Could the least amount of ice in a half-century on the Great Lakes mean an earlier start and longer season for dealers and marina operators this year? That would be a definite “yes” if one relies on reports from NOAA’s Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory that the overall ice coverage for all five Lakes stands at an historic low of just 2.7%.

As reported by Robin White in Newsweek, “We have never seen ice levels on the lakes this low in mid-February since our records began in 1973, according to GLERL’s Bryan Mroczka, a physical scientist.”

Lake Superior, the largest and northernmost lake, has only 1.7% ice coverage; Lake Michigan is at 2.6%; and Lake Huron stands at 5.9%. Lakes Erie and Ontario are at 0.05% and 1.7%, respectively.

Historically, the Great Lakes are at peak ice coverage during this time of year with more than 53% coverage in the entire basin. This widespread lack of ice raises some major issues.

Many communities rely on ice for economic reasons, among them seasonal tourism and ice fishing operations, as well as other outdoor winter sports. Moreover, the ice also effects the lake’s ecosystems. Fish use the ice for protection from predators, and it also provides breeding grounds for certain species. In addition, a lack of ice can bring shoreline erosion and damage to infrastructure from winter storms.

The above concerns notwithstanding, one can predict with accuracy that the boating season on the Great Lakes is destined to start early and be among the the longest. Indeed, the 2023 season on Lake Erie never ended, as anglers have continued to launch boats all winter to chase walleye and other species. The walleye fishing last year broke all records, and it’s predicted to be just as good in 2024, according to the Ohio Division of Wildlife.

Dealers and marina operators also should expect an earlier start to the boat-delivery season. And it will come at a good time to boost spring sales. After all, just the eight states bordering the Great Lakes account for a third of our industry’s annual boat sales. Boatyards can expect boat owners to order spring commissioning earlier and head for their summer marina docks.

No Stopping This Boater

Nothing keeps a boater from getting out on the water, even if he has to dig his way out.

According to reports by the Associated Press, Andrew Howard was found guilty of diverting a National Park river to ease boat access to Lake Michigan. He was convicted of “tampering and vandalism,” two misdemeanors.

In August 2022, a National Park Service ranger saw Howard, 62, of Frankfort, Mich., digging with a shovel so the Platte River in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Northern Michigan would be diverted into Lake Michigan.

“Within days, the natural power of the water and the constructed dam caused the river to divert and created a new channel to Lake Michigan that grew to approximately 200 feet wide,” according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Biksacky. “It made it easier for boats to get to the lake.”

Biksacky further noted that the opening stayed about that wide for the entire summer and fall. “There was then an influx in the number of fishermen that came to the Platte River boat launch to take advantage of the favorable access conditions created by the new channel,” she added.

As a footnote to Howard’s story, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources had federal approval to dig out the river mouth but stopped doing so about five years ago.