Michigan Man Convicted of Illegally Diverting River in Sleeping Bear Dunes

Andrew Howard was convicted of misdemeanors for tampering and vandalism after he diverted a national park river to create easier boat access to Lake Michigan within the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Howard was witnessed digging with a shovel, causing the river to divert and create a new channel to the lake, leading to increased fishing activity. The incident stemmed from a policy dispute with the National Park Service, which no longer dredges the river, resulting in sediment and sand buildup that hinders boat access.