Commissioners Agree To No-Wake Zone Request

saintjosephriver-11
saintjosephriver-11

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources can now hold a hearing on extending the no-wake zone in the St. Joseph River in the area of St. Joe and Benton Harbor. That’s because Benton Harbor City Commissioners on Monday agreed to let the DNR move forward. City Manager Darwin Watson told WSJM News people with boats at Pier 1000 asked that the no-wake zone be extended.

“When people get ready to come into the no-wake zone, they don’t get ready to brake before then, they brake as they get to it,” Watson said. “So what happens is that all of that momentum makes a big wave and all of the parked boats start jumping and moving around.”

The no-wake zone could be moved 176 yards back from the marina to what some call Radio Island, or an island in St. Joseph Township. Commissioners said some local fishermen have also reported it would be nice to have less boat noise and waves. No word on when the DNR will hold its hearing.