A lot of day trips and summer vacations are centered around the Great Lakes. While these beautiful and inviting destinations are the backdrop to many lifelong memories, learning how to keep yourself, friends and family safe is key.
The Great Lakes are large, powerful water systems prone to dangerous currents that can threaten even the most experienced swimmer. Adverse weather patterns can create rip and structural currents, especially near the outlets of rivers, piers and breakwalls. Crashing waves can create slippery surfaces and conditions strong enough to knock a person into the water.
Many – but not all – state parks on the Great Lakes have designated swimming areas that offer additional safety measures. These areas are identified by markers and/or buoys at a water depth likely less than 5 feet, and a beach flag warning system. Buoys and markers are typically installed prior to the Memorial Day holiday weekend and removed at the end of the season.
If you’re at a beach with a flag warning system, check the color upon arrival and recheck often throughout the day because conditions can change rapidly.
- Green flag = Go. Enter the water but stay aware of changing conditions.
- Yellow flag = Caution. Watch for dangerous currents and high waves.
- Red flag = Stop. Stay on the beach; do not enter the water and do not swim.
“Visitors are encouraged to take advantage of designated swim areas that offer the beach flag warning system and the visual cautions of buoys and markers, among other safety measures,” said DNR Parks and Recreation Chief Ron Olson. “Planning ahead and being prepared can help ensure a fun, safe holiday.”
Olson also emphasized never swimming alone, always keeping a close watch over children and bringing U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets, especially for new and inexperienced swimmers.
In an ongoing effort to create more protections for visitors on state-managed lands, Land Use Order 5 of 2021 now prohibits people from accessing the water from a state-managed beach when risks to human health and safety are present.
This includes situations like active rescue/recovery efforts, weather events identified as severe by the National Weather Service, waves more than 8 feet high, water contamination and unsafe debris washing ashore. Such closures will be publicized via on-site signage and/or communication by a DNR employee, such as an announcement over a loudspeaker. Though swimming in the water would be prohibited, the beach would remain open.
The order does not apply to people using a self-propelled wave-riding board, such as a longboard and shortboard, kiteboard, body/”boogie” board with swim fins and skimboard, and when using commonly accepted safety rules and procedures.
Visit Michigan.gov/BeachSafety for tips on safely visiting the Great Lakes, including information about designated swim areas, the beach flag warning system, Great Lakes currents (and how to escape them) and more.
The “flag” system is virtually useless. Michigan started using them in the 1970’s when the parks removed the lifeguards. According to the experts “Flags are not an acceptable substitute for properly trained and equipped rescuers, but rather a tool for their use.” (Source USLA).
Today is a good example of how absurd the system is. At South Haven the water temperature is 43’F, the air is 51’F yet they are flying a “green” flag on the South Beach.
Two young men drown at Warren Dunes last week in calm water. Had there been flags at the beach they would have been “green”. Since 2010 more than 1070 people have drown on the Great Lakes (source: Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project). Every year we lose dozens of people to drowning on “green flag” days.
Go to the hyperlink in the article:
https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/education/safety-info/beach-safety?utm_campaign=news+digest+may2022+week4&utm_medium=pr&utm_source=govdelivery
Then click on the link to the “Current risk levels”
https://www.weather.gov/greatlakes/beachhazards
It will take you to the NOAA Beach Hazards site. Now look at the color code they are using? It no longer has a “green” indicator because they know that Lake Michigan is NEVER “safe”. Green flags and the encouragement to “GO” is simply unacceptable.
I LOVE Lake Michigan!! PLEASE come to Lake Michigan and enjoy the water but understand that it is a big dangerous body of water. It’s FAR more like an ocean than a ‘lake’.
Michigan spends tens of millions of dollars on the “Pure Michigan” campaign. It’s designed to bring tourists to our beautiful state. It’s a damn shame the state won’t spend a dime on lifeguards to protect them once they are here.
Bobby Pratt
Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project
http://www.glsrp.org