Program keeps trash out of the water

The Clean Marina Program would like see such things as rainbow fuel slicks, sodden cigar butts and sunken beverage bottles become things of the unlamented past.

“The Clean Marina program is about working across a partnership to work with waterfront businesses to keep pollutants out of the waterways,” said Amy Samples, coastal resilience specialist for Michigan Sea Grant in Ann Arbor.

She said the program is a partnership of Michigan Sea Grant, the state Department of Natural Resources and the Michigan Boating Industries Association.

“These three organizations team up in Michigan to work with the marina and boatyard and harbor businesses to identify and implement best management practices,” she said.

To become certified, participants must complete a 10-step process that includes training, a self-evaluation checklist and a site visit.

Samples said the initial certification is for three years. Participants then go through the same process, with any new information that might have been added, to be re-certified.

Re-certification is for five years, she said.

Currently, more than 50 public and private marinas and waterfront businesses are certified as Michigan Clean Marinas. Locally, they include:

•Algonac Harbour Club, 1999 Pointe Tremble Road

•Bouvier Bridge Marina, 7838 Dixie Highway, Fair Haven

•Lexington State Harbor

•St. Clair Boat Harbor

•Port Austin State Harbor

Other Clean Marinas in the Lake St. Clair and Clinton River area are:

•Belle Maer Harbor, 41700 Conger Bay Drive, Harrison Township

•Grosse Pointe Shores Municipal Harbor, 800 Lake Shore Road

•Grosse Pointe Yacht Club, 788 Lake Shore Road

•MacRay Harbor, 30675 N. River Rd. Harrison Township

•Miller Marina, 24770 E. Jefferson Ave., St. Clair Shores

•Sundog Marina, 31785 South River Road, Harrison Township

“Some of the things that we talk about are mandatory because of regulations,” Samples said. “They are law. There are fuel storage requirements we talk about that are required in order to be in compliance with the law.”

She said fuel pumps at marinas do not have the clips that allow them to run without having someone in attendance. They also have devices to prevent or capture the small amounts of gasoline that spill from the end of the fueling hose.

Customers also are encouraged not to “top off” their tanks, which increases the risk of a spill.

Samples said the program recommends that a trained dockhand do the refueling at marinas.

Clean Marina previously had a program with an Ohio company to recycle shrinkwrap plastic. That program has lapsed but Clean Marina still recommends the plastic be recycled to keep it out of landfills.

“Some marinas are still doing pickup points,” Samples said.

“Emmet County waste management is doing really great work,” she said. “They manage their own contract with Trex Decking to collect and recycle shrink wrap.”

Participants in the Clean Marina program also must have signs identifying invasive species and informing boaters of the threat.

Samples said the program is good for the state’s water resources and good for the businesses that make their money from those resources.

“Protecting the water resource is primary,” she said. “Each of the partners in this program has a vested interest in protecting the Great Lakes through our missions and mandates.

“And this is kind of a win-win for each of our three programs to work together in reaching out to these waterfront business owners. It brings them some publicity and recognition for their activities to protect the resource.”

She said the program is studying the costs of the program against the benefits for business owners.

“What does this mean, what is your potential return on investment?” she said.

“We are funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which is part of the Department of Commerce,” she said. “So part of our goal is to support businesses and coastal communities and their economies.”

Contact Bob Gross at (810) 989-6263 or rgross@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @RobertGross477.

More information

Go to the Clean Marina web page at www.miseagrant.umich.edu/michigan-clean-marina-program