Cooperative Charting
We have been told that the Cooperative Charting Program is recognized as the most effective user-participation program in all of the Federal services. The USPS Cooperative Charting Program has three components:
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Nautical
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Geodetic
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Marina Surveys
Participating in any or all of these programs is fun and provides a fantastic public service.
Nautical Program
The Nautical component of the Cooperative Charting Program is conducted in close coordination with the Marine Chart Division, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce. The Program is a major public service of USPS. Within this program, USPS Members:
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Supply information to the Marine Chart Division of NOS/NOAA leading to corrections to nautical charts, small craft charts, Coast Pilot publications and formerly, Small Craft Facilities.
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Supply data on depth surveys, range status, tidal current surveys and geodetic marks and formerly, aeronautical charts.
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Inspect Aids To Navigation to identify and report damaged or misplaced Aids
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Focus on specific navigation area through the Adopt-A-Chart subprogram. Squadrons to assume responsibility to keep a chart or a portion of a chart in their local boating area up to date!
Geodetic Survey Program
Geodetic marks are highly accurate reference points established on the surface of the earth by local, state, and national agencies. Maintenance and preservation of these marks are of utmost importance to users of the net and to NGSD, recognizing that many valuable geodetic marks are destroyed by construction, new roads, erosion, or other causes. Our job is to locate each of these marks and report their condition together with any change in the directions needed to locate them.
Finding them is like a big scavenger hunt! And you can do this even if you don't have a boat!
Marina Surveys
Through a partnership with Cruisersnet.net, we make visits to marinas within their database and report our findings to keep their information up-to-date. This database provides a wealth of information for boaters as they cruise our waterways. We can even add information on new marinas. You can do surveys by water, but even better you can do this by car!
