×

Boaters, go slow for your neighbors

High Great Lakes water levels do have some benefits, the experts say. High water levels are good for beach vegetation, which provides improved habitat for a variety of fish species and other aquatic animals. Improved near-shore habitat is good for fish that spawn in those conditions, which is good for anglers.

Higher water levels mean Great Lakes freighters can carry bigger loads at lower costs. High water gives both freighters and recreational boats more room to maneuver. And they save marina owners and operators some of the cost of dredging to keep their facilities open to boaters.

But there are negatives, too. Beaches are smaller when lake levels are high, and more prone to erosion from the pounding of wind and waves. Docks are under water in some cases, so money saved on dredging has to be spent on reconfiguring docks instead.

And, worst of all, some of that extra water keeps sloshing ashore and damaging public and private property. Strong southerly winds last week pushed Lake St. Clair into property owners’ back yards and across roads. Brisk — and chilly — northerly winds off Lake Huron on Thursday piled up waves and raised the risk of flooding along the lakeshore.

Those problems are unavoidable. So far, all we can do about icy spring breezes off Lake Huron is complain about them. And we will change our tunes in August, when we’ll relish the free air conditioning carried in an on-shore wind.

But we need to be mindful of our neighbors when we are using area waterways. The wakes of speeding boats are harming people’s property, undermining seawalls and damaging buildings. After Times Herald reporter Bob Gross wrote about wake laws for Monday’s paper, boaters complained they were never told the law regarding wakes. Unfortunately, that is probably true. Unlike the requirements needed to get a license to operate a motor vehicle, someone who buys a boat doesn’t need to prove he knows how to operate it.

In case you missed it, state law says that a boat less than 26 feet long may not throw a wake within 200 feet of shore. A boat 26 feet or longer may not throw a wake within 600 feet of shore. St. Clair County is putting up signs on the St. Clair River to remind boaters of the law, but it applies everywhere.

Thoughtful boaters recognize there is more to protecting shoreline properties than just following the letter of the law. Wake affects can be additive; a speed that might be harmless on a calm day can be devastating when it is multiplied by a passing freighter and gusty winds.

Water levels ebb and flow in cycles.

Respect and consideration for your neighbors should not.

— Times Herald (Port Huron)

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today