Water Levels Near record Lows on Lake MI

We may have to spend all our time on the Wisconsin side where the marina's are built out into the lake. We were planning our annual trip across and hopefully all the way up to Mackinac, but wonder if Saugatuck, Grand Haven, Pentwater, Frankfort, etc will be open this summer.
 
moparlvr4406 said:
Grand Haven is a fairly deep channel isn't it ??
Click to expand...

Grand Haven is not an issue as the coal power plant and sand mining operations assure the channel is regularly dredged. Saugatuck and Pentwater are mainly recreational ports and could be an issue. Pentwater did secure local contributions to have their channel dredged last summer as no federal or state funds were available....not sure how long that work will last with wave/shoaling action from the river. Again, I am just hoping for lots of snow!
I think Door County Wisconsin will be on our list again this summer.
 
The last time we were out in late september I was seeing ALOT more shoreline than "normal" and it was not looking good. (Lake Huron) I was churning up mud in the marina.

LK
 
Last edited:
At least our water levels stay the same since the bay will just push salt water into the delta if the fresh water supply is reduced (Like what Southern California is doing to our waterway so they can have their damn golf courses and millions of wasteful people!). They already take way too much of the fresh water and now want to build a tunnel system to take more water before it ever gets to the delta. They will ruin the entire ecosystem...
 
HUMPH said:
At least our water levels stay the same since the bay will just push salt water into the delta if the fresh water supply is reduced (Like what Southern California is doing to our waterway so they can have their damn golf courses and millions of wasteful people!). They already take way too much of the fresh water and now want to build a tunnel system to take more water before it ever gets to the delta. They will ruin the entire ecosystem...
Click to expand...
I read recently that the worlds golf courses consumed enough water to meet the world populations minimum drinking requirement.
 
Sum Escape said:
Grand Haven is not an issue as the coal power plant and sand mining operations assure the channel is regularly dredged. Saugatuck and Pentwater are mainly recreational ports and could be an issue. Pentwater did secure local contributions to have their channel dredged last summer as no federal or state funds were available....not sure how long that work will last with wave/shoaling action from the river. Again, I am just hoping for lots of snow!
I think Door County Wisconsin will be on our list again this summer.
Click to expand...

Door County may be on your list, but after having just been in the county and seeing all the exposed rock piles and waterless docks, be very careful!
 
Frankfort, Leland, Harbor Springs and Grand Haven will be fine. Leland is now dredging but charges silly prices for fuel so buy what you need and pump out before you stay there. They also have an unsafe gas dock for boats smaller than 40 feet because the pilings were cut off the floating docks. Sum Escape may have to cruse to our dock. We have plenty of water in the slips but will probably add ladder(s) this spring. It was tough getting on and off the boat this October. We still have 8-10 feet of water under the bottom of the boat in both slips.
 
sbw1 said:
Frankfort, Leland, Harbor Springs and Grand Haven will be fine. Leland is now dredging but charges silly prices for fuel so buy what you need and pump out before you stay there. They also have an unsafe gas dock for boats smaller than 40 feet because the pilings were cut off the floating docks. Sum Escape may have to cruse to our dock. We have plenty of water in the slips but will probably add ladder(s) this spring. It was tough getting on and off the boat this October. We still have 8-10 feet of water under the bottom of the boat in both slips.
Click to expand...

We are moving to Terrace Point in Muskegon this year Bill. 7 years in Grand Haven, time for a change. Get away form the murky Grand River and as you suggest, a shallow marina. Longer trip to Lake MI but some very nice facilities...indoor and outdoor pool, floating docks, on site restaurant/lounge....and oh, did I fail to mention, a whole bunch cheaper than GH. But if you see Sum Escape tied up at your dock.....thanks for the offer!
 
Hey Sum... you autta come up to White hall Montgue and Buy a slip, we did and we love it, our 65 foot slip cost 18,000 dollars and it's ours just some dues and taxes to pay but still cheaper after the 3rd year...They are going to dredge this year, but Hell who isn't if this water doesn't come up we're all moving to Elk Rapids aren't we or BAY HARBOR... and wear pink pants with white sweaters over our shoulders... hahahah
I gues we'll see you guys out there then if you're moving to Muskegon with SUM ESCAPE...can't wait to run with you two.... look us up on the water, we're there every weekend in the summer at Ellenwood landings, it's awesome...
 
I'm offended. I just got a white sweater for Christmas.
 
boltman said:
Hey Sum... you autta come up to White hall Montgue and Buy a slip, we did and we love it, our 65 foot slip cost 18,000 dollars and it's ours just some dues and taxes to pay but still cheaper after the 3rd year...They are going to dredge this year, but Hell who isn't if this water doesn't come up we're all moving to Elk Rapids aren't we or BAY HARBOR... and wear pink pants with white sweaters over our shoulders... hahahah
I gues we'll see you guys out there then if you're moving to Muskegon with SUM ESCAPE...can't wait to run with you two.... look us up on the water, we're there every weekend in the summer at Ellenwood landings, it's awesome...
Click to expand...

Hey Guys.... Commodore here from the Elk Rapids Yacht Club....we will be dredging starting in March and will have plenty of depth for all of you. This year we have to do mechanical dredging and not hydraulic and will be taking the channel down to 8' so we can get in most every boat. Start planning your summer trips now to visit our beautiful harbor and town.

Sorry, had to throw in a shameless plug for our awesome marina and town...:)
Yes the water is low and we now have an extra 500' of beach due to how shallow it is but it's still a great port of call.

See you this summe!
Bill
 
Boltman,
We go to White Lake for weekends a couple times each season. It's a fun little trip. We travel often and don't like the 7 mile no wake zone all the way back to Ellenwood from Lake MI though. (Muskegon Lake is not no wake). The marina is awsome though, as you suggest but buying a slip there is not in the cards. See you on the water.....in about 3-1/2 months!
 
To day's Detroit News: lake Huron has it a record low.
 
You can go to the Army Corps webb site and find water levels, also any dredging that will be done.
 
So far the amount of snow in our area won't be much help to the Great Lakes or the Mississippi. We don't get much early like we used to, let's see what the next 3 months brings. With little to no ice the lakes are evaporating like crazy this winter so far.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
113,191
Messages
1,428,267
Members
61,103
Latest member
RealMarineInc
Back
Top