Waterways Facilities Management

Derived from boat registration fees and the Michigan marine fuel tax, the Waterways Program helps fund the construction, operation and maintenance of public recreational boating facilities.

• The program supports state-administered harbors along the Great Lakes and state-administered boating access sites on the Great Lakes and inland waters.
• The grant-in-aid program provides grants to local government for harbors along the Great Lakes and boating access sites throughout Michigan.

In 2019, the Michigan DNR Waterways Program initiated a Waterways Facilities Assessment of several state-sponsored harbors, boating access sites and two lock/dam facilities. This effort culminated in the completion of a report that includes facility infrastructure data, cost analysis, trends and facility operation and development recommendations. This report will guide efforts on future funding, design and operations.

To learn about the assessment study and results, there will be a webinar taking place Thursday, April 9 from 9- to 10 a.m. To join the Microsoft Team Meeting, call 1-248-462-6320 and use following Conference ID: 276 286 911#.

Provides financial and technical assistance for design and construction of public recreational boating facilities, including state-sponsored harbor and mooring facilities. Only local units of government and public universities are eligible to apply. Applications require the development of a 5-year recreation plan for harbor projects.

Provides federal funding assistance for the design and construction of public recreational harbor facilities serving transient boaters. Local units of government, public universities and private facilities are eligible to apply.

Provides funding for new or upgraded marine sewage disposal facilities, pumpouts and dump stations. Grants are provided to both private and public boating facilities, as long as they are open to the public.