Please make your voice heard. This is just insane.
How to make public comments: Attend Thursday's 9 a.m. Natural Resources Commission meeting at the Okemos Conference Center, Comfort Inn Okemos, 2187 University Park Drive, Okemos, MI 48864.
Or submit written comments to the commission at
nrc@michigan.gov or Natural Resources Commission, P.O. Box 30028, Lansing, MI 48909.
Here's my letter:
Dear Michigan Natural Resource Commision -
I would like to register my strong opposition to the proposed plan that would ban access by surfers, kayakers, kite-surfers and windsurfers to the Great Lakes during high wind and wave conditions.
I was born and raised in Michigan (on Coldwater Lake) and my favorite activities have always been water-based and non-motorized (swimming, sailing, windsurfing and paddleboarding). Windsurfing is my activity of choice, and over the past 44 years I have travelled to the west coast, Hawaii and the Caribbean in search of strong winds and big waves. I am a former lifeguard and know my abilities, and I know how to assess the conditions before I enter the water.
The friends that I windsurf with in the Great Lakes are very similar to me. They are comfortable in strong winds and large waves; in fact these are the conditions we seek and will drive hours to find.
I understand the concern for the recent drownings in the Great Lakes. Certainly there are situations where inexperienced swimmers are underestimating or even ignoring the danger level. I would suggest that additional lifeguards and/or trained beach monitors would increase the level of safety and education at the same time.
I am hoping the commission will consider that there is a huge difference between the average beach-going tourist who wants to "play in the waves" and the surfer, kite-surfer or windsurfer who has spent years gaining the knowledge and skill required to handle the challenging conditions that the Great Lakes offer. Please don't punish the people who are not the problem.
thank you for your time,