Bulletins

PUBLIC NOTICE
2012 SEASONAL DOCKAGE DEPOSITS PAST DUE
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1st, 2011

Agenda for Waterways Meeting - Januaty 13, 2012

Marina now closed for the season

Saquatucket Municipal Marina and all Town docks are closed to all recreational boats from Novemebr 15th until May 1st, 2012*.All vessels without offloading privileges must be removed per order of Harbormaster.

*If you have left your boat here you will be charged at the regular daily rate. Delinquent vessels may be removed at the owners expense.

Waterways Users Fee 2011


Harbormaster Interpretation: Vessels stationed or occupying a private dock, a private marina slip, the private moorng of another, a hotel guest mooring, a yacht club guest mooring, a boat yard work mooring, for more than two weeks time (collectively) between June 15th and Labor Day shall contact the Harbormaster and pay the annual Waterways User Fee (currently $125). Harwich Waterway User Fee is considered past due July 1st and can be paid at the Harbormasters Office. A small transom sticker is issued and must be displayed on the vessel.

Demand Notice Boat excise

Did you pay your boat excise?
Sorry, General Law requires all boat excise tax be paid before Harbormaster can renew any contracts or permits. The Harwich Tax Collector mailed out the boating excise bills on October3rd and they were due for collection November 3rd. There are still many, many unpaid bills of this kind and more than 100 people who have a mooring or boat slip in Harwich that we have identified. The Harbormaster is required to enforce this statute by prohibiting the vessel being moored. You can check to see if you are on this list here. You are responsible for all outstanding bills including interest and penalties.

Tax bills can be paid on line, however past due (or outstanding taxes with penalties) must be paid directly at the Treasurers office (call 508-430-7501) at Harwich Town Hall. If the bill is current and you know your current amount and bill number this tax bill be can paid using pay on-line.

Outstanding Excise List to FY 2011.

Dredging and Beach NourishmentBidding

The Harbormasters Office will soon be placing a public advertisement making it possible for shorefront homeowners and associations to bid and receive channel sand as part of the many County dredging projects Harwich, Mass. If you have an interest in more information please contcat Tom Leach

Long Pond Boat Ramp Fee


The Long Pond Boat Ramp Users Fees for Fernandes Bog Ramp & Beach Area are as follows:
  • $100.00 Seasonal Salt Water Ramp pass will allow person to launch and park @ Long Pond.
  • Harwich Beach Sticker will allow person to launch and park @ Long Pond.
  • $15.00 daily parking pass can be purchased from the guard to launch and park @ Long Pond.
  • Launching of Personal Watercraft (jetskis) is Prohibited (fine $200)

    Waterways User Fees 2010
    Beginning May 1st all boat owners of vessels LOA 16' or more must pay and display the Harwich Waterway Users Fee 2010 sticker on the transom (top starboard corner) of the vessel. The application fee is $125 per year and proceeds go directly into the Harwich Waterways Improvement Fund which is used for dredging channels and harbor maintenance. This application is required of all boats permanently situated at private docks, non-municipal marinas and yacht clubs. Applications are avaiable from the Harbormasters office or on this website (see Forms & Applications). Deadline July 1st.

    Any vessel in any of these situations without the WUF sticker are subject to a fine up to $200.

    Massachusetts Environmental Police Remind Citizens to Wear Life Jackets, Practice Safe Boating This Fall and Winter

    With fall weather almost here, the Massachusetts Environmental Police (MEP) remind boaters that state law requires canoeists and kayakers to wear a personal flotation device (PFD) at all times from September 15 through May 15. “Boaters should wear life jackets year-round, but during cool and cold weather months, it’s the law in Massachusetts,” MEP Director Aaron Gross said. “Wearing a life jacket could save you from an unwelcome visit from an enforcement officer, and - much more important – it could save your life.” The MEP point out that beautiful fall days mask water temperatures that are dangerously cold. If paddlers capsize or fall overboard, they can succumb within minutes to hypothermia (the lowering of a person’s internal body temperature), which deadens arms and legs and renders a victim unable to swim, paddle, or stay afloat. A related danger, the “cold-water-immersion-reflex” - whereby a victim, shocked by frigid water, involuntarily gasps and ingests a significant amount of water - can lead to death by drowning.

    Phosphate free fertilizer

    Help us save the planet. Espoma, sells a 100% organic phosphate free fertilizer. Pond associations, and folks upstream from an estuary, etc. should make reduced phosphate use regular practice. Espoma can be found at Agway and Harts Farm.

    New Info Received

    Zypha Road Beach Determination (2MB)

    Army Survey Andrews River(2MB)

    Waiting List Renewals

    The waiting list renewal applications will be mailed February 1st. The deadline for renewing the waiting list was April 1st, 2011.

    Walks & Talks

    Enjoy being outdoors? Get the full list of upcoming conservation walks and talks in Harwich. Most are free and fun!

    Town gets New Dredging Permit

    Harwich Port (3/9/09)

    The County Dredge should be underway on June 1st dredging Allen Harbor. Here is a finally report on the Harwich Harwich Chapter 91 dredging permit which will be good until 2019.

    Shellfish Area Closures

    The following shellfishing areas are remain closed until further notice due to elevated bacteria counts: Red River(inside), and Muddy Creek west of (rte 28).

    A fine for harvesting shellfish from any of the above areas is $300 to $1000 or arrest. Please report offenders (in the act) on annonymous tip line at Harbormasters Office 508-430-7532. Harwich shellfishing and shellfish area questions can be answered by Heinz Proft direct at 508-237-4677. Shellfish permits will be sold at the Harbormasters Office at Saquatucket Harbor 9-3PM M-F.

    More Shellfishing information available at Shellfish Department

    Marina and Harbor Do's and Don'ts

  • Absolutely No Boat Wake in any of our harbors or rivers, inside breakwaters, or designated mooring area channels
  • No Discharge of Sewage, either treated or untreated in any Harwich Harbors. Harwich is a Designated Federal No Discharge Area
  • Use onboard holding tank only or shoreside facilities. Macerator Chlorinators use prohibited
  • Use Harwich shoreside pump-out station at Saquatucket Harbor east bulkhead
  • No disposal of fish racks, fish parts, fish heads, etc. anywhere within the waters, harbor area or dumpsters. Fishermen are responsible for taking these to the dump.
  • No fueling of boat(s) anywhere in the marina from portable fuel containers. Commercial boats must have valid Town offloading permits.
  • No open flames
  • No barbecuing or open flame either gas grill or charcoal
  • Consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited at any Town Landing, pier, float, building or parking area.
  • No home trash in dumpsters. Dumpsters are for acceptable boat generated trash only not including fish parts
  • No running on the docks or bare feet (wear shoes or sandals)
  • No hanging laundry or towels from outside vessel, in rigging etc.
  • No shouting, profanity, or abusive language
  • No parking vehicles in the Lower Road at Saquatucket Harbor, on Town Pier or in designated trailer spaces ($125 fine any vehicle without permit)
  • No Dogs or pets in Harbormasters Office or restrooms. Pets must be kept on leash.
  • Do walk your dog at on grass north side of east parking lot
  • Do pick up and dispose of dog waste appropriately.
  • Marina shower rooms reserved for marina guests only. Public handicap accessible individual bathrooms are available 24/7.
  • No parking on grass
  • No fishing from the docks
  • All boat trailers must use designated spots and pay daily or seasonal fee.
  • Do report any unsafe or unsanitary or displeasing conditions to the staff
  • Please report any violations to the Harbormasters Office


    B-Permits Renewals
    Renewal applications of Offloading privileges for transient commercial fishing vessels with applicable Town of Harwich B-Permits were promptly mailed out on November 1st. These renewals are due by December 31st. Any permits not renewed will be subject to reassignment to new interested commercial fishermen.
    Coyote Season in effect through February 28th
    Deer Season is closed (Dec 9).However, Archery season for deer started Oct. 16. coyote hunting season began Nov. 1 and ends Feb. 28. All coyotes downed must be tagged and reported (see regulations). Please do not let your children or pets enter the woods. Wear bright colored clothing if you are going anywhere where even bow hunting may be allowed. Hunting License Requirements<