Mooring Balls in the Great Lakes

[Gteall]

Who can fill me in regarding the regulation of Mooring Balls in the Great Lakes? Can anyone put one down? Permit required? If so, who regulates them? Specifically wondering about Michigan.

[meridian28]

http://www.michigan.gov/documents/de...y_398749_7.pdf

[Gteall]

Thanks Terry! Haven't read the docs your link refers to fully yet (odd that I had such trouble finding these). Any thoughts on putting one down in a bay surrounded by public land. If you're familiar with Michigan, Bessie Bay. Thanks again for the link. -g

[Gteall]

That would be Bessie Bay.

[Gteall]

Betsie (my smartphone does dumb things).

[valhalla360]

Originally Posted by Gteall

Thanks Terry! Haven't read the docs your link refers to fully yet (odd that I had such trouble finding these). Any thoughts on putting one down in a bay surrounded by public land. If you're familiar with Michigan, Bessie Bay. Thanks again for the link. -g

If you look at the guidance on the first page, it sure looks like they assume you own the adjacent property to get a permit, so putting one on a bay surrounded by public land is probably out (at least using the form in the link).

[Huey2]

As soon as you request to install a permanent object on the bottom of Michigan waters the DEQ and the Army Corps of Engineers require permits. It's hard enough to get the permits when you own the bottom lands........I doubt if you can get permits on bottom land you don't own. You would also be required to have it marked on all charts and possibility carry liability insurance. As a boater I wouldn't want private mooring balls allowed.

[crazyoldboatguy]

I have had a mooring in Ephraim WI since 1962. Actually my parents placed the mooring then - I took it over in 1994. The local town administers the program - there are about 3 dozen private mooring in the harbor. You own the gear and you must maintain it. There is a local person who you can contract with the do this.

In Wisconsin, each town that has a harbor administers the program with the approval of the state Dept of Natural Resources.

You may set a mooring in front of your property as well. There are minimal regulations for that.

However, placing a mooring in waters off public property (that is not part of the aforementioned mooring field) is not permitted. I have known folks who have done this and incurred significant penalties.

[MSN-Travelers]

Betsie "bay" Lake, Frankfort, MI has a "special anchorage area" listed on the navigation charts. My experience is in Milwaukee, WI where the the charts list the same type area north & south of the South Shore Yacht Club. The areas have extensive mooring field where the moorings are privately owned and registered with the harbor master.

You "may" be able to do the same in the designated area in Betsie Lake. I would start by contacting the Frankfort Municipal Marina. We have used the transient docks there a number of time and do remember seeing boats on the ball to our east.