CLEVELAND, OH-- The U.S. Coast Guard has finished buoy operations on the Great Lakes earlier than expected.
Operation Spring Restore involved the re-installment of more than 1,200 federal navigational aids, including lighted and unlighted buoys and beacons. The effort wrapped up Tuesday, five days ahead of schedule. Due to a light ice year crews were able to start operations on March 14—a full two weeks earlier than normal.
Seven aids-to-navigation teams and five cutters, with additional support from the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation and the border lakes Lamplighters participated in the operation.