We provide one of the premier boating programs in the country and is 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
The Michigan State Waterways Program, which is derived from boat registration fees and the Michigan marine fuel tax, helps fund the construction, operation and maintenance of public recreational boating facilities.
Boating facilities and support services are the necessary ingredients to offer quality boating experiences in Michigan.
- The State Program supports state-administered harbors along the Great Lakes and also state-administered boating access sites on the Great Lakes and on inland waters.
- The Grant-In-Aid Program provides grants to local units of government for harbor facilities along the Great Lakes and for boating access sites located throughout Michigan.
Waterways Commission
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.
