Boating and Waterways

  • We provide one of the premier boating programs in the country, composed of:

    • 19 state harbors owned/administered by the DNR
    • 63 local community harbors developed through DNR Waterways grant-in-aid program
    • 1,300+ state and local boating access sites
    • 2 state lock/dam systems owned/administered by DNR
    • 6,351 boat slips spread across state and local harbors
  • Boating in Michigan

Waterways Program

  • 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.

Waterways Commission

  • Waterways Commission Logo Waterways Commission

    The Michigan State Waterways Commission is a seven-member advisory board that works with the Department of Natural Resources on the use of dedicated funds, provided by boaters, for the acquisition, development and maintenance of public harbors and boating access sites, as well as certain locks and dams.

Spotlight

Additional Information

Grants

  • Waterways Program Grants

    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.

  • Boating Infrastructure Grants

    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.

  • Clean Vessel Act - Boat Pumpout Grants

    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.