Nearshore

Disappearing beaches: Rising lake levels boon for boaters, bust for baskers

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(MI) The Holland Sentinel – Water levels in Lake Macatawa and Lake Michigan have risen 12 inches since May 2008, making life easier for local boaters yet tougher for those with lakefront property or wanting beach blanket space. Anchorage Marina Manager Cary Masters said after near-record lows just a few years ago, he’s excited to see water levels rebounding. He said the rise has saved his Park Township marina a significant amount of money.

Echo

Belle Isle water prompts concern

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(MI) The Detroit News – There isn’t much that’s tropical about Krystale Houston’s West Detroit neighborhood so, for her, the beach at Belle Isle Park is a real escape. In the summers, she and her friends try to get there every other day or so for swimming and sunning. But depending on which public beach you’re talking about in Metro Detroit, that water gets varying levels of attention from health officials charged with ensuring it’s safe to swim in. And while surrounding governments have compiled years of data on their beaches — telling them which times are most likely to produce E.coli contamination — Detroit’s only public beach at Belle Isle has never been monitored regularly. More