Sustaining Environment and Economy
Michigan Clean Marina Program creates win-win situation

By Stephanie Ariganello

With the constant exchange of fuels, cleaning chemicals and the transient nature of boats, marinas deal with hazards and potential pollutants every day. The Michigan Clean Marina Program helps marinas follow policies that ensure potential hazards don’t turn real.

“We have been partnering with and educating boating facilities for years on their role as environmental stewards – since they are the guardians of where land meets water,” said Chuck Pistis, state coordinator of Michigan Sea Grant Extension. “We talked about a number of things that could fit right into their everyday practices without significant cost. The program developed from there.”
The program is focused on providing ways marinas can best follow environmental practices, while remaining or growing more economically viable.

“We’re always looking for win-win situations and the Clean Marina Program is a win-win situation because it’s environmentally appropriate and positive overall, but it also does offer an economic payoff for the businesses,” said Pistis.

Steve Remias, president of MacRay Marina in Harrison Township, said it’s hard to figure out overall economic impacts, but his customers have expressed their appreciation.

“We have a lot of interaction with our different owners, renters and visitors, and there’s been a definite positive reaction,” he said. “We’ve retained the majority of our customers since we’ve become certified and I’ve heard from many that they’re proud we participate in the program.”

Remias said the marina has seen clear economic benefit from one part of the program – the shrinkwrap recycling program. Shrinkwrap used to cover boats stored outside during the winter season is recycled instead of thrown into landfills.

Remias said they saved $2,000 to $3,000 last year because they didn’t have to pay for special dumpsters to collect the shrinkwrap. Instead they paid for labor to prepare the shrinkwrap for recycling before it was taken off-site to be recycled.

The cost savings was nice, said Remias, but they also opened up the program to the general public, which generated some goodwill within the community and resulted in some free media exposure.
Insurance companies are also starting to recognize the Clean Marina effort and are talking about offering a premium discount to those marinas that choose to participate.

The Clean Marina Program is a joint effort between the Michigan Sea Grant program, the Michigan Boating Industries Association, and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. The program is entirely voluntary and the regulations are established through the boating industry itself.

“We had that discussion right from the start,” said Van Snider, president of the MBIA. “Right from the onset we decided that this had to be an industry program and not an enforcement program from some arm of the government. I think that has contributed greatly to it being accepted as legitimate.”

Thus far 21 marinas around Michigan have pledged and become certified. Another 44 marinas are in various stages of the process.
Remias said it can be daunting for a marina to consider joining the program because of the initial commitment, but once it’s completed and certification has been granted, it’s worth the process.

“It forces you to get organized, that’s for sure,” he said. “Once you get through it though, you look back and say, I should have done that a long time ago.”

Interested marinas can contact Michigan Sea Grant for more materials or to register for the next meeting. See: Clean Marina website

How it works:
The Michigan Clean Marina Program is a voluntary stewardship program open to all public and private marinas in the state. The designation process begins with a pledge to participate, followed by workshops where the marina management and staff receive a marina handbook, overview of the designation process and a review of best management practices related to topics such as storm water management, petroleum control, and boat maintenance and repair, among others.

The program encourages marinas and boaters to make a variety of changes from using biodegradable detergents for washing boats to using devices that prevent spills during fueling to decreasing impervious surfaces to limit stormwater run off.

The facilities then conduct self-evaluations of their environmental practices to determine strengths and weaknesses. After implementing improvements and reaching program benchmarks, the marina requests a visit by a CMP consultant, who evaluates the facility’s environmental stewardship. When the facility reaches established goals, it receives the designation as a clean marina.

See: Certified Marinas

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