Boataholics

Fresh Water-Healthy Lives

Mary McKinney Schmidt
Writer and Great Lakes Advocate

If you have suggestions and comments,
contact mary@freshwaterhealthylives.org

Copyright 2008 Mary McKinney Schmidt

Boataholics

Less than 7% of the tonnage shipped
across the Great Lakes is shipped by
"salties." Yet these ships continue to
introduce aquatic invasive species into
20% of the world's fresh water, destroying
the ecosystem.

From the upcoming

Book 1

ave the Lakes, Ban the S

alties

I stood mesmerized at the end of Eldean’s pier the first time I saw a

freighter

poke its

nose into our

harbor.

As it slid past me, immense in size but graceful in motion, I was delighted

be living

where freighters are

a part of

summer’s festivities.

That was before I learned that lurking in the ballast water of ocean

freighters

traversing

the Great Lakes

are invasive

species and viruses

that threaten the

lakeside lifestyle I

cherish. That was before the freight

industry decided to

sue

all residents of Michigan for

protecting an

economy and a way of life that

depends

on a healthy Great Lakes

ecosystem.

Rarely does a “saltie” or ocean-going vessel enter Lake Macatawa. Of all

the

freight

cargo transported

across the

Great Lakes, less than 7% of the

tonnage

is transported by

salties, according to Dr. John Taylor

of Grand

Valley State

University. Most salties are

used to export grain from Duluth

and

Thunder Bay

and to

import steel from Europe and

Brazil. The majority

freight in the region is transported by barges, rail and

fresh water

freighters.

And yet invasive species threaten to destroy the reason we moved to

Michigan two years

ago. When I

walk the

beach, my feet crunch the hard

shells of

zebra muscles rather than

soft white sand. The children

of my

friends catch

goby, not perch, off the pier. And when

I see dead fish on

the

beach, I worry it

could be

the first of many should the

viral

hemorrhagic

septicemia (VHS) virus reach our shores.

Invasive species have plagued the region for almost two decades. When I

asked

Representative Pete

Hoekstra (R)

why bipartisan legislation to

treat

ballast

water gets no

traction in Congress, he told me it

takes

influential

people on

the right committee at the

right time to make things

happen. And

while earlier

this

year Hoekstra was a member of

the

Transportation

Committee, the committee responsible for the

invasive

species issue,

no longer a member.

In the meantime, a new invasive species or virus enters the Great Lakes

every 28

weeks. According to

State Senator

Patty Birkholz (R), taxpayers

and

businesses in the

region have spent $10 billion over the

last decade

cleaning up the

damage caused by

invasive species. In addition to the

staggering costs

cleanup, the invasive species

threaten

tourism, an

industry that contributes at least $18 billion and

193,000 jobs to

Michigan’

economy.

To their credit, Michigan officials said “enough!” and passed state ballast

water

legislation. The shippers’

response

was to sue the state.

Michigan cannot afford to see tourism follow the tailspin path of the

automotive industry.

Our state

elected officials

have done their part.

Now

is time for

our federal

representatives to make something

happen.

Since we are talking about less than 7% of the tonnage transported

across

these waters,

I agree with the

suggestion

by the conservation

group, Great

Lakes

United.

Let’s place an immediate federal moratorium on salt water freighters in

the

Great Lakes

until federal

ballast water

legislation can be passed and

enforced.

A temporary ban on salties should create a sense of urgency. It should

bring

all parties

to the table,

negotiating a

solution rather than tying up

taxpayer

dollars in cleanup and

litigation.

But creative solutions will require a commitment by all parties to stop the

influx of invasive

species. It will

require the

active involvement of the

Canadian and

US governments. It

will require taxpayers across the

region

contact their

federal representatives and say

“Enough! We do

not have

the

time or money to

continue to pay for an industry that

chooses to pollute

the

region’s greatest natural resource.”

This summer I’ll still watch the huge freighters inch past Big Red. But a

little

bit of the joy

is gone. The

ships

represent a threat to the state I call

home.

Doubleclick HERE
to return to Home Page.

The "Skipper" and the "Helmswoman".
Photograph courtesy of Lynn Smith.

Zebra mussel shells, litter the
pristine Michigan beaches.

From the upcoming book

Book 3

Little Things Count

in Selecting Destination Ports

“Welcome home,” hollered Hal, the harbor master for Charlevoix, as he

grabbed our stern line and helped us maneuver safely into the slip.

My face lit up! After battling cold, gusty winds over 25 knots and waves 5-

6’ for the last five hours, his large infectious smile was like being wrapped

in a thick, warm comforter.

“We’re glad to have you back,” he continued.

Charlevoix jumped to the top of my destination list.

Contrary to what most people think, it doesn’t take a lot of money or a

huge

investment in facilities to attract vacationers. True, the Charlevoix

marina

boasts new floating docks, crisp, clean bathrooms, showers and

laundry

facilities. Its elegant stone structure provides boaters with a

sitting room

equipped with free internet services, a television and eating

area. For

entertainment, a large, circular patio shoots streams of water in

the air,

choreographed to be in rhythm with colored lights and upbeat

music.

Children dash through the fountain area.

But it is Hal’s definition of customer service that makes it a destination

port for me. While I have stayed in Four Season and Ritz Carlton Hotels

across the country, visited marinas along the coasts of Lakes Michigan,

Huron and Erie, I have never seen a better example of “five star” service.

“Do you have a suggestion box?” I asked one evening.

“Sure, fire away,” he said grinning as he pulled out a pencil and paper.

They were little ideas. But he listened and several were implemented

before we left.

With escalating gas prices limiting the number of ports boaters frequent,

the challenge for every western Michigan lakeside community is to create

a “destination port.”

According to a report recently released by the Great Lakes Commission,

the average boater spends $3,600/year, as high as $20,000/year if the

boat

is over 40 feet. Sixty percent of the annual amount is spent on

vacation

trips. Owners of boats over 40 feet spend as much as $275/day!

If the

boat is less than 16 feet, they spend $76/day.

And to me, the helmswoman of a 40’ sailboat, first impressions count.

Whether or not we decide to pull into a port often depends on the

friendliness of the voice on the other end of the radio.

“We aren’t allowed to take a reservation until you actually pull into the

harbor,” the harbormaster from Leland informed us one stormy afternoon

as rain pelted us horizontally. “But we have several slips available at the

moment. And don’t worry, we’ll find a spot for you somewhere in the

harbor.”

His voice was reassuring, empathetic. It made a difference. We headed

for Leland.

And when we pulled out of port several days later and I realized I’d left my

watch in the marina shower, a friendly voice offered to mail it to my home.

“Here, let me give you a VISA number to handle the cost,” I said, digging

for my wallet.

“Don’t worry about it,” he responded quickly. “We’ll take care of it.”

It’s the little things that matter.

The public libraries of Frankfort, Ludington, Manistee, Charlevoix, Beaver

Island and Pentwater offer free internet access. And when local

businesses like the “Blue Moon Café” in Ludington, “Our Gallery” in

Pentwater, or “Celia’s Café” and “Crescent Bakery” in Frankfort make

you

feel welcome in addition to offering quality products, it reflects on the

entire community.

It makes me want to return.

Michigan has everything going for it when it comes to phenomenal bodies

of fresh water, miles of white sandy beaches, breathtaking forests, and

clear, fish-filled streams and rivers. The natural resources are among the

best in the country.

But it’s up to local government and business leaders of lakeside

communities to add the finishing touch, the differentiating service that

creates a port of destination.

It’s a matter of dollars and cents.

Charlevoix Harbor Entrance

While I hiked most of the trails at Sleeping
Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in the
spring of 2008, I avoided the Sleeping Bear
Dune Trail leading to the ship graveyard.
I've been caught in too many violent storms
in the Great Lakes to intentionally view
those ships and vessels unable to survive.

Over 550 shipwrecks have occurred in
Lake Superior's Whitefish Bay.

The Coast Guard reversed years of strong public support when they
announced plans to conduct live ammunition training in the Great Lakes.
Widespread opposition reversed the decision.

Pentwater's local band draws people of all
ages together every Thursday evening.

Sunset from the Muskegon Yacht Club

A seagull bids farewell to all boaters
leaving the Northport Harbor.

Known as "Cheesies" by the locals, this
little shop in Leland boasts the best
sandwiches in the state!

Moonrise over the Petoskey Harbor