Watercraft Rules and Regulations
All motorized watercraft operating on Indian Lake, that requires State registration, must be owned by a Lake Shores Association (LSA) member in good standing and be registered with the Association by providing a copy of the watercraft title as verification of ownership.
For watercraft registration, a LSA Member is defined as the individual (s) or entity that is recorded with the Montcalm County Register of Deeds as the owner of property within the Indian Lakes Development . If the property is owned by an entity ( i.e. Corporation, Trust, Partnership etc ) the entity shall designate one individual that is part of the entity to be recognized by the Association as the Member and be the owner of the watercraft that qualify to be registered with the Association. The Association shall also allow watercraft registration to spouses, sons, daughters, and parents who provide proof of their residency as a full time resident with a member in good standing.
LSA Members can register their watercraft here: Watercraft Registration
The Association provides watercraft access to the lake via an electronically gated boat ramp on Apache Trail. Access is restricted to members in good standing who have properly registered their watercraft with the Association and agree to comply with the By-Law rules and penalties for boat ramp use. Access shall also be granted by the Association as needed and directed to private contractors and law enforcement .
With an accepted LSA registration the member will be provided a 5 digit Personal Identification Number ( Pin ) allowing access to the Apache Trail Boat Ramp electronic gate. The gate access code eligibility is valid from April 1 thru December 31 at which time the members’ eligibility must be re-validated.
Members can renew their watercraft registration after March 31.
The privilege of access to and the use of the lake are subject to the following:
Boat Ramp Rules and Penalties
A. Any attempt to circumvent the eligibility by forging, transferral or knowingly providing false,
altered, erroneous, or invalid ownership or registration information in an attempt to gain a
ramp access PIN code is a violation and subject to the following penalties :
1. First Offense ………..Warning and suspension of PIN until in compliance
2 Second Offense ……$ 100 Fine, suspension of PIN , access by appointment only
3. Third Offense ……… $ 350 Fine and loss of boat ramp access for current year
B. The sharing ( providing ) the assigned PIN number with NON- MEMBERS, third party
vendors (watercraft dealers , dock installers , etc ) or law enforcement is strictly prohibited.
Violation of this provision is subject to the following penalties:
1, First Offense ………. $ 250 Fine and Appointment Only boat ramp access for 1 year
2. Second Offense…….$ 500 Fine and loss of boat ramp access for current year
3. Third Offense ……… $ 1000 Fine and loss of boat ramp access for current year
C. Contributing, providing, or materially participating in the launching of a unregistered/
unauthorized motorized watercraft onto the lake via the boat ramp or any other location,[1]
whether Association property or member property is prohibited. Violation of this
provision is subject to the following penalties.
1. First Offense ………. $ 250 Fine and Appointment only boat ramp access for 1 year
2. Second Offense …… $ 500 Fine and loss of boat ramp access for current year
3. Third Offense ………..$ 1000 Fine and loss of boat ramp access for} current year.
D When exiting the ramp the using member is required to observe the gate closing
so as to preclude any unauthorized entrance. Failure to do so shall result in a violation
under Paragraph C above.
Wake Boat Operating Restrictions
Due to the shallow depth of Indian Lake the use of “Wake” Boats for the sport of wake surfing produces a damaging effect to the lake bottom. Thus “Wake” boat owners are prohibited from filling and using ballast enhancements . Any “Wake” boat that operates in a manner that disturbs the lake bottom, with or without ballast enhancements, is considered malicious destruction of Association property and subject to the following penalties .
1. First Offense……….$ 500 Fine and “Appointment only” boat ramp access for 1 year
2. Second Offense …..$ 1000 Fine and “Appointment only” boat ramp access for 1 year
3. Third Offense………$ 1500 Fine and “Appointment only” boat ramp access for 1 year
Boating Rules
A. Operating any motorized watercraft at a speed that generates a wake is prohibited
between the hours of 8:30 p.m. and 11:00 a.m.
B. All motorized watercraft shall always proceed in a counter-clockwise fashion around the
lake.
C. All motorized watercraft must maintain a minimum distance of 100 feet from all other
watercraft and objects as prescribed by Michigan law.
D. When any watercraft has a person in tow a spotter must be present in the tow-craft.
E. Watercraft hulls and trailers must be cleaned in accordance with Michigan law before
launched.
F. Comply with any and all State of Michigan watercraft rules and regulations.
Help protect Indian Lake and stop the spread of invasive aquatic species by cleaning all boats and trailers before placing them in the water. IT’S THE LAW! Violation is a state civil infraction and subject to fines.