As the weather cools and the days shorten, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources is starting the process of removing swim buoys from many state park beaches.
The DNR says swim buoys help mark the boundaries of a swim area, which are established to help identify locations with shallower water and lower risks of dangerous currents and waves. The DNR inspects those areas about every two weeks and adjusts them throughout the summer, as needed, to maximize safety. However, once the buoys are removed, the area is no longer considered a swim area. While the beach remains open to the public, swimming is not recommended.
The DNR says visitors to beach parks should exercise caution when entering the water, as they would at any other non-designated swim area.
The DNR typically places buoys and warning flags at beaches before Memorial Day and removes them after Labor Day.
For the next several months, approach the water at your own risk.
