SAUGATUCK, Mich. — Summer boating season is a pivotal time of year for tourism in the Tri-Community of Saugatuck, Saugatuck Township, and Douglas, Allegan County.
But when the only water access point to Lake Michigan became under threat late last year, there needed to be a quick solution to save summer tourism.
The channel located near the Saugatuck North and South Pierhead is the only direct access point to the Big Lake to or from the Tri-Community area.
Cell phone video provided to 13 ON YOUR SIDE by Saugatuck Township captured a significant amount of sand narrowing the river mouth channel.
The Army Corps of Engineers had done a dredge report on the channel in August of 2022 and it came back clear.
However in November...
"We realized that where the Army Corps had said the depth was 16 ft., we're really looking at a depth of zero feet that the sand was piercing the top of the water and we knew we had a problem," said Daniel DeFranco, Saugatuck Township Manager.
Sand formation occurs naturally over time with weather patterns.
The concern was it would be impossible for boats to come in and out at the same time and boats exiting could also hit the sandbar.
The channel being open for the summer season was under threat.
"People are coming from all over the world to enjoy our great destination here in Saugatuck. Our restaurants benefit. Transient boaters can pull up to restaurants and if you think about the activity with the marinas, the boat repairs; it's just the heart of Saugatuck," said Ryan Heise, Saugatuck City Manager.
The Tri-Community leaders reached out to their state representative and senator for a site visit this week.
Then shortly afterwards, the Army Corps announced $895,000 in federal funds to dredge the river channel.
"Knowing that funding came through was us understanding summer was saved," said DeFranco.
The dredging project will start sometime this spring.
The cities and township are thinking about ways to regularly fund dredging in the channel without using federal funds. This could be in the form of a millage or boat slip fee.
►Make it easy to keep up to date with more stories like this. Download the 13 ON YOUR SIDE app now.
Have a news tip? Email news@13onyourside.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter. Subscribe to our YouTube channel.