Milan Kruszynski isn’t sure how much of a beach there will be at the Hammond Marina. He never is because of year to year fluctuating Lake Michigan water levels.

But a lifeguard will be there to ensure swimmer safety, he said.

“There’s somewhat of a beach, but with all the north wind that we’ve had and the water levels, it’s like a roller coaster. There are years where you have a lot of water and years you don’t, and each year has its challenges,” said Kruszynski, the port authority director.

“We will have lifeguards,” he said. “There will be something there, no matter how small.”

From one end of the region’s Lake Michigan shoreline to the other, officials who oversee beaches are making similar plans to line up lifeguards before Memorial Day weekend, the official kickoff of beach season.

Officials said the lifeguards are in place for a reason — Lake Michigan can be dangerous and unpredictable.

According to statistics from the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, a water safety advocacy organization, Lake Michigan claimed 291 lives between 2010 and 2017.

The year 2012 was the deadliest of those years, with 50 drownings; 2016 followed with 46.

The lake claimed 40 lives last year, according to the project’s statistics.

At the Hammond Marina, Kruszynski said lifeguards would be on duty from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week, starting Memorial Day weekend.

“We’re here to help protect the people from themselves,” he said.

Kruszynski said when swimmers get rambunctious or go into water that’s too deep is when they get into trouble.

While the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore has several beaches on its property, only West Beach has lifeguards, said Julie Waters, a law enforcement park ranger.

Many years ago, the park had a private contractor that provided lifeguards at West Beach, as well as Porter, Kemil, Central and Mount Baldy, she said.

But the contract was dropped for budget cuts.

The $6 “enhanced amenity fee” at West Beach helps cover the cost of lifeguards, as well as custodial and maintenance service, Waters said.

Lifeguards there start Friday and continue through most of the summer.

How long that continues depends on staffing since college students who take the job start returning to school in mid-August.

Last year, there weren’t enough lifeguards to staff the beach for the entire season.

At Whihala Beach in Whiting, lifeguards have been a part of the seasonal mix as long as Mike Nastav, recreation director for Whiting Parks and Recreation, can remember.

“We feel it’s for the best for the safety. It’s obvious how dangerous Lake Michigan can be. The weather can change at the flick of a switch with the wind and the waves. We’re pretty cautious,” he said.

Indiana Dunes State Park, which has a large swath of beach in front of the pavilion, expanded its lifeguard corps last year to cover more territory, property manager Brandt Baughman said.

Previously, the beach east of Dunes Creek did not have lifeguards during the week.

But as that section got busier, the park could justify adding lifeguards there seven days a week, he said, adding the beach west of the creek had lifeguards seven days a week.

Last year was the first season the park had lifeguards on both sides of the creek for the entire week, Baughman said.

“I think that was something that made the park run a lot smoother,” Baughman said. He noted people didn’t understand why that section of the beach was closed.

The park will have 20 lifeguard positions this year, comparable to last year, he said.

Amy Lavalley is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.