The 2020 boating season hasn’t even begun, and yet it is already over for boaters who use the Northside Municipal Marina in South Haven.
City officials have announced this afternoon that the City of South Haven will close its Northside Municipal Marina for the 2020 boating season in order to make needed electrical upgrades.
Officials say that high water has compromised the shore power electric system, which could cause shock or electrocution if someone were to come into contact with the water. Results of a recent field review and targeted testing showed electrical leakage is occurring where wires have been sliced or are in partially or fully submerged junction boxes.
The city will be working with Edgewater Resources to conduct the repairs and ensure the marina, which sits on the north side of the channel into Lake Michigan, meets the national electric code. Repairs are expected to be begin during the summer months and are estimated to cost more than $300,000.
Earlier this year, South Haven reached out to all 97 slip holders at Northside with options, including canceling this year’s rental and receiving a full refund or applying this year’s rental to reserve a slip for 2021.
Harbor Master Kate Hosier says, “Our community is home to one of the major recreational ports on the Great Lakes, and our goal is to provide clean, safe and reasonably priced facilities for recreational boaters.” Hosier, who is also Assistant City Manager for South Haven, adds, “We are closing Northside Marina this summer in order to do this critical electrical upgrade and be open in time for season next summer. We are working individually to accommodate our longtime slip holders.”
High water may prompt South Haven to delay the opening of its three other municipal marinas – Southside Municipal Marina, Black River Park and Maritime Docks – from its customary April 15th to a month later to May 15. South Haven is also seeking guidance from state officials in Michigan on the impact COVID-19 might have on marinas.
From its office in St. Joseph, Edgewater Resources provides environmental, engineering, architecture and businesses services to waterfront communities across the United States and around the world. The city upgraded the electric shore power system at the Southside Municipal Marina in 2019.
The photo accompanying this story on Moody on the Market shows high water conditions along the Black River Channel in South Haven, and is not intended to depict the Northside Marina.
