Harsen's Island in the News

Coast Guard, ferry service clash after five ferry shutdowns
The Voice News
By Jeri Packer, Voice Staff Writer
Published: Thursday, March 4, 2010

Friction between the U.S. Coast Guard and Clay Township was more abrasive than ever this year, as the Harsen's Island ferry experienced one interruption in service after another as ice cutters busted through the North Channel.

The first ice jam of the season occurred early, on Jan. 8, said Champions Auto Ferry owner Bob Bryson.

"There's been ice in river ever since," he said. "We've been shut down five different times by the coast guard, sometimes for one day, other times two to three days."

According to the Coast Guard, unless Mother Nature throws another curve ball, it looks like water levels are settling along the nine-mile stretch of the St. Clair River Coast Guard cutters must keep clear. Water levels north of Clay Township were rising, causing some flooding and to the south, levels were dropping by at least two feet. The Coast Guard cutters also assisted many freighters across the waterway after getting stalled in frozen waters.

Many Clay Township residents understand the need for the ice-cutting expeditions, but don't see why the hulking ships are needed in the North Channel. Coast Guard operations interfere with Bryson's self-made water bridge that allows him to transport residents to and from Harsen's Island. Clay Township Supervisor Jay DeBoyer contacted Rep. Candice Miller after he said his attempts to communicate his frustrations with the coast guard failed to get any action. He wrote:

"As well intentioned as they may be, their procedure has a little to be desired. Specifically when it comes to the actions executed to relieve ice in the North Channel of the St. Clair River. At no time is the North Channel used in any fashion for commercial vessel traffic except for the crossing of the Harsens Island ferry from mainland Clay Township to Harsens Island. The North Channel, with an average depth of 35 feet, empties into a relatively shallow Anchor Bay with an average depth of 10 feet, as does the Middle Channel portion of the St. Clair River. Clearly, just from these parameters it is evident that this is not the proper course of action to relieve any pressure caused in the St. Clair River due to an ice jam. The South Channel however empties into Lake St. Clair via the shipping channel and the lake is an average of 21 feet deep at that point as well as 30 feet for the length of the shipping channel. The South Channel is also the route used for all commercial vessel traffic... the result is the stranding of the residents of Harsens Island for a minimum of two days creating a major inconvenience for them and the township of Clay from an (police, fire, ambulance service and public works) operational standpoint."

Miller, who said she boasts of Harsen's Island to other congress members as being "a unique place with unique people," said she understands the frustration due to the disruption in the ferry service and has encouraged residents and DeBoyer to contact the Coast Guard with their concerns. To gain more insight into the situation, she took a tour with Bryson Feb. 20 on the middle and south channels.

"We went out so I could look at the ice myself, so I could be confident talking to the Coast Guard," she said. "I can't direct the Coast Guard, but I'm in agreement with Harsen's Island and I did my best to convey that to them."

Even so, the U.S. Coast Guard maintains that icebreaking in the North Channel is imperative to successfully completing their mission.

Petty Officer Josh Shirey Coast Guard Sector Detroit said the agency has received multiple calls from people with complaints about Coast Guard cutter operations in the North Channel.

"They don't understand that the possible negative consequences of not doing it are potentially worse than the hardship that comes to the Harsen's Island residents. The operations minimize the risk of flooding in specifically the towns of Marine City and St. Clair."

Cmdr. Kevin Dunn, Chief of Waterways Management for the Ninth Coast Guard District, stated in a press release: "While we understand Harsens' Island residents' annual frustrations with the temporary winter time interruptions of ferry services, these ice breaking operations are critical to preventing flooding to the many communities along both sides of the St. Clair River. These operations are also necessary to restore water flow to Lake St. Clair, which has experienced a dramatic drop in water levels over the past few days."

Bryson said freighters stuck on the iced over river this year were a major cause of problem.

"There were five freighters that got stuck," he said. "The process of getting them out causes the ice jams."

He said freighters typically come through until January and are escorted by the Coast Guard if there is ice is in the river, but the cargo ships ran later than usual this year.

"It's all about getting the merchandise out, but it's caused us problems," said Jim Doptis, ferry deck hand.

Miller pointed out the importance of keeping commerce going, especially in these tough times, and applauded the USCG for its ice-breaking efforts.

"The shipping industry along the Great Lakes is a great component of our economy and ice breaking is an important part of it," she said. "I am, for the most part, appreciative for what the coast guard has done. They've brought a good deal of resources for an incredibly expensive operation in a time of federal deficits."

Bryson said he understands there is a "bigger picture" involved in the Coast Guard cutter operations and he wants to be cooperative with their mission.

"It's inconvenient for residents of the island, but the bigger picture is that other people on the lake are having problems," he said.