Cautious Optimism on Illinois Waterways

In Lake County, Ill., recreational boating is big business on bodies of water that include Fox Lake and the Chain O’ Lakes. Boaters look forward to Memorial Day as the annual start of the season and this year is no different. “People are itching to get outside and enjoy the (water),” said Joseph S. Keller, executive director at the Fox Waterway Agency in Fox Lake, Ill. “Everything is primed and looking good for a May start.”

Watchful Eyes

But Keller also has to take the current Covid-19 crisis seriously. On April 16, he penned a warning to boaters. “The Fox Waterway Agency has kept the waterways open during the state’s stay-at-home order. But that could change quickly if users don’t abide by safe social-distancing rules. The FWA and law enforcement are keeping a close eye on the waterway.”

Mark Willer owns Turtle Beach Marina in Antioch, Ill., on Channel Lake. “That’s my biggest fear,” he said in a statement. “If they decide to shut the chain down, that’s going to kill businesses on the water.” He also owns the Thirsty Turtle restaurant and Willer thinks both entities can stay open if people act responsibly.

Dave Buss is a storage customer at Turtle Beach Marina and he had one request for state officials. “Definitely don’t close the chain,” he said.

Non-Essential

On Lake Michigan’s North Point Marina in Winthrop Harbor, Ill., the state’s department of natural resources is working with facility management to let boatowners access their vessels so they can be relocated. Winthrop Harbor is in Cook County, which is closed to recreational boating.

At Waukegan Harbor & Marina, there are 645 boat slips with 327 rented as of April 20, which is about 50 fewer than last year. Owners who have boats stored there can’t access them because recreational boating dealerships and service facilities have been deemed “non-essential.”

“We’re screwed,” said Craig Munson, owner of Munson Marine, which is losing slip renewals because of the shutdown. “We closed down on March 21 at 5 p.m. The car dealers are able to operate, which seems silly, but all of us are shut down.”

A Wary Eye

Back in Lake County, Larry Phillips owns Captain’s Quarters Marina, a six-acre facility in Antioch on Fox Lake. The business has seating for 75 boat slips with 60 available to renters and 15 for boaters who dine at the restaurant. “I’ve had three people back out due to the coronavirus,” he said while looking at his rentals for the 2020 season.