LEELANAU COUNTY, MICH. -- Some Michigan municipalities are closing local boat launches amid concerns about people not practicing proper social distancing as COVID-19 cases continue to rise.
The decision to close boat launches has been based on observations at specific sites, such as the launch in Suttons Bay.
“The DNR, law enforcement and my staff, we all observed the boat launch and the use of it after it was opened to really determine if people were being careful and using social distancing,” said Rob Larrea, Suttons Bay village manager. “It was pretty disturbing to see the amount of people that chose not to observe social distancing."
The boat launch in Suttons Bay has since been closed, Larrea said.
The Leelanau County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the boat launch in Northport has also been closed. The DNR boat launch in Suttons Bay on Hilltop Road remains open, the sheriff’s office said, despite media reports yesterday to the contrary.
Some media outlets have reported that the DNR ordered the closures. Ron Olson, chief of parks and recreation for the DNR, said the DNR has not mandated any boat launch closures, either locally or statewide.
“Those boat launches are run by local communities; we don’t tell them what to do, that’s up to them,” he said. “We don’t have any edict to close any boat launches at this time."
Olson added that the DNR is continuing to keep a close eye on whether people are practicing proper social distancing at outdoor spots like boat launches.
“We do know that a lot of those launches are getting a lot of action," Olson said. "It is one of those concerns that we’re watching.”
Earlier this week, the DNR closed Tippy Dam Recreation Area, a popular fishing location in Manistee County, on account of improper social distancing and visitors traveling long distances to visit.
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