The Michigan Clean Marina Program is a joint program between the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, Michigan Sea Grant and Michigan Boating Industries Association. To-date, the Michigan Clean Marina Program has certified 34 marinas.
The clean marina certification begins with a pledge to participate in the program. As a pledging participant, marinas do their part to improve and maintain Michigan’s waterways by reducing and eliminating releases and discharges of harmful pollutants, sediments, nutrients, general refuse, and anything else that can damage aquatic environments. In order to receive official designation as a Clean Marina, participants need to complete a 10-step process, including training, a self-evaluation checklist, and a site visit and evaluation.
Benefits of becoming a certified Clean Marina include reducing pollution and improving water quality in the Great Lakes, protecting fish and wildlife habitat, enhancing public image by promoting environmentally-sound practices and saving money by adopting cost-effective best management practices. Certified marinas strive for continuous improvement in daily environmental stewardship practices.
“We are pleased that 34 Michigan marinas and harbors are working toward clean marina certification and thirty four have already achieved this recognition,” said Van W. Snider, Jr., CAE, President of Michigan Boating Industries Association. “We are also encouraged that more boaters are becoming aware of the program and are searching out these facilities as places they want to utilize.” The Clean Marina designation is applicable for a three-year period at which time the facility must be re-designated.
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