MICHIGAN WATERFRONT ALLIANCE
SUMMER NEWSLETTER 2024
MichiganWaterfrontAlliance.com
MWA Mission Statement:
“This corporation is formed to protect, preserve and promote the wise use of inland waters – lakes, streams, rivers, creeks and the waters and bottomlands of the State of Michigan.”
President’s Report
by Bob Frye
Dear Members and Friends of the Michigan Waterfront Alliance,
I hope you are enjoying another Michigan summer!
Did you know that the combined lake frontage of all of Michigan inland lakes is 25,829 miles? This number is found in EGLE’’s Water Quality and Pollution Control in Michigan 2022 Sections 303(d), 305(b), AND 314 Integrated Report 2024 which also has an abundant amount of information regarding Michigan’s top ranking among the lower 48 states’ inland lakes.
This Water Wonderland that we are so fortunate to enjoy needs stronger financial support from our state government, and that is why we were the principal sponsor of the 2024 Lakes Awareness Day held on May 14, 2024. Additional partners included the Michigan Boating Industries Association, Michigan Environmental Council, Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council, Michigan Chapter of the North American Lakes Management Society, Michigan Aquatic Managers Association, and Midwest Aquatic Plant Management Society.
We invited all the Senators, Representatives, Governor, DNR and EGLE staff for lunch at the MWA lobbyist Karoub Associates Governor’s Room located just a stone’s throw from the steps of the Michigan Capitol Building. Discussions were focused on the significance and value of Michigan’s vast inland lake resources and the need to protect them. The turnout from Leadership from the MI Senate, House, EGLE and DNR was exceptional, including Deputy Director of EGLE Travis Boeskel, EGLE Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator Sarah Lesage, EGLE Unit Director of Wetlands, Lakes, and Streams Amy Lounds, and State Representative Rachel Hood who sits on a number of committees, and is the Vice-Chair of the sub-committee for the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development/DNR (Rachel suggested that the 2025 Lake Awareness Day theme should be: “Michigan Needs Revenue for Water”). These are just a few examples of the attendees who came to learn how they could help create a mindset shift in our state government from reactionary to protective lake management.
Legislators who have committed to the cause from the 2024 and 2023 Lake Awareness Days and follow up include: Super Legislative Inland Lake Champions Rep. Ken Borton – 105th District, and Rep. John Roth – 104th District. Also, Inland Lake Legislative Champions include: Senator Mark Huizenga -30th District, Senator Sue Shink – 14th District, Senator Roger Victory – 31st District, Rep. Noah Arbit – 20th District, Rep. Jim Haadsma – 44th District, Rep. Natalie Price – 5th district, Rep, Tom Kunse – 100th District, Rep. Jim Runstad – 23rd District, Rep. Cam Cavitt – 106th District, and Rep. Rachel Hood – 81st. District.
Those interested in becoming Inland Lakes Legislative Lake Champions include: Rep. Nancy Deboer – 86th District, Rep. Cam Cavitt -106th District, Rep. Jammie Wilson – 32nd District, Rep. Will Snyder – 87th District, Rep. Joseph Fox -101st District, Rep. Denise Mentzer – 61st District, Rep. Mark Tisdel – 55th District, and Rep. Bradley Slagh – 85th District.
As a follow up to the Lake Awareness Day event, the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island has joined the partnership and is offering space on the Grand property to present an Inland Lakes Awareness signage display. The display will consist of 5 signs. Please help fund the cost of these permanent outdoor signs! See the line on the donation envelope enclosed in this mailing. Hotel Vice President John Hulett and Marketing and PR Manager Elizabeth Graves are pictured on page 1 with one of our 5 signs.
The MWA continues to meet quarterly with representatives of EGLE and the DNR in the MWA/DNR AIS Task force. The latest news is that a new position, EGLE AIS Coordinator, has been created in EGLE and Cecilia Weibert will fill it. Cecillia was the Aquatic Invasive Species Project Manager · Great Lakes Commission and hopefully will join the AIS Taskforce. One of the largest hurdles the Task Force has is finding funding for AIS law enforcement. Currently the majority of the funding comes from Federal Grants.
Hopefully the growing list of MWA Inland Lakes Champion Senators and Representatives can be used to get “More Money For Water” that would help fund AIS law enforcement.
Be sure to read the following in this newsletter. The MWA Legislative Report by Matt Kurta, our MWA Lobbyist, Wake Boat report by Scott Brown, Marketable Title update by Bill Carey, How you can become a Lake Champion by Scott Brown, Governor Proclamation for Lakes, State-wide Septic Code by Scott Brown, Swimmer’s Itch report by Alex Walters, Save Your Lakes by Ed Highfield, and the MWA participation in the Inland Lakes Convention and how you can attend by Scott Brown.
Also, be sure to signup for the Michigan Waterfront Alliance e-newsletter sent on the 1st and 15th of every month. Just send Scott Brown, scottb1952@gmail.com, your email address!
to download and read the entire Summer 2024 MWA Newsletter.