Posted on June 11, 2025
SOUTH HAVEN, Mich. — Lower water levels and a buildup of sand is clogging the Lake Michigan channel in and out of South Haven, making it difficult for some bigger sailboats and powerboats to get in and out.
While clearing it out is usually the job of the feds, the city couldn’t wait. It’s paying to dredge the channel itself at a cost of $72,000. It’s kind of like using Drano while waiting for the plumber.
City officials say the sand and sediment has built up on the north side of the South Haven pier, where the Black River empties into Lake Michigan. Instead of 14 to 16 feet deep, it’s closer to 7 or 8.
“Every year, there’s a bar that gets built up in front of the pierhead and when the water’s too low, it will make it too low for sailboats or bigger powerboats to get out, and if there’s waves, they’ll come up and come down and crash into it,” said Jake Pero, owner of Pero Marine Construction, which got the contract to dredge the blockage.
While it hasn’t stopped smaller boats, it has blocked some bigger watercraft, including the popular sloop, Friends Good Will — especially when the water is rough, like it was Monday.
“As people are not able to enter into our ports, go to our shops, dock at our facilities and be a part of the economic culture that is South Haven, that impacts a lot of the day-to-day, that impacts the businesses here in town and there is really a snowball effect that occurs due to it,” said Assistant City Manager Michael Landis, who also serves as the harbor master.
Friends Good Will, part of the Michigan Maritime Museum, was forced to cancel tours this spring from South Haven to Holland for Tulip Time. Last week, the museum paid to dredge around its dock on the Black River, allowing the boat to run during calmer weather this past weekend.
