LMLPA hits milestone with 100th buoy
Story by Roxanne Edsall
Photos courtesy of LMLPA
A new sentinel stands watch over the waters of Logan Martin Lake. Weighing in at just over 100 pounds, this guardian of the waters illuminates a danger lurking below the surface, a danger that could put lives and property at risk.
This new harbinger of hazards is the 100th lighted buoy installed by members of Logan Martin Lake Protection Association (LMLPA).
In a 2024 report, the most recent statistics from the U.S. Coast Guard show collision with a fixed object, above or below the surface of the water was the number one reason for boating accidents nationwide, with grounding being third on the list.
The report showed there were 17 incidents of collision with a fixed object and 12 grounding incidents in Alabama. Because of statistics like these and wanting to make every effort to increase safety on Logan Martin, members of LMLPA began working on a project to replace old safety buoys with lighted ones that could be seen both day and night.
The project began in 2019 as members began raising money to purchase the buoys, solar light kits, cables, hardware and cement anchors. Their goal was to raise enough cash to install 100 lighted buoys. The process has been lengthy, and the costs have risen each year. It costs LMLPA almost $800 per buoy installed.
“We have been fortunate to have a lot of these buoys sponsored by individuals, groups, or grants to help us cover the cost,” said LMLPA President Neal Stephenson. “People can sponsor a buoy online at www.lmlpa.org. Click on the dropdown ‘What We Do’ tab and go to buoy installation to donate.”
This is the third year in partnership with Boo Bash on Logan Martin. Since 2024, the organizers of Boo Bash have made LMLPA the beneficiary of the sponsorship funds that exceeded the cost of putting on Boo Bash, giving the lake protection association a much-needed financial shot in the arm.
“Our partnership with Boo Bash has been a great experience, and it provides an opportunity to support our programs at LMLPA while having fun trick-or-treating on the lake,” said Stephenson. “The event has sponsored thousands of dollars for the buoy program.”
Dee Parsons and David Carboni were on the crew to set buoy number one and again on number 100. Carboni believes it’s the most instrumental thing being done for lake safety. “Before this, people were just dropping pins and sharing locations of dangerous places on the lake,” said Carboni. “Now we have these lighted safety buoys with GPS locations.”
Parsons echoes the appreciation for GPS locating, as it makes the buoys easier to reposition when they drift away from the hazard they were intended to mark. He’s grateful to have been a part of the process from the beginning. “It makes me happy to have been involved in all 100,” said Parsons. “It has boosted morale [for LMLPA] because members are excited about what’s going on.”
Randy Sparks is the buoy boat captain and oversees the program for LMLPA. He describes the process involved in getting new buoys ready to launch. “All have to be drilled and fitted for lights. We add the lights and get them on the boat and take them to the predetermined place,” Sparks said. “Then we measure the depth of the water there and cut a piece of stainless-steel cable to fit that depth with a foot extra for each end and an extra five feet of cable to make sure it doesn’t float off.
“We attach it to a five-gallon bucket of concrete provided by Alabama Power with a stainless-steel eye bolt,” he added. “Then we drop the buoy and anchor bucket together off the side of the boat. We get the GPS coordinates, so we know exactly where it is located, and we log them into Navionics, and we let the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) know where they are.”
For hazard buoy locations, the LMLPA team identifies a hazard using personal experiences, feedback from boaters and property owners, and direction from ALEA. Those hazards could be old roadbeds, subsurface rocks, boulders or shallow places or points that come out into the lake. “When we identify these,” explained Stephenson, “we drop those buoys to let boaters know of the hazard, so they won’t get hurt or damage their boats.”
They put out both hazard buoys and no-wake buoys, but the second type is strictly regulated by ALEA. “We always have everyone wanting us to put no-wake buoys out, but we can’t do that unless ALEA directs that,” Sparks noted. Those wanting no-wake buoys need to contact ALEA to get that approval. If approved, LMLPA can put that location on the list for future buoy placement.
Sparks also explained why having launched 100 buoys, there are actually fewer than that in the water right now. “Some of the older ones have had to be pulled out because they are no longer functioning. Sometimes they float off or get damaged.
“We just ask that people be respectful of the buoys,” he added. “We’re a nonprofit, and we’re trying to make the money raised go as far as possible. We have a phone number on each buoy, so if something happens to damage it and someone finds it, they can call us and we can get it back. Then we evaluate it to see if we can fix it or reuse it or if it just needs to be replaced.”
Bud Kitchin is a former LMLPA president and has been involved in the buoy project since its inception. “The thing I’ve learned since starting this project,” said Kitchin, “is that the lifespan of a buoy is not five years like we originally thought. It’s more like two to three years. LMLPA will always be raising funds to support this program and keep Logan Martin Lake safe.”
Bridge marker project underway, too
In addition to replacing buoys and adding new ones, LMLPA has added another safety-inspired project this year. They are installing reflective bridge caution signs on the pilings for all the bridges that go over Logan Martin Lake. Their goal is to get signs on all of the bridge pilings in the next couple of years, a goal that will require them to purchase and install 100 signs.
In 2017, two people were seriously injured when their boat struck the piling of Riverside’s railroad bridge in the dark of night. Protecting boaters from just such nighttime dangers is the reason LMLPA is making the bridge safety sign project a priority. “Safety is our primary mission,” Stephenson said. “These signs are fluorescent yellow and are reflective in low-light conditions. We want to make the lake safer for all.”
The signs will be placed on the upstream and downstream sides of the Riverside Railroad Bridge, Highway 78 Bridge, Stemley Bridge, Renfroe Road, Choccolocco Creek and Poor House. The cost of $80 per sign takes care of materials needed for installation. The labor is provided by volunteers, who plan installation runs every two weeks.
Installing the bridge signs comes with an interesting challenge, according to Parsons. “The problem is that the current runs. So, on one side, it’s easy. On the other side you’re constantly having to push away from the piling.”
In addition to the lighted buoy and bridge reflector sign programs, LMLPA runs a water testing program to monitor the safety of the lake and runs the annual lake cleanup effort each spring. They also offer educational and community outreach programs.
Membership in the organization helps pay for projects and provides additional hands to manage those projects. For more information, check them out at www.lmlpa.org. l
