Coast Guard Establishes Safety Zone for Spring Lake Drone Show

You might care about this because the Coast Guard is creating a temporary safety zone on Spring Lake near Fruitport, Michigan. This rule will be active on August 27, 2026, from 8:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. during an aerial drone show. The purpose is to keep people and boats safe from any potential dangers caused by the drones. During this time, no one will be allowed into a specific area of the lake unless they have special permission from the Captain of the Port for Sector Lake Michigan or their representative. This means that if you plan to be on Spring Lake during this period, you need to be aware of these restrictions. The safety zone covers all navigable waters of Spring Lake, from the surface to the bottom, and from shoreline to shoreline, east of a specific line described by coordinates. The Coast Guard issued this rule quickly because they learned about the drone show recently and needed to act fast to ensure public safety, which is allowed under certain circumstances to bypass the usual public comment period. This temporary rule is in place to prevent accidents during the event. What is particularly interesting about this document is how quickly the Coast Guard can put safety measures in place when there is an immediate need. They usually ask for public comments before making new rules. However, for this drone show, they used a special authority to create the safety zone without prior public notice. This was necessary because they were informed about the event late, on July 29, 2026, and the show is on August 27, 2026. This timeframe did not allow for the typical process of public comments and responses. This shows that the Coast Guard has the power to act fast to protect the public and marine environment when safety is at risk, even for temporary events like a drone show. It also highlights the specific nature of aerial drone shows as a potential hazard requiring such temporary measures on navigable waters. The rule itself is very precise, defining the exact time and geographical boundaries for the safety zone on Spring Lake. People who would be most interested in this legal document include local residents of Fruitport, Michigan, and visitors who use Spring Lake. Anyone who owns or operates a boat on Spring Lake will need to know about this temporary restriction. Event organizers planning similar aerial shows or other events that could affect navigable waters will find this relevant, as it shows how the Coast Guard responds to such activities. Local businesses that rely on recreational boating on Spring Lake might also be interested in how these temporary closures affect their operations. Finally, those interested in maritime safety regulations or the Coast Guard's authority in emergency situations would also find this document valuable. It sets a precedent for how temporary safety concerns, even from new technologies like drones, are managed on U.S. waterways.