Increasing water levels on Lake Michigan have caused challenges for both of the Manitou islands.
On the North Island, sand has accumulated around the dock, making the area too shallow for ferries to approach safely. On the South Island, the dock is underwater.
Manitou Island Transit made the decision to suspend operations this season due to these conditions. The ferry company is contracted to operate as a concession with the National Park Service.
Megan Grosvenor Munoz, co-owner of Manitou Island Transit, said when the islands were purchased by the national park, a decision was made to relocate the docks.
"Our captains at the time advised the administration not to move the docks where they were moving them," Grosvenor Munoz said. "Unfortunately for the current (park) administrators that was not their decision, it was just prior administration that did not listen to people who’ve been running on Lake Michigan for years."
She said the original docks were in a location that allowed for sand to naturally flow. Now, Grosvenor Munoz said the relocated docks require annual maintenance.
Deputy superintendent of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Tom Ulrich said a dredging contract that was planned for last year has been delayed.
"We’re hopeful that we will move enough sand that it will remain accessible into the next year," Ulrich said. "Although Lake Michigan is unpredictable, usually moving sand has given us a little bit of time."
Ulrich said the dredging should be done late July, but that’s not in time for the ferry services to operate this season.
The ferry company said it has filed to temporarily get out of the contract with the National Park Service.
The National Park said visitors can still travel to the islands by private and charter boats. Ulrich said longer-term solutions are being considered for the docks.
Until the dock conditions improve, Grosvenor Munoz said the company has a smaller boat that will offer trips to the island.
This story was produced as part of the Michigan News Group internship program. A collaboration between WCMU and local newspapers. You can see the print edition of this story in the Wednesday, June 10 edition of the Traverse-City Record Eagle.
