2013 Emergency Dredging Community Toolkit
Michigan's recreational harbors serve as an economic engine for local communities and the state. The 2013 boating season is now at risk due to a confluence of factors limiting navigability in many of the recreational harbors throughout the state. A lack of funding in the past several years has created a backlog of dredging needs, while historically low water levels and high costs threaten to compromise many of our harbors in 2013.
Governor Snyder's Administration, including the Department of Environmental Quality, Department of Natural Resources and the Office of the Great Lakes, strongly believes that fostering vibrant waterfront communities is critical to sustainably growing Michigan's economy. The Great Lakes navigation system and recreational harbors are critical assets to this effort.
Due to this emergency need, the State of Michigan has designed a strategic Emergency Dredging Plan to address the most critical short-term dredging needs of harbor communities for the 2013 boating season (map). These projects were identified using the following methodology:
- Maintain the Primary Harbor Safety Network (Harbors of Refuge)
Each harbor was evaluated to determine whether it:
- Is a Harbor of Refuge as designated by Congress.
- Has been more than three years since it was last dredged as recorded by the Army Corps of Engineers.
- Provides direct Great Lakes access (defined as directly on or within a half mile of a Great Lake).
- Has a channel authorized for dredging by the Army Corps of Engineers.
- Provides transient facilities (defined as having at least 50 percent of slips available for transient boaters).
- Is more than 30 miles from the next closest adjacent harbor.
- Has a boat launch for trailered boats that provides access to the Great Lakes.
- Preserve access to recreational harbors and boating access sites
- Facilities identified by community survey as having compelling dredging needs.
- Keep boating access sites open in key inland lakes
- DNR will redirect staff toward dredging at state facilities using existing program funds.
The state has also taken every practicable measure to expedite all dredging projects, including those not part of the state's Emergency Dredging Plan:
- The state is working to redirect $9.46 million from Waterways-funded projects to address priority dredging this year. The DNR anticipates that projects impacted by the redirection of funding will resume next year if this proposal receives legislative approval.
- The Governor's budget includes an additional $11.5 million from the general fund for a total of $20.96 million to address the Emergency Dredging Plan.
- DNR will suspend its policy on Waterways Grant match requirements (from 50 percent local community match to 0 percent).
- The state has enacted temporary emergency permitting changes that expedite permits and lower fees for applicants in many cases.
- DEQ is available to provide technical assistance to communities unfamiliar with the dredging permitting process. For assistance, contact your district representative.
- State agencies (DNR, DEQ, OGL) have coordinated with the legislature to respond to the immediate needs of harbors and coastal communities. This has included committee and caucus testimony as well as individual and group visits with state representatives.
- State agency directors will maintain a dialogue with the new Legislative Waterways Caucus to address related issues as needed.
- The state has queried more than 200 businesses that may be able to provide dredging services. A list of Michigan dredgers, organized by county, contains firms that confirmed their availability and those that did not respond but may be available. If your business has capacity and is not listed, please contact the Office of the Great Lakes at sweeneyb2@michigan.gov.
- The directors and other representatives from DNR, DEQ and OGL traveled to Washington, D.C., to encourage the Michigan delegation to support the Realize America's Maritime Promise (RAMP) Act, H.R. 335. This federal legislation would mandate that funds in the federal Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund be spent on this purpose. The trust fund receives monies from cargo vessel fees, annually totaling approximately $1.5 billion. However, only half that amount has been applied to projects. RAMP Act passage would provide reliable funding for anticipated, regular harbor maintenance, with the goal of minimizing future emergency situations.
- Senate Bill 252 was recently signed into law to allow private marinas to apply for the low-interest loans for dredging projects. Follow this link for more information from the Treasury Department.
For Emergency Dredging Plan information, contact Paul Petersen at (517) 335-3033 or petersenp@michigan.gov.
For more information on permitting, testing and dredge material disposal, go to the Water Resources Division's dedicated page and/or contact your Water Resources Division district representative.
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