How This Man Diverted River In US National Park By Hand; Convicted
Images taken prior to the illicit diversion depict the winding river flowing through the sandy spit alongside the shoreline. Local media reported that accessing the lake was exceedingly challenging for boaters.
A man was found guilty this week on two federal charges after he manually diverted the Platte River through Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Michigan. US Attorney Mark Totten expressed concern over the "disturbing" allegations of tampering and vandalism related to the man-made diversion of water at Platte River.
"The Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and the Great Lakes are national gems, and my office takes preserving our natural treasures very seriously," Totten stated.
AP
How man diverted a river on his own
Andrew Howard, a 63-year-old resident of Frankfort, Michigan, took a shovel to the park on Aug. 15, 2022. According to the US Attorney¡¯s Office, he excavated sediment and rocks from the river basin and erected large rocks to construct a makeshift dam. This action diverted the river¡¯s natural flow through the newly excavated channel out to Lake Michigan. After 17 months, the spit the man dug through began to reform.
Images taken prior to the illicit diversion depict the winding river flowing through the sandy spit alongside the shoreline. Local media reported that accessing the lake was exceedingly challenging for boaters.
"Within days, the natural force of the water and the dam caused the new channel to widen to approximately 200 feet," officials stated in a press release. "The diversion created unauthorized access for large boats to enter Platte Bay."
A trial brief noted an "increase in the number of fishermen at the Platte River boat launch taking advantage of the favorable access conditions created by the new channel," according to Michigan Live.
Aerial pictures show channel leading directly out to the lake
An aerial photograph taken after the diversion reveals a significantly deeper river with a channel leading directly out to the lake. The river's continuation appears to be obstructed by a dam. The Park Service conducted a months-long investigation and issued appeals to the public for information before charging Howard.
According to court testimony from a park ranger, "Howard constructed the dam after being unable to navigate his boat into the bay that morning and later caught a coho salmon once the mouth was deepened," Michigan Live reported.
A ranger provided receipts for the shovel purchased from the hardware store near Howard¡¯s residence. Another ranger testified to witnessing Howard using the shovel and stacking the rocks, a testimony corroborated by other witnesses.
The fisherman now awaits sentencing for tampering and vandalism of a national park, both federal misdemeanors. He could face a maximum of six months in prison, a $5,000 fine, 5 years of probation, and mandatory restitution for diverting the Platte River.
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