. Thanks [e-mail] 585-770-3519.

[genevan]

lh6.googleusercontent.com/-bf9w3-c1Gy8/UL9VcSntl9I/AAAAAAAAAOM/Srs0jH22cfA/w288-h481-p-k/IMAG0169.jpg

Here ya go, must have sent you a pic to the wrong email address the other day....

[kelshipman]

Perfect Brad!

Thanks

[waterauthorityrick]

Hey if we go with the temp meter on that pole
I can help with the install by climbing the pole with my tree spikes, perhaps saving the cost of a man lift.

Let me know!

H20 (high climbing) Rick

[kelshipman]

Thanks Rick, I will.

[kelshipman]

Good news!

The City of Geneva has cleared the way to mount the Seneca Lake weather sensors on the utility pole just at the base of the rock jetty. I think this should provide wind data at least as good as it was when mounted on the old chamber building.

Installation will probably take place shortly after the new year. I will keep everyone posted.

If anyone has a contact that might be able to provide a lift or a bucket truck for about a 3 hour installation, please get in touch with me ([e-mail]). Otherwise, they will use ladder and climbing equipment.

Happy Windy Holidays!!!

PS - has anyone sailed or kited in St Lucia? I am heading there and plan to kite on the south side of the island.

[genevan]

Nice work!

[gemoore]

You guys are awesome. Totally, magnificent, awesome.

And - heavily reading between the lines, which we counsel patients in our stress management programs not to do - if the City Manager and Engineer are supportive of us, when in much of America they have just gotten rid of launch sites for windsurfers and kiteboarders, then it means that they recognize we provide panache and pizzazz to the waterfront. They see us out in conditions that aren't for the faint-of-heart, and know that it's an attraction. Crissy Field (S.F. Bay, under the Golden Gate) is the only more spectacular spot I've ever sailed than Geneva, a spot where the boarder feels like he/she is part of the "scene" that everybody wants to see.

Admittedly, our numbers pale in comparison to Crissy, but still I think it's important to perceive that we add some value to the waterfront as long as we're responsible watermen / women, don't cause problems and are sources of solutions.

In my opinion, you guys are doing great work here and deserve the kudos.

OK, now for the bad karma....where is the SNOW?!?! I want to ski now. Time for the water to be FROZEN!!!

[Windydoug]

Geoff, I can't tell you how glad I am that you found the forum. Between your post above talking so truly about Seneca in all its glory (and considering the background and skill you have)...the "Seneca Scene", and your HILARIOUS reply on the "A hole" thread....my December day is complete.

Meter Man Kel.....You the man! Thanks for doing this. You sure have put in the hard work for all of us. I owe ya a cold one. Hopefully you can make a trek out this way for a meet and greet in Late Jan or Feb.

Happy Holidays!

Doug

[rxbob]

Kel:

I have a work relationship with contractor on the Geneva project and have discussed the sensor in relation to future planning/structures. Call for more info 315-923-2651/Work/Bob

[kelshipman]

Hey Bob,

Could you email me at [e-mail]?

I wanted to get an email list together for people that can help with some feed back to the developers.

Thanks

Kel