- Frankfort man found guilty of tampering with national park river to improve boat access to Lake Michigan after a brief trial in front of U.S. Magistrate Judge Ray Kent.
- River diversion created a new channel to Lake Michigan, leading to an influx of fishermen at the Platte River boat launch.
- Initial support for increased boat access, but township officials now call for dredging due to potential safety hazards and need for rescue boats to have better access to Platte Bay.
Additional Coverage:
A man from Frankfort, Michigan named Andrew Howard has been found guilty of tampering and vandalism in relation to diverting a national park river to improve boat access to Lake Michigan. The conviction came after a brief trial in front of U.S. Magistrate Judge Ray Kent. The incident occurred in August 2022 when a National Park Service ranger observed Howard using a shovel to dig a diversion for the Platte River in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. As a result, a new channel to Lake Michigan, approximately 200 feet wide, was created, leading to an influx of fishermen at the Platte River boat launch.
According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Biksacky, the river diversion lasted throughout the summer and fall seasons, providing favorable conditions for boating access. However, U.S. Attorney Mark Totten stated that Howard’s actions were a result of a policy dispute with the National Park Service, where he took matters into his own hands. The Platte River has not been dredged by the Park Service, resulting in sediment and sand buildup that hampers boat access to Lake Michigan.
Initially, there was support from some state and local officials, business owners, and angler groups who believed that the increased boat access would benefit the river. They argued that the depth improvement actually made it safer for boaters. However, township officials have since called for the dredging of the river mouth, emphasizing the potential safety hazards and the need for rescue boats to have better access to Platte Bay. This call for dredging comes after two fatalities in the bay since dredging operations ceased in 2016.
Kyle Orr, the owner of Riverside Canoe Trips, expressed the importance of timely access for rescue boats, highlighting the need to address the shallow conditions. The Associated Press attempted to reach Howard’s attorney for comment but was unsuccessful.