Boating Hazards and Dredging

When the dry summer weather dropped Lake Mitchell’s water level more than a foot, boats began to hit rocks and ground out in shallows. Should the waters stay low, these are some places to avoid or exercise care when boating:

1) When entering Lake Mitchell from the canal always proceed in a southwesterly direction. Due west and north of the canal is a large shallow area, containing several large rocks. This shallow area extends into the lake for more than a half-mile.

2) Obviously the presence of reeds may indicate shallow water. Exercise caution when traveling through reeds.

3) The reeds located in mid-lake actually grow in shallower water than those located near the west shore. The large reed patch located about a half-mile off shore on the west side of the lake has a long shallow sand bar extending south from this reed bed.

4) The Franke Coves are shallow and difficult to enter with a motor boat. The reed bed located in front of these coves is often too shallow to accommodate motor boats.

5) Virtually all points of land have shallow sand bars extending from them into to the lake. Use caution when rounding or crossing these areas.

6) If water is high enough to enter Wheeler Creek in Big Cove, watch for submerged logs and muck bars in the creek. The creek will become narrow as you proceed. It may be difficult to turn around.

Lake Mitchell end of canal dredged.

Low water levels in Lake Mitchell and Cadillac last summer created difficulties for boaters trying to navigate the canal. Some reported having to raise motors as they entered the canal from the Lake Mitchell side. Lake Mitchell Improvement Board members brought this concern to the attention of Larry Solce, chief ranger at Mitchell State Park, who contacted the DNR.

During the first week of March, the Lake Mitchell end of the canal was dredged so that boat traffic should be able to enter the canal more easily this season.

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