March 8, 2006

Department of Environmental Quality Director Steven E. Chester today announced the approval of 26 Coastal Zone Management (CZM) grants totaling $680,000. The funds will be used by coastal communities, nonprofit organizations, and universities to fund a variety of shoreline related projects that will allow our state to better manage and protect our valuable Great Lakes coastal resources.

“This program provides a tremendous benefit to citizens across our state,” said Director Chester. “By providing the tools to properly maintain and enhance our Great Lakes coastline, we can ensure that future generations have the same opportunities to enjoy them that we have today.”

Projects funded by grants announced today will enhance access to the coast, plan for waterfront redevelopment, document shipwrecks, restore lighthouses, provide educational outreach, and develop coastal land use planning resources.

Michigan’s Coastal Management Program, which administers the CZM grants, has a legacy of managing and protecting the state’s valuable Great Lakes coastal resources, and was cited by The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration as a national leader in community based coastal management. This annual funding is the result of a state and federal partnership established through the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972.

A complete list of the funded projects can be viewed on the CMP Web site at http://www.michigan.gov/deq/0,1607,7-135-3313_3677_3696-136539--,00.html. The CMP recently released its Request for Proposals for the 2007 CZM grants.

Editor’s note: DEQ news releases are available on the department’s Internet home page at www.michigan.gov/deq.

“Protecting Michigan’s Environment, Ensuring Michigan’s Future”

Revised March 8, 2006 by Pat Watson