Harbor Friends working to preserve the Grand Marais, MN harbor and surrounding area as a recreational, cultural, economic and envrironmental jewel

Coast Guard reverses position on water skipping

The U. S. Coast Guard reversed an earlier decision not to permit water skipping in the Grand Marais harbor, and a water skipping event was held during Fisherman’s Picnic.

It was a surprise, said Lonnie Dupre, chair of Harbor Friends.

For the last few summers snowmobile water skipping has been on the agenda for the 4th of July and the August Fishermen’s Picnic in the Grand Marais harbor, despite the misgivings of a large part of the community, including Harbor Friends.

In water skipping, a snowmobile is driven across the water at a high rate of speed until it either reaches its destination or sinks. Usually the machine needs to be modified to lighten its weight and increase its speed, and mufflers are often removed and safety equipment is minimized. The rider will start from shore and sometimes travel in a straight line, sometimes in a circuitous route. Often there is a great deal of loud exhibition driving and hot-dogging involved and the event sometimes ends with the machine sinking.

After hearing concerns from Harbor Friends’ members and other Grand Marais residents and visitors about water skipping, in June, Harbor Friends decided to take a look at the way the July 4 event was permitted and conducted, and at its impact on the harbor and harbor area.

In doing so we came to the conclusion that not only was it wholly inconsistent with the community standards for harbor use, in that it harmed the environment, violated the conservation easement that is in place to protect the harbor area, represented a threat to other harbor users, endangered the wildlife in the harbor, and produced noise far in excess of what was reasonable or healthy, it also was not legally permitted in that those who had issued permits in the past had no authority to do so.

In previous years the local water skipping enthusiasts had gone to the Grand Marais City Council seeking an endorsement for this event and, based on that endorsement, had obtained a permit from the Cook County Sheriff

On June 25, the U.S. Coast Guard informed the City of Grand Marais and the Cook County Sheriff that water skipping in the harbor required a federal permit and the proposed water skipping event planned for the July 4 celebration could not take place. The Coast Guard said neither the city nor the sheriff had the authority to issue permits relating to use of the harbor because it is part of Lake Superior and the Coast Guard has jurisdiction. The proposed event by its very nature represented a violation of environmental laws in that it would constitute point source pollution of the harbor, the city was told.

The city complied with the request and the water skipping event on July 4 was cancelled.

However, the organizers of the water skipping event began talking with the Coast Guard about obtaining a permit for Fisherman’s Picnic Aug. 1-3.

From what we understand, they did not obtain a permit, but did get a letter from the Coast Guard saying the event could go forward. The sheriff subsequently gave them a permit to have a water skipping event on the harbor during Fish Pic and they did. We received several complaints at our office about the water skipping.

At this point, Harbor Friends is continuing to research the issue, including why the Coast Guard reversed the position it took last month. Stay tuned.

Dragon Boat Festival a big success

Harbor Friends' team, the Harbor Fiends, look pretty happy after the end of their first race in the North Shore Dragon Boat Festival in Grand Marais July 26.

Harbor Friends participated in the North Shore Dragon Boat Festival again this year, and everyone had a great time!

The team, called Harbor Fiends, joined 25 other teams in the parade down Wisconsin Street in Grand Marais on Friday night with Mila Horak and Kimberly Soenen keeping a rhythm on their drums.

When all the teams in their colorful T-shirts crowded into Harbor Park, Mayor Evelyn Larson welcomed everyone and "awakened” the dragon by pouring a little water over a paper dragon which had led the parade.

Dragon Boat races are held throughout the world and were developed as a fundraiser for groups in a community.

Here in Grand Marais, all proceeds are donated to three non-profits in town, WTIP Community Radio, North House Folk School and the North Shore Health Care Foundation. On the North Shore, dragon boat races are also held in Thunder Bay, Ontario and Duluth every year.

Each boat has 20 paddlers, one drummer and a steersperson and every boat has to have at least eight women paddlers. Our paddlers came from as far away as Nebraska and as close as Grand Marais. Many had never paddled a dragon boat in their lives, but that didn’t matter. They were a great team and caught on quickly. They also had a wonderful t time. There’s nothing quite dragon boat racing, as anybody who participated last weekend could tell you.

We’re signing up people for next year!

E-mail us at harborfriends@boreal.org and you can be part of this fun event next year. It’s always held on the last weekend in July.

By the end of the second race, the Harbor Fiends were paddling like pros. Look at how everyone is paddling at the same time!

Becky and Bill Sander carried the Harbor Friends banner in the Parade of Teams on Friday night.

Rich Pearson carried the palm-tree cooler in the parade. Rich and his son-in-law, Kent McCann, and their wives were visiting Grand Marais from Fremont, Neb., and they volunteered for the team. We were glad they did. They were great athletes.

Grand Marais Mayor Evelyn Larsen welcomed the paddlers after the parade. Then she did us the honor of carrying the palm-tree cooler back to Harbor Center.

Mila Horak, left, and Erika Frickman sit outside Harbor Friends’ tent waiting between races. It was a great place to meet and gave paddlers a chance to sit and talk and get cooled off and ready for the next race.

This paper dragon led the Parade of Teams.

`Harbor Fiends, 2008`

`Thanks Everybody!`

Coast Guard says ‘No’ to water skipping

For the last few summers snowmobile water skipping was on the agenda for the 4th of July and the August Fishermen’s Picnic in the Grand Marais harbor. This was despite the misgivings of a large part of the community, including Harbor Friends.

In water skipping, a snowmobile is driven across the water at a high rate of speed until it either reaches its destination or sinks. Usually the machine needs to be modified to lighten its weight and increase its speed, therefore mufflers are often removed and safety equipment is minimized. The rider will start from shore and sometimes travel in a straight line, sometimes in a circuitous route. Often there is a great deal of loud exhibition driving and hot-dogging involved and frequently the event ends with the machine sinking.

After hearing concerns from Harbor Friends members and other Grand Marais residents and visitors about this event, Harbor Friends decided to take a look at the way the event was permitted and conducted, and at its impact on the harbor and harbor area.

This was based on what Harbor Friends pointed out was either ignorance of the fact that boating and other surface use of Lake Superior, it being an international waterway, is under the administrative control of the U. S. Federal Government, not of the state or local government, or it was based on a misinterpretation of Minnesota Statute 86B, which gave county sheriffs in Minnesota certain authority to permit similar events for boats and in other areas, but not as they were doing with snowmobiles.

For water skipping on Lake Superior, permits can only issued by the U. S. Coast Guard. The sheriff still has law enforcement authority and responsibilities, but neither he, nor the city, nor any other unit of government or governmental agency outside the federal government can validly issue permits for what takes place on the lake, and the lake includes the harbor.

In federally managed waters, the authority for permitting lies with the federal authorities. Depending on what is being considered, that usually means either the U. S. Coast Guard, or the U. S. Army Corp of Engineers.

On Wednesday, June 25, the U. S. Coast Guard informed the City of Grand Marais and the Cook County Sheriff’s Department that they had no authority to issue permits relating to use of the harbor, that the authority to do so rested solely with the Coast Guard, and that the Coast Guard could not issue such a permit since, among other factors, the proposed event by its very nature represented a violation of environmental laws in that it would constitute point source pollution of the harbor.

That put to rest the prospect of any future such snowmobile exhibitions or contests, leaving residents and visitors to better enjoy safer and more peaceful summer celebrations in Grand Marais.

Thanks to all who helped make this change possible: the Minnesota DNR, the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, the Sierra Club North Star Chapter, several private attorneys, and, of course, the U. S. Coast Guard. The USCG Marine Safety Unit, Duluth MN responded quickly and professionally and deserves special gratitude for stepping up to protect the harbor.

July 22/08

Harbor Friends has been strongly criticized in the local press for its position on water skipping in the Grand Marais harbor.

Here is our response:

A recent letter to the Cook County Star concerning snowmobile water skipping in the Grand Marais harbor needs to be addressed. Harbor Friends has been accused of having deliberately withheld information from the community; of having a plan that resulted in a last-minute ambush of snowmobilers who wanted to demonstrate water skipping in the harbor on the 4^th of July.

Little mention has been made that because of the interest taken by Harbor Friends, an illegal activity was stopped, one that is proscribed, in part, by the Clean Water Act, and one that could have resulted in very high fines for all involved, including the unwitting sponsors.

Harbor Friends first became aware that snowmobile water skipping was on the agenda for the 4th of July celebration through a public service announcement on WTIP Community Radio the week prior to the 4th. Harbor Friends’ board members contacted local, state and national authorities and other organizations and individuals to determine the legality of this activity, to find out exactly who had the authority to issue a permit for it, and who was responsible for enforcement.

One of the organizations contacted was the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, which in turn contacted the U.S. Coast Guard in Duluth. On the morning of Wednesday, June 25, a representative of the U.S. Coast Guard contacted the board member who was managing this issue and said that they felt that probably they had jurisdiction, would look into it, and would be contacting the local authorities about the matter. At no time on the morning of June 25 did they say if they would permit the activity or not.

Also, we forwarded a letter to the City of Grand Marais and to the Cook County Sheriff laying out our argument as to why we felt neither the city nor the county had administrative authority in this matter; that it may lie with the state, but most likely was the province of a federal agency such as the Coast Guard or perhaps the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. We did not become aware the folks at the Dragon Boat Festival had already determined it lay with the Coast Guard until that evening at the June 25 city council meeting.

At that city council meeting it was reported by City Clerk Mike Roth that Lt. Aaron Gross of the Coast Guard had contacted him, and that the USCG had informed him it was the sole permitting authority for such activities in the Harbor.

This was the first real word we had concerning the USCG taking an official position on this matter – at the city council meeting June 25.

Subsequently we found out that Lt. Gross had also participated in a conference call with the Cook County Sheriff, the Cook County Attorney and city officials and had informed them all of the USCG’s authority in this matter.

The result of all this is that we now know with certainty that administrative authority over activities in the harbor lies at the federal level with either the USCG or USACE. The sheriff has enforcement authority, but cannot issue any permits; the city has no authority. Administrative authority for any activity in the harbor rests with the USCG or the USACE.

While the response from those who wanted snowmobile water skipping in the harbor has not been unexpected, it was hoped that their response would be fact-based. Though it is not always enjoyable to take tough stances on some issues, Harbor Friends was organized to protect the harbor and its watershed and it takes that charge seriously, exercises it in an open, responsible, and professional manner, and will continue to do so.

Harbor Friends Open House and Field Guide Release

Harbor Friends held an open house at Harbor Center, Saturday, June 14 from 1 to 4 P.M. to release its newest field guide publication, “Mushrooms.” Music was provided by popular Grand Marais performer, Michael Monroe, and refreshments were served.

“Mushrooms” is a field guide specific to the Grand Marais “harbor arc” from Artists’ Point to Sweethearts’ Bluff and is the fourth in the series of Outdoor Classroom Field Guides. The previously released guides include “Birds”, “Trees and Shrubs” and “Ferns, Clubmosses and Horsetails.”

The mushroom guide features hundreds of illustrations of local mushrooms in color and black and white. The guide purposely does not address edibility.

Michael Monroe performs at the open house.

Mushroom Guides walked out the door during the open house.

Wind and finally rain showers ended the festivities a half hour early.

Harbor Friends clean-up and trail opening is held

Harbor Friends hosted two activities at the Grand Marais harbor, Saturday May 24.

The “Harbor Sweep” beach cleanup occupied the morning. Anyone interested in volunteering for a couple of hours to get the harbor beach ready for summer was invited to participate. The beach from Artist’s Point to the Recreation Park was cleared of paper and other accumulated trash left from winter. By far the biggest trash item was cigarette butts.

Trash bags were provided by the Grand Marais Recreation Park and Harbor Friends provided pop and water.

Later that afternoon, the ribbon was cut opening the new Sweethearts’ Bluff Lake Loop Trail