A Michigan man's single-handed attempt to reroute a river has landed him in hot water with the law. Andrew Blair Howard, a 63-year-old from Frankfort, was convicted Wednesday of tampering and vandalism after digging a trench that altered the course of the Platte River, said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten of the Western District of Michigan, as reported by The Detroit News. The man-made channel created on August 15, 2022, quickly grew to 200 feet wide, providing a clear path for large boats to access Platte Bay, diverting the river's natural water flow.
Upon investigating, National Park Service rangers caught Howard placing rocks to build a dam, directing the river into the lake. This act of environmental disobedience came as a result of a policy dispute between Howard and the park service. Despite the clash of perspectives, U.S. Attorney Totten emphasized, that the area is a "Michigan jewel," and Howard's endeavors resulted in significant financial and ecological harm. "Mr. Howard had a policy dispute with the National Park Service and took matters into his own hands, breaking the law rather than using lawful means to advocate for his position," Totten said, as per the Department of Justice.
The Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, a cherished Michigan locale since 1970, is famed for its natural beauty and is a haven for paddlers and beachgoers alike. Federal prosecutors highlighted the unauthorized river diversion and the subsequent landscaping alteration as actions that not only breached federal regulations but also blindsided the local ecological balance and recreational enjoyment.
Howard's case was tried by Federal Magistrate Judge Ray Kent, who found Howard guilty of the federal misdemeanors. "The defendant intended to and in fact did divert the flow of the Platte River into Platte Bay," Judge Kent ruled. Meanwhile, the National Park Service's Superintendant Scott Tucker expressed his satisfaction with the ruling, reaffirming the protection of the park's integrity for future generations. Howard now faces up to six months in jail and a $5,000 fine—a stiff penalty for a man whose battle against the currents of bureaucracy led to a literal change in the local landscape, according to the Department of Justice.
