[roamerz]

> As a person responsible for maintaining a harbor in Lake Michigan, I am allowed to move 1 cubic yard of material a year, by hand, with a shovel

looking at the picture he could have made a smaller channel moving the legal limit letting the water enlarge it over time.

[lazide]

A cubic yard is 7-8 small wheelbarrows worth of material.

It’s nearly impossible to accomplish anything significant by moving a cubic yard of anything. Except gold bullion or Plutonium.

Even diverting a small stream for awhile would require very thoughtful application of something pretty durable (concrete?).

Not impossible, but very improbable.

Which is probably why they set such a small limit. That’s literally ‘dude with a shovel and an hour’ territory.

[themadturk]

Yes, but was the fellow considered a harbor maintainer? I don't know what this constitutes, but there's nothing in the story to indicate he had any such designation.

[seadan83]

Seemingly, a dam was built, the diverted water created the channel.