$2.3 Million for MI Coastal Management Program
WASHINGTON – The Michigan Coastal Management Program will receive more than $2.3 million from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to address protection of shore lands and coastal ecosystems, public access and recreation, and coastal community development, Sens. Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow announced today.
“The Coastal Zone Management Program has helped Michigan communities manage and protect the vast resources of the Great Lakes for nearly 40 years,” said Sen. Levin, co-chair of the Senate Great Lakes Task Force. “It is important that we continue to support this effort, which helps preserve the world’s most valued source of freshwater.”
Sen. Stabenow said: “Michigan is home to over 3,100 miles of Great Lakes shoreline that attract tourists from across the country to enjoy our great outdoors, contributing billions to our economy. This support will help conserve our beautiful natural resources for generations to come.”
Michigan’s Department of Environmental Quality will administer the $2,327,500 federal grant, which will leverage over $1,876,500 in state and local funds. The funds will assist the Michigan Coastal Management Program with its efforts to mitigate coastal hazards, conserve and restore coastal habitat, and protect coastal water quality. Some specific projects include identifying the effects of climate change on Great Lakes coastal wetlands and determining appropriate strategies to address these effects; training staff on including climate change measures into regulatory processes; supporting ongoing technical assistance to local coastal communities; improving forecasting of dangerous currents and developing public safety messages about them.
The National Coastal Zone Management Program administered by NOAA is a voluntary federal-state partnership that provides grants to states with approved coastal zone management plans for the preservation, protection, restoration, and enhancement of coastal zone areas, including those in the Great Lakes region.