Solar Lighted Buoys

In 2006, West Point Lake installed the first iteration of solar-powered lights on Buoys #1 through #100 on the Chattahoochee River Channel.  The intent behind the introduction of solar lighted navigation light buoys was to increase boater safety during low visibility periods and at night.

Six different types of solar powered navigation lights are installed on the channel buoys, each of which emits a specific color and flash frequency. The variation of the color of the lights and the flash frequencies when navigating from the West Point Dam upstream on the Chattahoochee River carry a different connotation. To learn more about what each of these different colors mean continue reading below.

Buoy lights on the right side of the channel are red and match the color of the red, nun buoys on which they are installed. Buoy lights on the left side of the channel are green to match the green can buoys where they are placed. Both of these types of lights flash at a frequency of on for .5 seconds, and then it is off for 1.5 seconds.

Junction buoys and their lights mark areas where creeks or other tributaries join the river channel. There are six red junction buoys with red lights on the right side of the channel, and four green buoys with green lights on the left side of the channel. Junction buoy lights flash on for .5 seconds, then remains off for 5.5 seconds.

Buoy #99 is both a mid-channel buoy and a junction buoy. The light installed on this buoy flashes white and is on for .5 seconds, then off for 5.5 seconds. Buoy #100 serves as a mid-channel buoy. It is a white light that flashes on for .3 seconds, and is off for 7 seconds.