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Managing our waterways facilities

Managing our waterways facilities

  • bird's eye view of boats in harbor slips

    We provide one of the premier boating programs in the country.

    • 82 state-sponsored harbors (19 state-managed harbors and 63 local state-sponsored harbors of refuge).
    • 1,300-plus state and local boating access sites.
    • two state lock/dam systems owned and administered by DNR.
    • 6,000-plus boat slips spread across state and local harbors.
    Explore Michigan boating

The 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

  • 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.

    Learn about the commission »

Grants

  • 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.

  • Michigan Boating 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.

  • 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.