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Watercraft
SPECIAL LOCAL WATERCRAFT CONTROLS - BERRIEN COUNTY
CLEAR LAKE - R281.711.1 - Hours for high-speed boating and water skiing.
1. On the waters of Clear lake, township of Buchanan, county of Berrien, state of Michigan, no operator of any motorboat, during the period from 6:30 p.m. to 10:00 a.m. of the following day, shall:
(a) Operate such motorboat at high speed, which means a speed at or above which a boat reaches a planing condition.
(b) Have in tow, or otherwise assist in the propulsion of, a person on water skis, water sled, surfboard, or other similar contrivance.
History: Eff. February 14, 1969
GALIEN RIVER AND NEW BUFFALO HARBOR - CITY OF NEW BUFFALO - R281.711.2 - Slow-no wake speed; swimming; anchoring or mooring vessel.
2. (1) On the waters of the Galien river, the channels and canals connected thereto, and the New Buffalo harbor, sections 3, 4, 9 and 10, T8S, R3W, city of New Buffalo, Berrien county, it is unlawful for the operator of a vessel to exceed a slow-no wake speed.
(2) On the waters of the Galien river, the channels and canals connected thereto, and the New Buffalo harbor, sections 3, 4, 9 and 10, T8S, R3W, city of New Buffalo, Berrien county, it is lawful for a person to swim only in a buoyed area designated as a bathing area, pursuant to section 141 of Act No. 303 of the Public Acts of 1967, being §281.1141.1 of the Michigan Compiled Laws.
(3) On the navigable waters of the entrance channel to the New Buffalo harbor, section 4, T8S, R3W, city of New Buffalo, Berrien county, it is unlawful to anchor or moor a vessel.
History: Eff. May 6, 1978
GALIEN RIVER, PORTION OF - R281.711.3 - Slow-no wake speed.
3. On that portion of the waters of the Galien river and the channels and canals connected thereto, section 3, T8S, R3W, New Buffalo township, Berrien county, upstream from he New Buffalo city limit to a line extending southeasterly from Sloan lane along the easterly boundary of lot 10, block 24, Lake Michigan Reviera subdivision, to the water's edge, and thence southeasterly to the nearest opposite shore, it is unlawful for the operator of a vessel to exceed a slow-no wake speed.
History: Eff. June 28, 1978
GALIEN RIVER - WC-11-95-001 - Slow-no wake speed.
On the waters of the Galien river all within section 2, T8S, R21W, New Buffalo township, Berrien county, from the Red Arrow Highway bridge, downstream to a line extending southeasterly from Sloan lane along the easterly boundary of lot 10, block 24, Lake Michigan Reviera subdivision, to the water's edge, and thence southeasterly to the nearest opposite shore, it is unlawful for the operator of a vessel to exceed a slow-no wake speed.
The boundaries of the area described immediately above shall be marked with signs and with buoys. All buoys must be placed as provided in a permit issued by the Department of Natural Resources and be in conformance with the State Uniform Waterway Marking System.
History: Eff. May 10, 1995
MADRON LAKE - R281.711.6 - High-speed boating prohibited.
6. On the waters of Madron lake, sections 8 and 9, T7S, R18W, Buchanan township, Berrien county, it is unlawful to:
(a) Operate a vessel at high speed.
(b) Have in tow, or otherwise assist in the propulsion of, a person on water skis, water sled, kite, surfboard, or other similar contrivance.
History: Eff. March 12, 1984
MADRON LAKE - WC-11-91-001 - Prohibition of motors.
On the waters of Madron lake, section 8 and 9, T7S, R18W, Buchanan township, Berrien county, it is unlawful to operate a vessel powered by a motor except an electric motor.
History: Eff. March 11, 1992
PAW PAW LAKE - WC 11-96-001 - Hours for high-speed boating.
On the waters of Paw Paw Lake, sections 15, 16, and 21, town 3 south, range 17 west, township of Coloma, county of Berrien, state of Michigan, it is unlawful between the hours of sunset to sunrise of the following day to:
Operate a vessel at high speed.
Have in tow, or shall otherwise assist in the propulsion of, a person on water skis, water sled, surfboard or other similar contrivance.
"High speed boating" is defined by the Marine Safety Act to mean a speed at or above which a motorboat reaches a planing condition.
History: Eff. February 5, 1997
PAW PAW LAKE - WC-11-96-002 - Hours for high-speed boating.
On the waters of Paw Paw Lake, sections 11, 14, 15 and 21, town 3 south, range 17 west, township of Watervliet, county of Berrien, state of Michigan, it is unlawful between the hours of sunset and sunrise of the following day to:
Operate a vessel at high speed.
Have in tow or shall otherwise assist in the propulsion of, a person on water skis, water sled, surfboard or other similar contrivance.
"High speed boating" is defined by the Marine Safety Act to mean a speed at or above which a motorboat reaches a planing condition.
History: Eff. February 5, 1997
PAW PAW LAKE, PORTION OF - R281.711.4 - Slow-no wake speed.
4. On the waters of Paw Paw lake, sections 16 and 21, T3S, R17W, Coloma township, Berrien county, lying south of a line commencing at the easternmost point of Island Number 1 and bearing easterly to the nearest opposite shore, and lying west of a line commencing at the northernmost portion of Island Number 1 and bearing due north to the nearest opposite shore, it is unlawful for the operator of a vessel to exceed a slow-no wake speed.
History: Eff. December 1, 1979
ST. JOSEPH RIVER, PORTION OF - R281.711.5 - Slow-no wake speed.
5. On that portion of the St. Joseph river and the Morrison channel, city of Benton Harbor and the city of St. Joseph, from the river's mouth upstream to the southernmost point of Radio island, it is unlawful for the operator of a vessel to exceed a slow-no wake speed.
History: Eff. September 7, 1982
ST. JOSEPH RIVER - WC-11-86-001 - Slow-no wake speed.
On the waters of the St. Joseph river from I and M dam downstream to the southernmost tip of Bachelor island and thence downstream on the east side of Bachelor island to its northernmost tip, sections 23, 25 and 26, T7S, R18W, Buchanan township, Berrien county, it is unlawful for the operator of a vessel to exceed a slow-no wake speed.
History: Eff. June 12, 1986
ST. JOSEPH RIVER, I & M DAM - WC-11-90-001 - Boating prohibited.
On the waters of the St. Joseph river, located within the village limits of Berrien Springs, Berrien county from a point 50 feet downstream of the northernmost end of the east spillway retaining wall on the Indiana, Michigan power dam, thence in a westerly direction 214 feet, thence in a southwesterly direction to a point 15 feet downstream from the northeast corner of the dam powerhouse, thence in a westerly direction to the nearest landfall, boating is prohibited.
History: Eff. October 22, 1990
ST. JOSEPH RIVER - WC-11-91-002 - Prohibition of vessels.
No vessel shall operate upon the following described waters of the St. Joseph river, within section 25, T7S, R18W, downstream from the dam belonging to the Indiana Michigan Power Company, within the corporate limits of the city of Buchanan, Berrien county, state of Michigan described as follows:
From the dam, belonging to the Indiana Michigan Power Company, downstream to a line described as follows:
Beginning at a point on the south downstream landfall 300 feet northwesterly of the southern point of the crest of the spillway of the dam, belonging to the Indiana Michigan Power company; thence in a generally northeasterly direction 270 feet; thence in a generally northwesterly direction parallel to the north shore to a point 412 feet downstream; thence in a generally northeasterly direction to the nearest landfall approximately 50 feet west of the southwest corner of the powerhouse.
The boundaries of the line described immediately above shall be marked with signs and with buoys. All buoys must be placed as provided in a permit issued by the Department of Natural Resources and be in conformance with the State Uniform Waterway Marking System.
This regulation shall not apply to police, fire, and rescue vessels; nor to vessels belonging to the Indiana Michigan Power company and utilized for inspection and repair of dam.
History: Eff. January 21, 1992
ST. JOSEPH RIVER, CITY OF NILES - WC-11-92-001 - Prohibition of vessels.
No vessel shall operate upon the following described waters of the St. Joseph river, downstream and upstream from the dam belonging to the French Paper Company, within the corporate limits of the city of Niles, Berrien county, state of Michigan, described as follows:
From the dam, belonging to the French Paper Company, downstream to a line described as follows:
Beginning at a point on the west downstream side approximately 375 feet from the crest of the spillway, extending northeasterly to a centerpoint approximately 160 feet downstream of the crest, then in an easterly direction to within 75 feet of the shore.
From the dam, belonging to the French Paper company, upstream to a line described as follows:
Beginning at a point above the dam crest approximately 320 feet from the west bank extending approximately 341 feet to east bank secured to the Conrail bridge.
The boundaries of the line described immediately above shall be marked with signs and with buoys. All buoys must be placed as provided in a permit issued by the Department of Natural Resources and be in conformance with the State Uniform Waterway Marking System.
History: Eff. May 17, 1992
ST. JOSEPH RIVER, BENTON HARBOR - WC-11-18-001 - Slow-no wake speed.
On all portions of the St. Joseph River within the City of Benton Harbor, it is unlawful for the operator of a vessel to exceed a slow-no wake speed.
This area can be described by starting where the Paw Paw River meets with the St. Joseph River upstream to where West Empire Avenue as extended westerly, meets the St. Joseph City Boat Launch on Marina Island on the opposite side of the river.
"Slow-no wake speed" means a very slow speed whereby the wake or wash created by the vessel would be minimal.
The boundaries of the area described above shall be marked with signs and/or with buoys and maintained by the City of Benton Harbor. Public access sites within the area described above shall also be marked identifying this local watercraft control. All buoys must be placed as provided in a permit issued by the Department of Natural Resources and be in conformance with the State Uniform Waterway Marking System. Buoys shall not be placed in a commercial shipping channel. This local watercraft control is only enforceable when clearly and properly marked.
Datum: NAD 1983 Michigan GeoRef (Meters)
History: Eff: August 22, 2018
ST. JOSEPH RIVER, CITY OF ST. JOSEPH - WC-11-18-002 - Slow-no wake speed
It shall be unlawful for the operator of a vessel to exceed a "slow-no wake speed" within the City of St. Joseph, in the following locations:
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On the Morrison Channel.
-
On that portion of the St. Joseph River from the river's mouth upstream to latitudinal line 42° 5' 48.119" N, (42.0967).
Latitudinal line 42° 5' 48.119" N, (42.0967) can be approximated as an east/west line from shore to shore that intersects the northern most point of Hidden Isle.
"Slow-no wake speed" means a very slow speed whereby the wake or wash created by the vessel would be minimal.
The boundaries of the area described above shall be marked with signs and/or with buoys and maintained by the City of St. Joseph. Public access sites within the area described above shall also be marked identifying this local watercraft control. All buoys must be placed as provided in a permit issued by the Department of Natural Resources and be in conformance with the State Uniform Waterway Marking System. Buoys shall not be placed in a commercial shipping channel. This local watercraft control is only enforceable when clearly and properly marked.
Datum: NAD 1983 Michigan GeoRef (Meters)
History: Eff: August 8, 2018
ST. JOSEPH RIVER, ST. JOSEPH CHARTER TOWNSHIP - WC-11-18-003 - Slow-no wake speed
On that portion of the St. Joseph River, Charter Township of St. Joseph, from the northern township boundary upstream to latitudinal line 42° 5' 48.119" N, (42.0967), it is unlawful for the operator of a vessel to exceed a slow-no wake speed.
The northern township boundary is a mutual boundary with the city of Benton Harbor and can be approximated by where West Empire Avenue as extended westerly, meets the St. Joseph City Boat Launch on Marina Island on the opposite side of the river.
Latitudinal line 42° 5' 48.119" N, (42.0967) can be approximated as an east/west line from shore to shore that intersects the northern most point of Hidden Isle.
"Slow-no wake speed" means a very slow speed whereby the wake or wash created by the vessel would be minimal. The boundaries of the area described above shall be marked with signs and/or with buoys and maintained by the Charter Township. Public access sites within the area described above shall also be marked identifying this local watercraft control. All buoys must be placed as provided in a permit issued by the Department of Natural Resources and be in conformance with the State Uniform Waterway Marking System. Buoys shall not be placed in a commercial shipping channel. This local watercraft control is only enforceable when clearly and properly marked.
Datum: NAD 1983 Michigan GeoRef (Meters)
History: Eff: August 21, 2018