Accessing the lakes in Oakland

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By Michael Scott

Surrounded by one-fifth of the planet’s fresh surface water, Michigan is full of boating and freshwater recreation opportunities for residents even if they don’t own lakefront property, which is why to help ensure that all residents and visitors can access the five Great Lakes and many of the state’s 11,000-plus inland lakes, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) manages nearly 1,300 public boat launch and access sites and more than 82 public harbors across the state.

The management of those public access points is a major endeavor overseen and managed by the DNR with help from multiple local governmental departments and law enforcement agencies. These public launch sites sit on land owned by the DNR and can vary in size and scope based on the amount of boat traffic at the given lake, said DNR Parks & Recreation Division Chief Ron Olson. The number of those sites has slowly risen over the years, when there is an opportunity for the DNR to purchase land that gives residents more access. However, many all-sports lakes already have public access points.

Many of Oakland County’s hundreds of lakes have a state access site which allows someone not living on the waterway to launch a boat, according to the DNR. While lakes generally aren’t private, at least in a legal sense, both lakes that are informally considered to be private lakes and public lakes are subject to the state laws governing their use. Lakes are often referred to as “private” if they don’t have a public boat launch, and only offer access to private property owners.

There is no legal definition of a private versus public lake according to Michigan law, but public inland lakes are informally defined as lakes with either a public access site or public properties along the shore, said Clifford Bloom, a partner with Bloom Slugget, P.C. law firm in Grand Rapids. Bloom is also the general counsel for the Michigan Lakes and Stream Association. Lots and parcels with frontage on a public lake extend to the lake’s bottomlands but the water itself and any living fish or life within the lake belong to Michigan residents, he added.

“The courts have generally held that the waters of such lakes are owned collectively by Michigan (residents),” Bloom said. “But even in without public access, it won’t do most residents any good if they can’t get access from a private landowner.”

The DNR is charged with the statutory obligation of providing public access to waterways for Michigan residents and visitors. The goal is to make the state’s plentiful natural resources available to everyone.

The purpose of these DNR launch sites is to provide public access to waterways for Michigan residents and visitors, which is a statutory obligation of the DNR, Olson said. The goal is to make the state’s plentiful natural resources available to everyone who wants to use them, especially since the lakes themselves are public property.

“People who don’t own property on a lake appreciate the opportunity to enjoy it,” Olson said. “It can be hard for residents who own (lakefront property) to understand that but that’s the goal. We try to provide access for any public lake for anyone. It is their responsibility to follow the law and treat (lakes) well.”

In fact, the DNR requires that anyone accessing a lake through a public boat launch will follow proper boat safety rules and regulations. Such regulations can include both state laws and local ordinances, some of which may be posted at a launch site. All boaters should also be mindful of respecting aquatic life and environmental considerations.

Residents who operate a boat in Michigan are required to have a watercraft registration, attainable through the Michigan Secretary of State. Registration fees for a watercraft registration are based on the length of the watercraft. They are issued for three years and expire March 31 of the third year. Boats that are at least 20 feet in length or that have an inboard motor must also be titled, with the exception of vessels issued U.S. Coast Guard Certificates of Documentation.

In addition, anyone who accesses a DNR-owned public boat launch must also have an annual state recreation passport, which is often purchased with the annual vehicle registration. That passport comes with a sticker that should be placed on the vehicle that enters the public boat launch. The cost of the state recreation passport was $14 for the 2025 calendar year and provides its holder access to any state park.

“There’s a lot to manage with these boat launches,” Olson said. “There’s a significant amount of maintenance that happens every year, but we know how important it is for residents. The money we get is used responsibly.”

One of the tasks that must be managed is the number of public boat launches itself. That number has slowly increased over the years, especially as lake-adjacent land is put up for sale by private owners. A small percentage of public boat launches are leased, and when those leases lapse, the DNR has historically shown interest in purchasing the land.

Few of the DNR”s launch sites are sold to private buyers or are completely closed. Thats why only a few new launch sites have been added in the 20 years that Olson has been working with the DNR. The rising cost of property values can also make it hard for the DNR to have the necessary budget to purchase land at market value. A few public launch sites statewide are leased to the DNR by private property owners.

“It’s a difficult process these days to buy or sell property for a lunch on behalf of the DNR,” Olson said. That difficulty helps to moderate the amount of new activity with buying and selling property. To purchase land for a new launch or adjacent to an existing launch, the DNR needs to ensure it accommodates local zoning ordinances. Case law in Michigan prevents the department from superseding local zoning rules, Olson said.

“Generally, we won’t buy land unless it is buildable to public access,” he said. “Sometimes (launches) will be located inside a state park which makes it easier. There haven’t been many new (public boat launches) added over the years. We’re pretty well covered.”

The DNR will occasionally target lakes without a public launch when property is put up for sale. It aims to have at least one public launch site for each lake over 300 acres. Closing sites generally only happens if the land that was intended to be used as a lunch is prohibited by zoning laws, and/or the DNR can’t use that property for a public purpose.

“We have (property owners) who will contact us from time to time to who want to sell us their land,” Olson said. That triggers an DNR evaluation to see if the property will meet its boat launch criteria and would even be appropriate for DNR ownership or leasing. “We have sometimes bought land next to a launch that makes the property larger if we feel there is (growing demand) for lake access there,” he added.

DNR staff track public lakes that don’t have active public access sites. If potential land is determined to meet local zoning ordinances, it is then appraised before a potential offer from the department. The DNR also has the sole authority to approve such acquisitions provided they have the available budget.

The DNR benefits from insights and consultative support from the state’s Waterways Commission. That commission is a seven-member advisory board that works with the DNR on the use of dedicated funds, provided by boaters, for the acquisition, development and maintenance of public harbors and boating access sites and certain locks and dams. in managing its public boat launches. This seven-person commission serves in an advisory nature only. Michigan’s governor appoints its members.

The size of public boat launches around the state and Oakland County vary significantly. Large boat launches, such as ones on Lake St. Clair east of Oakland County, can hold as many as 400 parking spots. The DNR also manages public boat launch sites on the Great Lakes, Detroit River, Lake St. Clair and other waters that are technically federal owned.

Sites on Cass Lake are among the larger inland ones in Oakland County, with numerous boat launch lanes. Some launch sites have launch lanes for motorized and non-motorized boats, which can include fishing boats, kayaks and canoes. Other boat launches may have just one launch lane and a handful of parking spots. The size and scope of the boat launch usually depends on how popular the lake is for boating, along with the amount of land the DNR owns, Olson said.

“We have quite a variety of access opportunities,” Olson said. “It really depends on the (size) of the lake and the public demand. We’ll make adjustments and (improvements) to the site as needed.”

These sites generally will include one parking spot for every 25 acres of land on the adjoining body of water, although that is not an exact science, Olson said. Parking lots include large spaces for vehicles pulling a trailer and smaller spaces for individual vehicles without a tow.

One of the biggest challenges at launch sites on busy days is traffic control, and patience and thick skin are requirements of boaters during active lake days, said Mike Driver, a sales professional with Club Royale, a marine dealership in Waterford rated as a Top 100 Dealer nationally by Boating Industry magazine. The scene can be especially overwhelming for new boaters.

“Some people can think their boat is the most important one, so there can be a lot of short tempers,” Driver said. “You want to be respectful so everyone can get (their boat) launched.”

The launch sites’ control booths are staffed by DNR professionals during busy times of the summer and heavy boating periods, Olson said, especially on weekends from Memorial Day to Labor Day and other summer holidays. Onsite staff can help manage launches and parking while providing customer service and launch site maintenance. That maintenance includes insuring launch ramp functionality, adjusting skid piers for water levels, mowing the lawn and emptying garbage cans.

Ramp damage can be caused by improper loading or unloading when DNR staff aren’t present, and inexperienced boaters can damage the rails if they try to do things too quickly, Driver said. But boaters who know what they are doing can help keep things moving quickly.

“You want to get your boat off or on the trailer as soon as possible which helps everyone get in and out,” Driver said. “We tell (customers) to use common sense.”

Many public launches include one or more public bathrooms that also need to be maintained. DNR professionals are called upon to help with traffic overflow and control as well. Signage around the launch site will provide information to guests about other rules and regulations.

“We’ll staff them during busy times as much as we can,” Olson said. Many of the onsite employees are seasonal workers hired for the summer months although most of the launch maintenance professionals who inspect ramps and skid piers are full-time employees. The DNR manages the properties with a de-centralized maintenance approach so that important work is prioritized. “They’re responsible for infrastructure improvements and making sure that we’re making the improvements needed safely,” Olson added.

The DNR is limited in part by budget and other resources, but residents have expressed frustration at times with the DNR’s lack of oversight of activity at these sites, Bloom said. Some of those frustrations are tied to regulations allowing larger boats to be launched at smaller lakes or the number of parking spots available for boaters. The ability to regulate boater activities at the site is difficult from a purely staffing perspective given the sites are often not staffed even during summer hours.

“They can be difficult to police which is tough,” Bloom said. “The DNR has limitations but there can be frustration there.”

All public launch sites guests are required to comply with the state’s Clean, Drain, Dry program, which sets requirements for boaters to remove all aquatic weeds and plant live from their boats, so invasive species aren’t spread to other areas. Boaters are responsible for a full inspection, although DNR professionals at public boat launches can help if they are staffing the site and available.

“Recreational boaters and anglers can play a key role in helping prevent the spread of invasive species,” said Kevin Walters, aquatic biologist with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) as part of a June 30, 2023, press release that outlines the guidelines of the Clean, Drain, Dry program.

“Instead of spreading invasive species, we’re asking people to help spread the word about simple steps that can be taken when out recreating on Michigan’s waters,” Walters added in the release.

According to the EGLE website, state law requires boaters to:

• Remove all aquatic organisms, including plants, from watercraft and trailers before launching or transporting.

• Remove all drain plugs and drain all water from bilges, ballast tanks and live wells before transporting a watercraft.

• Dispose of unused bait in the trash, not in the water.

Aquatic invasive species can threaten the state’s clean water resources in a variety of ways. These invasive species can outcompete valuable native species for food and habitat, cause water quality issues, and be a nuisance to those enjoying our waterbodies, according to the EGLE website.

The Clean Boats, Clean Waters is a separate program that includes Michigan State University Extension, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy and the Michigan Invasive Species Grant Program as partners, which further promotes responsible boating characteristics.

“We always are focused on ways to remind (boaters) how to be mindful of the moving of aquatic life,” Olson said.

EGLE also recommends boaters do the following at public access sites:

• Cleaning boats, trailers and equipment by removing plants, debris, and mud.

• Dispose of the material in a trash receptacle or otherwise away from the water body, if possible.

• Washing boats and trailers before leaving or at a nearby car wash or at home.

• Drying boats and equipment for five days before launching into a different water body.

• Disinfecting live wells and bilges with a bleach solution (using one half cup bleach for every five gallons of water.)

Funding of the DNR’’s public boat launch program largely comes from a portion of the revenue generated from Michigan’s fuel tax. That state fuel tax was 31 cents per gallon as of Jan. 1, 2025. The current gas tax bill was first passed by former Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder in 2015, which at the time increased the tax from 19 cents to 26.3 cents per gallon. That bill a decade ago included language that would allow the fuel tax to be indexed to inflation up to a maximum of five percent annually. That explains how the fuel tax has risen by 4.7 cents per gallon since then without requiring approval from the state legislature.

The DNR receives two percent of that gas tax revenue to support the care and maintenance of both public boat launches and some of the state’s harbors and other access sites, Olson said.

Additional funding for the boat launches comes from the state’s boat registration fees and other infrastructure improvement grants. The Michigan legislature approves the DNR’s annual budgets for the boat launches but does not have any oversight authority for the program.

Legal oversight of the boat launches is handled by a combination of local law enforcement agencies and the state’s conversation officer.

“We don’t have many issues (with residents), but we have great partners around the state who help us watch over the launch sites,” Olson said.

One of the rules those law enforcement officials will follow up on are boat launch hours. Most public boat launches open at sunrise and close by 10 p.m. or dusk, but some locations have different hours that are outlined in local ordinances.

“We have some launches that are open for night fishing,” Olson said.

Boaters are expected to know the rules and regulations posted at the DNR’s public access sites. The handbook of Michigan Boating Laws and Responsibilities is available for anyone to download online. One of the most common rules is that a person operating a vessel should operate it in a careful and prudent manner, including at an appropriate speed, while stopping the vessel within an assured clear distance ahead, according to the Michigan Lakes & Streams Association. Additionally, there is no wake speed within 100 feet of the shoreline and maximum speed of 55 mph is allowed.

Information is readily available about the state’s public launch sites. The DNR’s Michigan Boating Facility Finder (MiBFF) website provides information on public access sites throughout Michigan that was updated earlier this year, according to Olson. It offers information on more than 1,000 boat launch sites along with an interactive map that provides beneficial user accessibility features. The website also includes information on the water depth, launch lanes, number of launch sites, parking and restrooms and additional information to help boaters seamlessly use onsite resources.

The MiBFF can be found at Michigan.gov/mibff. Site visitors can type in the lake or body of water in the search box they plan to visit to get more information about the public launch details for that water body.

Residents can also find public boat launch access sites by finding the Michigan Public Boating Access Sites webpage on the ArCGIS Online website at gls-midnr.opendata.arcgis.com.

Driver of Club Royale agrees with DNR officials that power loading, which refers to when a boater uses the power of the boat motor to load and unload a boat onto and off a trailer is never recommended, and can cause damage to the public launch life, rails or the user’s boat or trailer. Driver indicated that it’s an example of boaters who may be moving too fast to launch or load a boat for their own good.

“You want to get your boat in the water but don’t take shortcuts,” Driver said. “Again, it’s about common sense.” He suggests new boaters might practice their launches on days when the public launch sites aren’t as busy. “Educate yourself, ask questions and read up before you (launch) on a weekend or holiday.”

Power loading can erode sediment and dig large and dangerous holes at the base of the ramp. Ongoing power loading can push eroded sediment into a single area farther from shore. This action can therefore damage a boat, motor and trailer based on the peaks and valleys in the water caused by power loading. Specifically:

• Trailer tires can get stuck in the created holes in the water. When this happens, a tow truck may be the only option to retrieve the trailer and vehicle attached to it, resulting in unnecessary time and costs.

• The launch ramp can also incur expensive damage, or in a worst-case scenario, collapse, leaving it unusable and causing the access to be closed.

• The mounds caused by using the engine during power loading attempts can result in a barrier for both launching and loading.

• When loading or unloading, consider using a winch and maintain a slow, controlled speed, ideally slightly above idle. A winch will reel in, let out, or otherwise adjust the tension of a rope, wire, or cable.

This strategy can prevent erosion, reducing the potential issues at the end of a ramp.

Damage to a public access site ramp can force the DNR to temporarily close a launch for repairs. If the damage is found to be malicious, people using a DNR launch site could be prosecuted based on the state’s malicious destruction of property statute, Bloom said. Funding may not be immediately available for the fix, resulting in a longer-term launch close.

Other tips for launching a boat at a public launch site include:

• Check the ramp before launching a boat. Search for uneven surfaces at the end of the ramp, especially during low water levels. Deep holes, caused by engine use from other boars, can trap trailer tires and prematurely ground a boat. Boaters may consider using a hand dolly or their trailer winch for a smoother launch.

• Float, don't submerge. Experts recommend backing a trailer in enough so the boat to starts to float. It isn’t necessary to submerge the entire trailer in water. This makes loading and unloading easier and avoids unnecessary strain on the vehicle pulling the trailer.