In a shocking turn of events, a man from Frankfort, Michigan has been found guilty of illegally altering the flow of the Platte River in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Andrew Howard, 63, took matters into his own hands on August 15, 2022, by manually diverting the river’s natural flow through a newly dug channel out to Lake Michigan. This act of tampering and vandalism has raised concerns about the preservation of our natural treasures.
The allegations against Howard have sparked outrage among officials who are dedicated to protecting national gems such as Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and the Great Lakes. US Attorney Mark Totten expressed his concern over the incident, emphasizing that his office takes the preservation of these natural treasures very seriously.
According to the US Attorney’s Office, Howard used a shovel to dig sediment and rocks out of the river basin. He then stacked large rocks to create a self-constructed dam, which diverted the river’s flow through the newly dug channel. Photos taken before the illegal diversion clearly show the meandering river passing through a sandy spit parallel to the shoreline, making it nearly impossible for boaters to access the lake. However, within days of Howard’s intervention, the new channel had reached a width of approximately 200 feet, allowing unauthorized access for large boats to enter Platte Bay.
The consequences of Howard’s actions were significant. Not only did the diversion attract an influx of fishermen to Platte River boat launch, but it also caused financial and ecological harm. The park ranger testified in court that Howard had dammed the river after being unable to navigate his boat into the bay that morning. Later, he caught a coho salmon once the mouth of the river was deepened. The evidence against Howard was strong, with receipts for the shovel and multiple witnesses corroborating the ranger’s testimony.
Howard has been found guilty of tampering and vandalism of a national park, which are federal misdemeanors. He now awaits sentencing, which could include a maximum of six months in prison, a $5,000 fine, 5 years probation, and mandatory restitution for diverting the Platte River. US Attorney Totten highlighted that Howard chose to break the law rather than using lawful means to advocate for his position, resulting in significant harm to the landscape and altering something that many people enjoyed.
Interestingly, Howard was not the only one dissatisfied with the river flow. The state and the National Park Service (NPS) had been dredging the river every fall from 1968 to 2013, following a tragic incident known as the “Coho fever disaster.” Seven salmon fishermen drowned when a storm blew over the lake and overturned their boats as they tried to return via the shallow mouth of the Platte River. However, the NPS decided to stop dredging due to concerns about sediment deposition on the coast and its impact on dune vegetation.
Surprisingly, the illegal diversion carried out by Howard inadvertently had some positive effects. According to an official at the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the diversion actually helped the river by lowering upstream water levels by a foot. The oversaturated marshland and erosion caused by high water levels were noted by the DNR, and the new access created by the diversion solved a public safety concern by allowing rescue boats to easily access the bay. Additionally, salmon proponents argue that the diversion creates a clearer path for Coho salmon returning to the river each year.
The NPS had planned a $500,000 project to remove dredging debris and allow nature to elongate the sandy spit, which would benefit the endangered piping plover bird. However, this project is now on hold due to Howard’s intervention.
In conclusion, Andrew Howard’s illegal alteration of the Platte River’s flow in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore has sparked controversy and concern for the preservation of our natural treasures. While Howard’s actions were deemed tampering and vandalism, it is important to note the various perspectives surrounding the river’s flow. The incident has shed light on the ongoing debate between preserving natural ecosystems and addressing public safety concerns. As Howard awaits sentencing, the future of the Platte River and its surrounding ecosystem remains uncertain.
