Boat Washing Stations Help Stop Aquatic Invaders

mobile boat washing station (photo from Crystal Lake Watershed)

compiled from several sources

To stop the spread of aquatic invasive species the advice for several years has been "Clean, Drain, Dry." (CD3) If boats and trailers are cleaaned properly after removing them from lakes, it can stop such species as Zebra mussels, Eurasian watermilfoil, and Asian apple snails.

In March 2019, a law was passed in Michigan that requires thorough cleaning of all watercraft and trailers whether motorized or not, emptying of all water from the craft, and it also restricts disposal of fish and bait.

There are now thousands of washing stations throughout Michigan on many popular boating and fishing lakes and waterways. No comprehensive list yet exists, but web searches can find these stations in local areas.

The Michigan State University "Clean Boats, Clean Waters" program will also work with local organizations to increase awareness of aquatic invasive species and boat cleaning practices by hosting a free Mobile Boat Wash event in their community. The MSU trailer-mounted boat cleaning systems use heated high-pressure water that is effective in cleaning most invasive species from boats and trailers. A containment mat prevents runoff back into lakes and rivers.

In some locations a waterless solar-powered kiosk provides tools like vacuums, brushes, and pullers for watercraft.

See Stop Aquatic Hitchikers


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Quiet Water Symposium 2012

from Quiet Water Symposium

Each year, on the first Saturday of March, the Quiet Waters Symposium is held in conjunction with the Michigan State University's Agriculture and Natural Resources Week. The location is the MSU Campus, in the Pavilion for Livestock and Agriculture Education, 4301 Farm Lane Rd, East Lansing, MI.

The Quiet Water Symposium celebrates non-motorized outdoor recreation and a shared concern for our Great Lakes Environment.

At the Symposium visitors will find presentations by world famous authors, photographers, and expedition travelers. Other presentations may cover skills, safety, local and distant destinations. There may be presentations on bicycling, sailing, diving, and history.

This year's main speakers are Cliff Jacobson- "Canoeing the Boundary Waters in Style," Kevin Callan- "How to be a Happy Camper," and "The Best Canoe Routes in Ontario," and Gary & Joanie McGuffin- "Journey into the Heart of the Boreal."

Many other workshops, seminars and demonstrations will also be running throughout. Topics include outfitting, taking a dog camping, boat building, and travel programs from other outdoor adventures.

In 2011, over 1400 people enjoyed the day. It's a great deal for only $10, a little gas and lunch money.

Date: Saturday, March 3, 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM
Admission: Adults $10.00 Students (with ID) $5.00 - under 12 Free



See Quiet Water Symposium
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Recycle Boat Shrink-Wrap

winter boat storage (photo from Sea Grant)

a news release of Michigan Sea Grant

This program provides boaters and marina operators with a cost-effective, environmentally friendly option for disposal of shrink-wrap.

Shrink-wrap (Low-Density Polyethylene or LDPE) is commonly used for protecting recreational boats from snow, ice, water and debris when stored outside during the winter. In the shrink-wrapping process, plastic is draped over the boat, secured by strapping and heated to provide a rigid plastic surface, thereby providing a protective covering strong enough to hold the weight of snow and ice and protecting the boat from the elements. In the spring, shrink-wrap is removed and often ends up in landfills.

Proper preparation and storage of shrink-wrap is key to preventing problems with recycling machinery that shreds the plastic.

• Step one: Remove strapping, lumber, nails, zippers and vents before packaging shrink-wrap for recycling. The doors and vents may be reusable next year.
  
• Step two: Keep the shrink-wrap as clean as possible, free from gravel and sand.
  
• Step three: Roll or bag the shrink-wrap, depending on your local program’s requirements.

Bay Area Recycling for Charities and Dr. Shrink, Inc. have partnered to assist businesses in the Lower Peninsula in recycling shrink-wrap by creating an annual recycling run. Participants may enroll in the program by completing a Michigan Recycling Run 2011 form.

Many counties in Michigan provide shrink-wrap recycling services. Contact your county’s waste management program to see if a program is available. Emmet and Washtenau Counties are known to take this product.



See Shrink Wrap Recycling Video
See Enrollment Form
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Idlewild Park

pier at Idlewild Park (photo from the Ludington Daily News)

based on a news article in the Ludington Daily News

The culmination of a three-year project was realized on October 25, with the dedication and opening of public access to Idlewild Lake. The project, named Idlewild Lake Access Park, has been part of the dream of those who are seeking to restore Idlewild. The village was formerly a preferred vacation spot for African-Americans, before civil rights and equal access.

The new park is located on about 10 acres of land at the south end of the lake. Facilities include an accessible fishing pier, picnic tables, a sandy canoe beach, and water pump. Most of the park is on a bluff overlooking the lake, with a paved ramp leading to the water.

The park's creation has been a partnership between the Michigan DNRE and Yates Township. Ron Olson, DNRE recreation division chief, said, "The no-fee park will be a good place symbol for Idlewild and a functional place for people to enjoy the lake."
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Crooked River Lock at Alanson Reopens

Crooked River Lock at Alanson

compiled from several sources

The Alanson Lock on the Crooked River near Petoskey has been closed since June 16. The waterway is popular with recreationists and connects Crooked Lake, Pickerel Lake, Burt Lake, Mullett Lake, and via the Cheboygan River to Lake Huron.

Maintenance workers had found a possible crack in a shaft and other problems. The reduction gears were removed from the lock and sent to a Detroit area machine shop for repair. The lock is maintained by the Corps of Engineers. After expecting a closure of only a couple of days, the extended shutdown has severely impacted local businesses.

But the lock reopened on July 1, after testing. It is operated by the Department of Natural Resources. The lock equipment, which is 41 years old, will undergo a major overhaul this fall, after the lock closes for the season.

See Michigan's Inland Waterway
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Kayaker Rescued with Use of Cell Phone

Click the picture to see video

based on several news articles

A 61-year-old Saginaw man set off for a day of kayaking on the Red Cedar River near Lansing's MSU campus. After only a short paddle his kayak overturned. The man drifted a considerable distance and then became entangled in some branches.

However, he had packed his cell phone in a plastic bag and was able to call 911. Although he did not know the river well, he was eventually able to give rescuers enough information that they located him. Lansing firefighters, using ropes and motorized rescue boats, pulled the man from the water.

Boating accidents and deaths have both increased in Michigan in recent years.

The man declined to be identified to news media due to embarrassment over the incident. He had planned to kayak from the Michigan State Campus to Grand Rapids. Thanks to his preparation and protection of his phone, he may have the chance to try his adventure another day.

See the Lansing State Journal, "Kayaking incident on Red Cedar River offers lesson in water safety," by Kevin Grasha and Brittany Smith, June 23, 2009
See the WILX News, "River Rescue Successful"
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Stronach Boat Launch Gets New Dock

from the Ludington Daily News

Stronach boat launch has a new dock, and the ribbon cutting ceremony will be Tuesday, November 25. A $289,400 grant from the Great Lakes Fishery Trust funded the project. The boat launch is just north of the village of Stronach at the mouth of Manistee Lake

The dock is constructed of aluminum, and has floats which allow the pier to fluctuate with water levels. It includes benches and railings. There are cutouts which allow anglers to land fish with nets. The dock can accommodate 20 people, and is accessible according to the ADA guidelines. It replaces a wooden dock.

The ceremony will be Tuesday at 11 am.

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Cheboygan, South Haven, Boyne City Certify Clean Marinas

a news release of Michigan Sea Grant

Three Michigan marinas—Walstrom Marine in Cheboygan, South Haven Municipal Marina group in South Haven and Grant Moore Municipal Marina in Boyne City—are the most recent facilities to achieve official designation as clean marinas through the Michigan Clean Marina Program.

The new designations bring the total number of clean marinas in Michigan to 21. Designated clean marinas have implemented a suite of best management practices that promote environmentally sound marina and boating practices. “The program is a win-win situation,” said Chuck Pistis, state coordinator for Michigan Sea Grant. “Marinas – all marinas – play an important role in the critical areas of where land meets water. The Clean Marina Program helps address how to protect those areas while looking at the long-term sustainability of a marina from a business perspective.”

The Michigan Clean Marina Program is a voluntary stewardship program open to all public and private marinas in the state. The designation process begins with a pledge to participate, followed by workshops where the marina management and staff receive a marina handbook, overview of the designation process and a review of best management practices related to topics such as storm water management, petroleum control, and boat maintenance and repair, among others.

The facilities then conduct self-evaluations of their environmental practices to determine strengths and weaknesses. After implementing improvements and reaching program benchmarks, the marina requests a visit by a CMP consultant, who evaluates the facility’s environmental stewardship. When the facility reaches established goals, it receives the designation as a clean marina.

“It’s great from a reducing-human-impact standpoint and it makes good business sense,” said Pistis. “Marinas need to be reflective of the attitudes and desires of their customers and they have to respond to what their customers know is important.”

The Clean Marina Program (CMP) is a joint undertaking by the Michigan Boating Industries Association, Michigan Sea Grant and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.

Marina affiliates interested in the program can get more information at the upcoming Clean Marina workshop on December 5 in Bay City. Registration is due by November 24 and can be made by visiting www.mbia.org or by calling Jeff Spencer at 517-241-5719.

See Clean Marina Brochure (a pdf)
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Little Mistakes on the Little Manistee

Shaun Ensign shares his kayak advice about the Little Manistee

advice by Shaun Ensign, as reported by Joan H. Young

"Don’t underestimate the river!" Mistake number one. "Don’t start at 7:00 in the evening." Mistake number two.

Shaun Ensign, recently elected Vice President of the Spirit of the Woods Chapter of the North Country Trail Association, shared his experiences kayaking the infamous stretch of the Little Manistee River between 9-Mile and 6-Mile Bridges.

If you are out for a family-friendly paddle, you should probably skip this section of river. In a letter to the editor of the Manistee News Advocate one family who attempted this stretch were rescued by local residents. They wrote, "Things went from challenging to downright scary farther downstream, even life threatening, when our youngest paddler was somehow trapped underwater with the kayak over his head. The frequency and violence of our capsizing events increased..."

Ensign, and friend, Ryan, who owns Manistee Paddlesports, are strong young men who took their adventure this past summer in stride. Shaun says that the 6-mile section of fast-running river took 3 hours and 45 minutes to complete. However, he estimates that about a third of that time was spent carrying the kayaks, portaging, and getting themselves removed from log jams. They expected a lovely evening paddle, and instead endured a long, foggy, difficult trip. They finished near midnight, badly scratched and bruised.

While the river has some small rapids, that is not the issue. It is known for the quick water, tight bends and numerous obstructions. In many places there are log jams that completely block the passage and portages are required.

With shallow and deep water alternating you will find deep out-bends, and shallow in-bends. One of the interesting characteristics of the river is the very shallow inside of the bends and the deep out-bends that are often obstructed. This forces the paddler to decide between smashing into trees and shrubs on the outside or getting hung up on gravel on the inside. There are also numerous dead-end side channels which look no different from the route a paddler should take until the dead end is reached.

The section between 9-MIle Bridge and 6-Mile Bridge has a gradient of 14 feet per mile. As a comparison, the famously challenging Pine River has an average gradient of 9.9 feet per mile. Shaun said that they faced some new challenge nearly every five minutes.

He seriously suggests that you consider a different segment of the river. For families, the BIg Manistee or Pere Marquette are recommended. Both rivers are much less challenging. If you feel that you want to try this segment, precisely because of the challenge, allow all day for your adventure and take emergency supplies.

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Sleeping Bear Proposes More Rec Opportunities

Sleeping Bear Dunes looking north from Empire Bluff photo from the National Park Service credit Terry Phipps

by Joan H. Young

The Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore has completed its Final General Management Plan/Wilderness Study/Environmental Impact Statement. Proposals for several big changes are contained in the document. Already the plan has stirred up controversy in the few days since its release.

Changes that will immediately appeal to outdoor adventurers are a proposal for a 35-mile hiking trail, which will be called the Bay to Bay Trail. It will parallel the lakeshore from Platte Bay to Good Harbor Bay. Several primitive campsites are planned and it is meant to attract hikers for multiple-day backpacking trips. Nearby landowners have already expressed concerns that the trail might encroach on their properties even though no detailed route has yet been determined.

Bicyclists will also be gifted with a new trail. A $7 million dollar bike path is proposed to roughly parallel M-22 and M-109, near the highways but not on the shoulder. A crushed limestone tread is planned.

One significant change in allowed uses is that electric motors will be allowed on boats in Otter, Tucker, and Bass Lakes.

There are plans to create 32,100 acres of designated wilderness within the Lakeshore, which is about 45% of the park. This will include portions both on the mainland and islands. Concerns about this designation are being voiced, as local residents do not wish to lose access to the park. Authorities are responding that no County Roads will be closed, although some back routes of lower status may be impacted.

The Park Service has emphasized that they respect all private property rights, and have no authority over state or county roads.

Originally the area of the popular interpretive Cottonwood Trail was included in the wilderness designation. However when the public input process revealed that this trail was often used for environmental education with large groups of school children the area was removed from the proposed wilderness designation. Large group activities are incompatible with wilderness status.

See National Park Service portal to access all of the documents of the plan, including a map.
See Changes coming to Sleeping Bear?, Traverse City Record-Eagle, Nov 9, 2008
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Betsie Lake Public Pier Permit Hearing

The Michigan DNR is holding the public hearing on a permit application submitted by Elberta Land Holding Company, LLC, Elberta, Michigan. The Land and Water Management Division will hold a public hearing at the Village of Elberta Community Building, 401 First Street, Elberta, Michigan. The hearing will be for Permit Application Number 07-10-0028-P, submitted by Elberta Land Holding Company, LLC, Attn: Scott Gerst, P.O. Box 38, Elberta, Michigan.

The applicant proposes to construct the Elberta Yacht Club and Public Pier on Betsie Lake, north northwest of the intersection of Furnace Street and Crapo Street, parallel to Furnace Street. This project is a joint Brownfield redevelopment effort with the Village of Elberta that will consist of a marina, public park facilities, and a condominium housing community. Information Contact: Robyn Schmidt, Land and Water Management Division, 231-775-3960, extension 6301.

public notice of the Michigan DNR, Jan 21, 2008
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Reserve 2008 Campsites, Harbor, Rec Area Use Now

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources wants to remind users of Michigan state parks, harbors and recreation areas that reservations are now available for much of the 2008 summer season. Reservations for harbor slips, campsites, cabins, teepees and yurts are now available on-line or through the reservation call center for dates into early July.

"Campsites become available for arrival dates six months out from the date a reservation is made, so we are already booking into the Fourth of July timeframe," said Ron Olson, chief of the DNR Parks and Recreation Division. "Staff at the reservation call center begin taking phone calls at 8 a.m. on weekdays and at 9 a.m. on weekends. New site availability dates roll into the database at those times to be fair to all users."

Campers and boaters who have planned vacations are reminded to make their reservations now to secure a campsite or slip at their favorite park, harbor or recreation area.

In 2007, over 500 events were held in state parks, harbors or recreation areas. New and special events are being scheduled or planned for the 2008 season, and are added to the "GO-Get Outdoors" calendar of events, daily. Check out the calendar of events at www.michigan.gov/dnr. Under "Recreation and Camping," select "GO-Get Outdoors" to review the "Get Outdoors Calendar."

Reservations can be made on-line at www.midnrreservations.com, or by contacting the reservation call center at 800-447-2757. Questions regarding reservations or events can be directed to the Parks and Recreation Division office in Lansing at 517-373-9900, or by contacting Cheryl Greaney at 517-373-0399.

Motor vehicle and boating access site permit fees remain the same as last year at all Michigan state parks, recreation areas and boating access sites. All motor vehicles entering a state park or recreation area must display a motor vehicle permit, available for purchase at the entrance. Cost is $24 for resident annual and $6 for resident daily. A non-resident annual is $29 and a non-resident daily is $8. Boating access site permits are also available at $24 for an annual permit and $6 for a daily permit.

a news release of the Michigan DNR
See MDNR Reservations
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Outdoor Eyes Forum Connects Outdoor Fans

Outdoor Eyes Logo

The web forum named Outdoor Eyes is only one aspect of what this site offers. The "Find A Partner Community" brings people together with common interests in outdoor activities: hiking, kayaking, backpacking, canoeing, snowshoeing, walking, outdoor photography and much more. Find friends that like to do the same things as you. It's that simple. Join today and create your own community of friends.

Another major facet of Outdoor Eyes is its photography section. Photographers can post pictures which are available for purchase. The "Outdoor Photography Forum" contains specialized topics as wildlife photography, outdoor photography, digital editing, landscape photography, macro photography, B&W photography, techniques, gear and much more. Beginners, advanced and professional photographers are all invited. A separate photography forum focuses on that aspect of outdoor appreciation.

There is also "The Outdoor Adventure" resource section which brings you educational articles on "How To Choose", "How To Use" & "How To Take Care Of" articles about kayaking, backpacking, GPS, hiking, camping, gear, snowshoeing, birding, wildlife tracking, expeditions and more.

from Outdoor Eyes
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Road End Public Access Changes- Good or Bad?

Traditionally when roads end at bodies of water the public has been allowed access, so what's all the fuss about this new legislation?

In June the Michigan House passed legislation increasing the scope of public access to bodies of water from the ends of public roads.

Yet, over the years, numerous court rulings have established the principle that public streets terminating at the edge of navigable waters are usually deemed to provide public access to the water. So, what's the big deal?

The bigger debate this time is what can be built at those access points and who would be in charge of them. House Bill 4463 states that a marina can be built by a local government at the end of any public road which terminates at a body of water of over 2500 acres. They can also issue permits for seasonal private docks. This means that township governments could build large docks with boat hoist facilities, making it difficult for private citizens to carry in their canoes, or let the kids take a quick swim. Yet Bill 4464 increases the rights of the public to include lounging, sunbathing, and picnicking, all land-based activities.

On the other side of the debate, the legislation clarifies that surrounding property owners can not put up "no trespassing signs" just because they would like to keep the lake access private.

one user group with a lot at stake are those who live near a lake, but not in the first tier of homes on the waterfront. Called "backlotters," some people believe that this legislation will allow them to seize road ends and make them essentially private beaches.

Exempt from this legislation is property owned by the State of Michigan.

The Detroit News quoted Houghton Lake property owner Marty Prehn, this is "only the beginning of a long and winding road. All it's going to do is open up a Pandora's box and have litigation over every one of these road ends."

Hamlin Lake, in Mason County, would be affected by this ruling. At 5000 acres, it has over 75 road ends which terminate at the lake. Property owners complain that they are regularly cleaning up messes left by the public. Some road ends have steep slopes and serious erosion would result from using them as boat ramps.

The Ludington Daily News reported that the Mason County Road Commission managing engineer, Gary Dittmer said "the issue is a constant source of irritation... but he does not think the bills will alleviate any problems."

by Joan H. Young
Read the text of House Bill 4463
Read the text of House Bill 4464
Read more in the Ludington Daily News
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