In August 2022, Michigan fisherman Andrew Howard was caught digging a trench to divert the Platte River where it empties into Lake Michigan at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore by a park ranger. Rangers also discovered a receipt for the shovel used in the incident.
The discovery led to charges, and Howard, 63, recently stood trial before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ray Kent on charges of tampering and vandalism. He was found guilty of both federal misdemeanors in a short trial, according to a press release from the U.S. attorney's office.
Howard said he cut the unnatural channel to make it easier for boats to enter the lake via the river. In the summer months, the Platte is often used by Michigan paddlers, beachgoers, and tube floaters.
"These allegations of tampering and vandalism by a man-made diversion of water at Platte River are disturbing. The Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and the Great Lakes are national gems, and my office takes preserving our natural treasures very seriously," said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten, AP News reported.
Upon further investigation, officers discovered that Howard used a shovel to dig rock and sediment out of the river to access the bay with his boat. He also created a makeshift dam from the larger boulders to redirect the water's flow through the newly formed opening. However, the water flow was so strong that the channel grew to around 200 feet wide within days, disturbing the ground around the river and causing costly repairs.
Howard did succeed on making an "easy" entry into the lake, an issue that has been hotly contested in the area by local boaters and Michigan officials. According to MLive, local officials felt the shallow estuary presented public safety concerns, especially for rescue boats needing to tend to the masses of people who flood the area in the summer. However, the national park prefers to keep the river as nature intended.
"Boater access will have to adapt to nature," said Scott Tucker, superintendent of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore to the outlet. "That's one of the goals of the National Park Service, is to restore natural processes. And once we restore the natural processes, boaters, and recreation will have to adapt to nature rather than adapting nature to recreation."
The U.S. attorney agreed with the National Park Service's outlook on the park.
"Every year, countless visitors enjoy its pristine waters, towering sand dunes, and rolling forests. Mr. Howard had a policy dispute with the National Park Service and took matters into his own hands, breaking the law rather than using lawful means to advocate for his position," said Totten in a press release. "His actions resulted in significant financial and ecological harm and altered the landscape so many enjoyed. Today and always, my office commits to protect Michigan's natural treasures."
Howard's conviction may result in a six-month prison sentence, plus five years' probation and a $5,000 fine.
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