Michigan Clean Marina Certifies Five Marinas

The Michigan Clean Marina Program announced five Michigan marinas have been named as Certified Clean Marinas. They are Elba-Mar Boat Club – Grosse Ile, Indian River Marina – Indian River, Ottawa Beach Marina – Holland, Pine Lake Marina- West Bloomfield, and Sommerset Pointe Yacht Club- Boyne City. Each has been certified for three-year terms through 2022.

Additionally, five marinas have been re-certified as Michigan Clean Marinas. They are East Jordan City Marina – East Jordan, Irish Boat ShopCharlevoix, Irish Boat Shop – Harbor Springs, Kean’s Marina – Detroit, and MacRay Harbor – Harrison Township. They have been re-certified for another five-year term through 2024.

Seventy-nine Michigan marinas have obtained certified Clean Marina status and are maintaining this certification.

The Clean Marina Program was initiated to preserve and protect, through voluntary efforts, the Great Lakes and its connecting waterways. The certification process begins with a pledge to participate in the program, followed by a course with an overview of the designation process and a review of best management practices. After implementing improvements and reaching a level of competencies, a CMP Certification Specialist evaluates the facility’s environmental stewardship. When the facility reaches established goals, they receive their designation.

“We welcome the five newly certified marinas to the Clean Marina Program, and we commend East Jordan City Marina, Irish Boat Shop – Charlevoix, Irish Boat ShopHarbor Springs, Kean’s Marina, and MacRay Harbor for their continuation of following best practices,” said Nicki Polan, executive director of the Michigan Boating Industries Association (MBIA). “More boaters are becoming aware of the program and are searching out these facilities as places they want to patronize.”

The MBIA encourages all marinas to pursue this certification. “It is not difficult, and there are both financial and environmental gains that come with this effort,” Polan said. Nearly 60 percent of boaters surveyed by the DNR in its recent boater survey would prefer to go to a certified Clean Marina over a non-certified marina.

The Michigan Clean Marina Program is a partner program between the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy, Michigan Sea Grant and MBIA.