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Wil Beaton - Rip Currents and Lake Michigan Safety When the waves are up and the water is warm people are drawn to the lake. Structural Rip Current -- Caused by obstacles in the Lake, in Grand Haven's case, the pier. The Grand Haven pier is long and angles south at the end. This can cause strong rip currents when the wind blows from the South or Southwest. Sandbar Rip Current -- these are naturally occurring rip currents caused by breaches in the sand bar. Mr. Beaton presented a possible solution to swimming dangers at the most dangerous portion of the beach. He suggests moving safe swim area bouys away from the pier and moving them further south, away from the source of structural rip currents. This area presents the best waves for surfers. Beaton's suggestion is to make this a surfer's only area, maybe Michigan's first Surf Park. |
