Agencies that protect Lake Michigan prepare for summer season

Chicago Tribune

25-05-2025

On a recent chilly morning, the Lake County Sheriff's new Marine 1 boat was bobbing lightly with the water along a dock at the East Chicago Marina.
Then, Lake County Sheriff Marine Unit Sgt. Scott Shelhart turned on the boat's shore balance technology and the boat became still — like a buoy. The boat will be fully integrated into the sheriff's marine unit this summer, said Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez.
'The capabilities of this boat exceed what we've had,' Shelhart said. 'Our goal is lifesaving and protection.'
As the Memorial Day weekend holiday kicks off the summer season, the Lake County Sheriff, Porter County Sheriff, U.S. Coast Guard and Department of Natural Resources are tasked with protecting the roughly 26-mile Lake Michigan shoreline from the Illinois state line through Porter County.
This summer, the Lake County Sheriff will have three boats available to assist in water emergencies like a stalled boat or a drowning on Lake Michigan, Martinez said. Last summer, the marine unit began testing its new boat out on the water, but this will be the first summer the new 44-foot boat will be utilized, he said.
With three boats, Martinez said the department will be able to conduct boat safety checks, patrol the water and respond to emergencies.
'Having this new boat, along with our older boat and another smaller boat, it allows us to cover more areas of Lake Michigan,' Martinez said. 'It will limit the response time and allow us to have an additional boat out there as well.'
The new boat has updated technology that helps with navigating difficult waters, said Lake County Sheriff's Department Special Operations Commander James Stahl.
'This boat really allows us to get to our destination much more quickly,' said Lake County Sheriff's Department Chief of Police Vince Balbo.
The U.S. Coast Guard has to patrol all of Lake Michigan, Stahl said, so depending where its boats are stationed the closest Coast Guard boat could be in Michigan or Wisconsin. But, having three Lake County Sheriff's boats for water rescues will improve water safety responses, he said.
The U.S. Coast Guard's Northwest Indiana station is in Michigan City, said spokesman Lt. Joe Neff, and its stations in Chicago and St. Joseph, Michigan support Michigan City if needed. The Michigan City station has one 29-foot boat, he said, and it is only staffed during peak hours.
The most common calls on Lake Michigan are for boat maintenance and a person in the water, Neff said.
When a call comes in about an emergency on Lake Michigan, Stahl said the Lake County dispatch center receives the call, which triggers a response from the department's marine unit. Then, the aviation unit is deployed, he said.
The U.S. Coast Guard's command station in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, listens to a radio frequency, Channel 16, to list for emergency calls on Lake Michigan, Neff said. The dispatcher can then dispatch its station or request assistance from counties to respond to the emergency, he said.
There have been instances where commercial boats have responded to a boat maintenance call after hearing the information on Channel 16, Neff said.
In some cases, the U.S. Coast Guard doesn't respond because the county marine units have already responded and handled the situation, Neff said. But, typically, Neff said the Coast Guard does respond to calls.
'Most of the time there is a response action that is being taken, and then we work with the county and the other agencies out there to effect the quickest response for that case,' Neff said.
The Lake County Sheriff's Department has been 'very helpful' in assisting Porter County with calls on the shoreline, said Sgt. Benjamin McFalls, the public information officer for the Porter County Sheriff's Department.
The Porter County Sheriff's Department has a marine unit that patrols the county's nearly 10 miles of shoreline, McFalls said.
The department recently acquired a 2007 27-foot Boston Whaler Challenger patrol boat to help with lakefront responses, McFalls said in an email. The Porter County Sheriff's Department bought the boat from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
Lake County helped Porter County prepare to acquire the patrol boat.
'The funds to purchase the boat were provided by generous donations from private businesses,' McFalls said. 'The staffing for the patrols will be done by off-duty (officers) being paid mostly from a grant obtained through the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. The patrols will focus on the busiest days when boaters are on the water.'
Emergency calls are responded by the United States Coast Guard, Indiana DNR, Lake County Marine Unit and fire agencies with boats, McFalls said. The Porter County department and other police and fire agencies respond from the ground.
Representatives from the cities of Gary and Portage were unable to comment on their role in protecting the shoreline.
The LaPorte Sheriff's Department also helps when needed, and Porter County officials will help across county lines, if needed.
'We will assist with manpower, drones, ATVs, or whatever else is needed,' McFalls said. 'It is imperative for all public safety agencies along the shoreline to work with each other to provide the best possible protection to citizens who may need assistance.'
The DNR responds to any bodies of water owned by the state of Indiana, said Conservation Officer Terri Millefoglie.
DNR officers work with local marine units and the U.S. Coast Guard to respond to calls on Indiana's portion of Lake Michigan and inland state lakes.
Calls from the Indiana Dunes State Park in Chesterton are also directed to the DNR, Millefoglie said. The national park has a separate — but similar — team that responds to its calls.
'They're just on the national level, and we help their agents with anything they would need,' Millefoglie said. 'We all work together.'
Because the Indiana lakeshore is 'such a vast area,' Millefoglie said it's important to have communication between the different agencies.
'Since we're so spread out, the more we have, the better we can provide assistance to our citizens,' she added. 'There's not very many of us in all those entities, so when we come together, it's helpful.'
The Lake County Sheriff's Department also stations crews on ATVs at Gary and Whiting beaches to offer patrol support, Martinez said. The department also has two jet skis that can be used for some water emergencies, Stahl said.
The Lake County Sheriff's Department has an aviation unit and drones that can help locate boats or people in the water during an emergency, he said. The department has eight drone pilots, Balbo said, and they have helped with locating boats and people in the water ahead of the aviation unit arriving.
'I'm very proud of the technology and the equipment that we have for our officers and the training that they have,' Martinez said. 'We have the resources, we have the training and the equipment to ensure the safety of not just the beachgoers of Lake County but also visitors that come here.'
To stay safe this summer season, boaters should ensure their boats have safety equipment, like flares and life jackets, and gasoline, Stahl said. Swimmers should pay attention to water conditions before going for a swim, he said.
The DNR also gives people basic water safety tips to try and decrease incidents, especially during the summer when they're most common.
Basic water safety tips include: discussing the dangers of water with your family; telling someone where you are going and when you will return; going with a buddy; staying away from flooded or fast-moving waterways; wearing a life jacket; keeping a watchful eye on children; and avoiding alcohol.
The DNR also recommends boating safely by assessing water levels, reducing speed in unfamiliar areas and designating a sober boat operator. Life jackets worn should be U.S. Coast Guard-approved, according to the DNR.
The National Weather Service also has a webpage — weather.gov/marine/lotmz — where people can check lake conditions before getting in the water.
'Most incidents we have occur in the summertime, so please do what you can to stay safe,' Millefoglie said.