For many years FoCL has conducted boat counts of watercraft of all types coming and going into Clam Lake. The Annual Boat Counts have consistently been done the Saturday after the 4th of July (or in the case of rain, the 2nd Saturday after the 4th).

Throughout the day FoCl volunteers count the number and types of watercrafts – runabouts, bowriders, cruisers, skin boats, off-shore or “cigarette” boats, fishing boats, pontoons or houseboats, jet skis, and non-motorized craft including row boats, kayaks, canoes, sail boats and SUPs – coming into and going out of Clam into Torch. With paper and pen in hand, they record the number of watercrafts on an hourly basis from 11am to 6pm. Volunteers count boats at Butch’s Marina across from the Dockside, close to the mouth of Grass River, and on the length of Clam, as well as counting boat trailers at the DNR Boat Launch.

This data is designed to be used for advocacy in the future should any type of development threaten safety and maneuverability in Clam River or on the Lake, etc.

It’s easy to see that boat traffic has continued to grow enormously over the years, and that the popularity of pontoons has eclipsed that of any other type of watercraft.

2020 Boat Count Report (Click Here)

2021 Boat Count Report (Click Here)

2022 Boat Count Report (Click Here)

2023 Boat Count Report – to be uploaded soon

2024 Boat Count Report – to be uploaded soon

2025 Boat Count – Due to transitions in the Board leadership the boat count was cancelled for 2025.

2026 Boat Count – to be uploaded soon