Five Marinas Re-certified as Michigan Clean Marinas

MT. CLEMENS, Mich. - Jan. 23, 2014 - PRLog -- Contact:  Nicki Polan, MBIA at 734-261-0123

Josh Gunn, MI Sea Grant at 586-469-6087

Jeff Spencer, MDEQ at 517-241-5719

Five Marinas Re-certified as Michigan Clean Marinas

Livonia, Mich., January 17, 2014 – The Michigan Clean Marina Program is pleased to announce that five Michigan facilities have been re-certified as “Michigan Clean Marinas.”  They are: Anchorage Marine in Holland, Belle Maer Harbor in Harrison Township, East Jordan Municipal Marina in East Jordan, Grosse Pointe Shores Harbor in Grosse Pointe Shores and Walstrom Marine in Harbor Springs. All locations have been re-certified for another five-year term through 2018. 42 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 are proud of the five marinas being re-certified as Certified Clean Marinas 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.

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 Michigan Clean Marinas, go to: http://miseagrant.umich.edu/cmp/. For more information on the Clean Marina Program and the Michigan Boating Industries Association, visit www.mbia.org.

Visit us at: http://www.bellemaer.com/html_/mcmf.html