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Recreational Safety and Hunter Education
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May 27, 2026
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources today announced that seven communities throughout the state will share $4.035 million in Waterways Grant-in-Aid Program funding to improve public access to recreational boating.
This year, projects in Benzie, Emmet, Mackinac, Marquette, Ottawa and Sanilac counties were approved for projects that include marina dredging, an engineering study and various site improvements. With each community’s matching funds, these projects represent a collective investment of more than $6.5 million.
Visit the Waterways Grant-in-Aid Program webpage to see the full list of 2026 grant awards.
The funding is made possible through the DNR Parks and Recreation Division’s Waterways Grant-in-Aid Program, which began in 1949 with the goal of expanding the harbor system along the Great Lakes and boating access sites throughout the state.
"Michigan is home to more than 1,200 state-sponsored boating access sites, 19 state-managed harbors and 64 local state-sponsored harbors of refuge along the Great Lakes," said Kristen Kosick, DNR Parks and Recreation Division chief. "As boating remains a cornerstone of Michigan’s outdoor recreation, the DNR is committed to investing in and funding these vital waterways for the benefit of all."
Local units of government and state colleges and universities are eligible to apply for grant assistance for recreational boating improvements and development at grant-in-aid harbors and public boating access sites. The Waterways Grant-in-Aid Program provides matching funds to help support quality recreational boating infrastructure. Communities are asked to match 50% of required funds.
The grants are funded through the Michigan State Waterways Fund, a restricted fund derived primarily from boat registration fees and a portion of Michigan’s gas tax. These funds support the construction, operation and maintenance of public recreational boating facilities.
Applications for the next round of Waterways Grant-in-Aid Program funding are due April 1, 2027.
Learn more about DNR grant programs at Michigan.gov/DNRGrants.
Note to editors: An accompanying photo is available below for download. Caption information follows.
Alpena: The city of Alpena operates Alpena Marina, which was awarded $150,000 in Waterways Grant-in-Aid Program funding in 2022.
Contact: Curt Wemple, 231-444-8029
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources will soon offer a public shooting opportunity in Roscommon County, with construction just underway on a new shooting range. Using federal Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration funds, the DNR is building the range on Roscommon State Forest lands located at 10779 West Branch Road in St. Helen. See a map of the location. Construction is expected to be completed in the fall of 2026.
The 2025-26 snowmobile season proved to be one of the best in recent years, because of consistent snowfall, riders out enjoying the trails around the state and an ongoing, successful Michigan Department of Natural Resources statewide safety campaign – Ride Right – that is steadily helping shift snowmobilers’ mindsets when it comes to safely navigating Michigan’s more than 6,300 miles of snowmobile trails.
Have fun, stay safe and take care of the outdoors this Memorial Day holiday weekend!
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has announced significant traffic circulation improvements and the upcoming completion of a dedicated two-way cycle track at Belle Isle Park. Visitors will see the implementation of some of the recommendations from the 2025 Belle Isle Park multimodal mobility plan, designed to ease traffic congestion, enhance accessibility and increase public safety for all park users.
A new 1,100-foot, fully accessible boardwalk, which replaces an aging staircase, has opened at Tahquamenon Falls State Upper Falls. The new feature will offer all visitors close-up, panoramic views of the Tahquamenon River as it rushes over the edge and drops about 50 feet.
Following extensive public input, the Michigan Natural Resources Commission on Wednesday approved several deer regulation changes for the 2026 and 2027 hunting seasons. The seven-member citizen commission, appointed by the governor, acted on and amended recommendations developed by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to support healthy deer populations while balancing hunter opportunity and public feedback.
Conditions have improved at the Cheboygan Lock and Dam Complex, and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources has demobilized pumps and other emergency equipment used to channel water around the dam.
If you’re heading to northern Michigan to look for morels, hit your favorite fishing spot or get in a little time on the trails, be aware that fire danger is high. The MesoWest Great Lakes Fire & Fuels map shows the daily fire danger rating as high or very high for much of the state, so be careful with campfires, off-road vehicles, trailer chains and any power equipment that gets hot during use.
After a lightning strike at the Little Manistee River Weir (Manistee County) threatened to derail steelhead egg collection for this season, the Department of Natural Resources rallied to collect approximately 4.2 million steelhead eggs for Michigan’s state fish hatcheries. Staff were able to proceed with collection at the Little Manistee Weir, as well as deploy the Lower Platte River Weir (Benzie County) as a backup egg source for the first time, both of which contributed to the successful collection of steelhead eggs for future stocking throughout the state.
