Permits issued prior to November 10, 2011 remain useable under state law until November 10, 2016.  A permit from the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers is also required to remove logs from the Great Lakes.   

If recovery operations can be conducted without any bottomland dredging, filling, or structure placement on bottomland, only permit authorization under Part 326 is required. However, if dredging, filling, or structure placement activities become part of the recovery operations then additional permit authorization will be required under Part 325, Great Lakes Submerged Lands, of the NREPA. 

This source of timber is viewed as a viable economic lumber resource available for recovery. This abandoned timber is considered to be property of the State of Michigan. The recovery of such timber from the Great Lakes bottomlands involves various issues that Part 326 is designed to address. The primary issues are the recovery of state owned property by private entities for economic reasons with proper compensation and the protection of the Great Lakes' natural resources, riparian rights, public trust in the Great Lakes, and public health, safety, and welfare.