BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – From above, large logs and trees can be seen sticking out of the murky Lake Champlain water, the trees making a rest stop for birds and an obstacle for those in a boat.
From the sight from the shore, Ken Hebert says it’s something he expects when there is flooding, especially where the Winooski River meets the lake. And it’s something the Coast Guard agrees with.
“When we start flooding, especially on that eastern side of the lake, just know there is going to be some debris out there, lot of logs that get picked up, sent down the Winooski. Just gotta be careful,” said Colby Gold from the Coast Guard.
The Coast Guard says they have not had rescues this year for boats hitting sticks or branches, but they want to remind anyone out in the water that issues can be where you can’t see them.
“When things get waterlogged, it’s kind of like an iceberg where all that weight is going to be on the bottom and you can only see the top of it, where more than 85% of the weight is going to be on the bottom,” said Gold.
Who picks up these trees and logs that found their way into the lake? Most of the time it’s mother nature, but the Coast Guard says they will jump in when needed.
As for the people on the shores, they now have another job to do.
The coast guard wants to remind you to tie up any boats or kayaks so they don’t get washed away during high water events, and to wear a life vest when out on the water.