One of the largest and most popular marinas in Michigan’s Great Southwest has garnered state certification from the Michigan Clean Marina Program — one of only three earning that certification this fall, while five others were re-certified. Pier 1000 Marina of Benton Harbor is one of the three new certifications, now designated as a Certified Clean Marina.
Pier 1000, located at the end of Riverview Drive in Benton Harbor near Benton Harbor High School’s Filstrup Field, joins Fayette State Harbor in Fairbanks Township and East Tawas State Dock in East Tawas as newly certified by the program. Each has earned three-year certification through the 2020 season. It has been a good week for Pier 1000. Following closely on the heels of their state certification, owners Bob and Kathy Myers learned they had been selected as the Readers Choice Favorite Marina in the Herald-Palladium‘s annual rankings. They have owned the sprawling marina on the St. Joe River since 2004 when they bought it from Kathy’s parents who had owned it since 1998.
Five other marinas in the state were re-certified as Michigan Clean Marinas including Milliken State Harbor in Detroit, Hammon Bay State Harbor of Millersburg, the Straits State Harbor in Mackinaw City, Lexington State Dock in Lexington, and Cedar River State Harbor of Cedar River. Each of those marinas gained five-year re-certification through the 2022 season. Overall, there are 54 Michigan marinas that have obtained and continue to maintain the prestigious certification designation.
Authorities with the Clean Marina Program tell us the system was initiated in a bid to preserve and protect, through totally voluntary efforts, Michigan’s greatest resource of the Great Lakes and their 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.
Nicki Polan is Executive Director of the Michigan Boating Industries Association. Polan says, “We welcome Fayette State Harbor, East Tawas State Dock and Pier 1000 Marina to the Clean Marina Program, and we commend Milliken State Harbor, Hammond Bay State Harbor, Straits State Harbor, Lexington State Dock and Cedar River State Harbor for being re-certified as Michigan Clean Marinas and for their continuation of following best practices.” The boating professional adds, “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.
The association encourages all marinas to seek out such certification. Polan says, “It is not difficult, and there are both financial and environmental gains that come with this effort.”
Nearly 60 percent of boaters surveyed by the DNR in their recent boater survey would prefer to go to a Certified Clean Marina over a non-certified one. The average survey respondents were males in the age range of 55-64 years old with household incomes of more than $100,000. The most popular boats among respondents were fishing boats, cruisers, and kayak/canoes/stand-ups. Read the rest of the results at the link below:
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/dnr/BoaterSurveyResults2017_598971_7.pdf
The Michigan Clean Marina Program is a partner program between the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, the Michigan Sea Grant and the Michigan Boating Industries Association.
For further details on the program and to see which facilities are designated Michigan Clean Marinas, you can click this link: http://miseagrant.umich.edu/cmp/
The aerial photo accompanying this story on Moody on the Market.com is courtesy of Pier 1000 Marina.
