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 Michigan consistently ranks among the top three states in the nation for watercraft registrations and boat sales.
Recreational boating has an economic impact of more than $7 billionannually in Michigan, according to data from the National Marine Manufacturers Association.
FINDING SAFE HARBOR
As boating became a popular pastime, the state set out to provide safe public access to the Great Lakes and inland waters of Michigan.
In 1947, the state Legislature
created the Michigan State Waterways Commission – a seven-member advisory board that works with the DNR on the use of dedicated funds, provided by boaters, for the acquisition, development and maintenance of public harbors and boating access sites.
So began the state’s Great Lakes Harbors Program. The Waterways Commission was granted authority and supporting funds to create a marine “highway” along the 3,000 miles of Great Lakes shoreline.
From 1947 to 1964, the commission developed the majority of Michigan’s harbors of refuge, providing tens of thousands of boaters safe harbors and hospitality as they circumnavigate
the state.
In 1966, the commission became
part of Michigan’s Department of Conservation, the precursor to the DNR.
“Today, the number of safe harbors
has grown as the Waterways Commission continues its mission to provide safe public access to the Great Lakes and inland waters of this state,” reads the Michigan Harbors Guide. “The program’s goal is to locate harbors so that no boater will ever be more than 15 shoreline miles from safety.”
Boaters have paid for much of this harbor network through taxes on marine fuel purchases and boat registration
fees. Under the Waterways Grant-In-Aid Program, local units of government are given grant funds for construction of facilities. Federal funding also supports the development of harbor facilities.
“Of the over 80 public harbors, most are operated by our Grant-in-Aid partners,” said Linnae Dawson, DNR recreational harbor coordinator. “GIA harbors are owned and operated by
a local unit of government but have received waterways funding in the past.”
Local communities are responsible for continuing operation and maintenance of harbor facilities. The state only considers assuming these responsibilities where local resources are unable to support them, so the DNR operates only 18 of Michigan’s harbor facilities.
Information about planning a day
or overnight trip to one of Michigan’s 83 state-sponsored harbors is available on the DNR’s ‘Boating the Great Lakes’ page. Here boaters can find access
to the digital harbor guide, including harbor locations, amenities, reservation information and more.
Michigan also has more than 1,300 public state and local boating access sites (http://www.mcgi.state.mi.us/MRBIS/), both developed and undeveloped.
HITTING THE WATER TRAIL
While boating has long been a popular pursuit for Michiganders, participation
in paddle sports like kayaking, canoeing and stand-up paddle boarding has flour- ished in recent years.
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