For Immediate Release
Contact: Nicki Polan, MBIA, (734) 261-0123
Jeff Spencer, MDEQ, (517) 241-5719
Livonia, Mich. – The Michigan Clean Marina Program is pleased to announce three Michigan marinas have been named as Certified Clean Marinas. They are: Tower Marine, Douglas; Saugatuck Yacht Services, Saugatuck; and Windjammer Marina, Oden. All three have been certified for a three-year term through 2018. Additionally, one marina has been re-certified as a “Michigan Clean Marina”; it is Petoskey City Marina, Petoskey. Petoskey City Marina has been re-certified for another five-year-term through 2020. Forty-five Michigan marinas have obtained and are maintaining this prestigious certification.
The Clean Marina Program was initiated to preserve and protect, through voluntary efforts, Michigan’s greatest resource, the Great Lakes and its connecting waterways. The certification process begins with a pledge to participate in the program, followed by an online course with an overview of the designation process and a review of best management practices. The facilities then conduct self evaluations of their environmental practices to determine their strengths and weaknesses. After implementing improvements and reaching a level of competencies, the marina requests a visitation by a CMP consultant to evaluate the facility’s environmental stewardship. When the facility reaches established goals, they receive their designation.
“We welcome Tower Marine, Saugatuck Yacht Services, and Windjammer Marina to the Clean Marina Program and we praise Petoskey City Marina for being re-certified as a Certified Clean Marina and for their continuation of following best practices,” said Nicki Polan, executive director of the Michigan Boating Industries Association. “More boaters are becoming aware of the program and are searching out these facilities as places they want to patronize.” The Clean Marina designation is applicable for a three-year period at which time the facility must be re-designated. MBIA encourages all marinas to seek out this certification. “It is not difficult and there are both financial and environmental gains that come with this effort,” said Polan. Currently Michigan has 45 Clean Marinas.
The Michigan Clean Marina Program is a joint program between the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, Michigan Sea Grant and Michigan Boating Industries Association. For more details on the program and to see which facilities are designated, see these websites:
- Michigan Clean Marina Program
- Michigan Boating Industries Association
