News Photo by Crystal Nelson A pier located at the end of East Main Street in Harrisville and overlooking Lake Huron is seen on Wednesday. The pier eroded over the winter, prompting city officials to close access to the pier.

HARRISVILLE — The winter weather didn’t spare municipalities or their harbors from damage along the Lake Huron shoreline, although some harbors were impacted more than others.

The Harrisville Harbor received significant damage over the winter, as did several municipal parks in Rogers City.

Several floating docks were destroyed in a Jan. 10 storm at the Harrisville Harbor, and a portion of the pier at the end of East Main Street eroded into Lake Huron.

Mayor Jeff Gehring said city officials haven’t been able to fully evaluate the extent of the damage because harbors are not considered critical infrastructure under Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s stay-at-home order meant to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Gehring estimated repairs to the dock would cost around $50,000, but said that number could change once all the damage has been reevaluated. He also indicated it could be another year before the city could afford to fix the pier at the end of East Main Street.

“We don’t have the flexibility with our funding or with our finances to do it, and it’s going to be a fairly costly project, I’m guessing,” Gehring said.

Rogers City Harbormaster Wayne Saile said the city marina was in “real good shape” after the winter months, but there was ice damage to a metal handrail at the marina’s breakwall.

Smitka Park, located on the northernmost of the harbor and already badly hurt in the fall, sustained additional damage over the winter. City officials spent about $4,000 shoring up the park’s foundation, which had washed away during a storm last fall.

“Smitka Park — the park out there that we’ve been trying to save — it has a big crack in it, now,” Saile said. “It doesn’t mean we’re going to get rid of it, but, once everyone gets back to work, we’re going to have to reassess how much time and effort we want to put back into that because that wall is still not very secure.”

The city has also lost and boardwalk at Lakeside Park near the city’s public beach and a small portion of paved bike path,, Rogers City City Manager Joe Hefele said.

“We have concerns about a well house and our wastewater treatment plant, but there still is time before either is in real jeopardy,” he said.

Alpena Harbormaster Don Gilmet reported some damage at the city docks, but said that’s not unusual. For example, a ramp on the harbor’s courtesy dock fell off.

“The ice moved some things around,” Gilment said. “We just have to put them back. But those are things that happen every year, no matter what.”

Gilmet said the city’s lakefront parks had “pretty much the same damage,” noting erosion issues were still occuring along parks and at the volleyball court at Mich-e-ke-wis Park. Gilmet said the damage could have been much worse.

Complicating matters further, the governor’s stay-at-home order is delaying repairs and delaying harbors and marinas from opening for the 2020 season.

Rogers City officials anticipated the marina opening on April 15, but city officials now expect the opening date to be pushed back. Saile said he isn’t able to work at the marina until the stay-at-home order is lifted and he hasn’t even been able to set up the new buoys to mark the entrance to the harbor.

Work planned for the Harrisville Harbor was also delayed. The harbor has undergone renovation over the last couple of years, and the last phase of that project is expected to begin this year. The final phase is expected to cost around $400,000, Gehring said, and includes the replacement of all the old finger piers.

In Alpena, Gilmet said the harbor isn’t open at this time but people are still able to launch their own boats into the lake, as long as social distancing is being practiced.

All of the harbors remain open to boaters who may be experiencing an emergency.