State Representative Joey Andrews is calling on the federal government to help Michigan respond to Great Lakes coastal damage, whether it’s caused by high water levels in the lakes or storms.
Andrews has introduced a resolution urging the Michigan Congressional delegation to support the passage of H.R. 7459, which would create a coastal storm risk management trust fund to support coastal programs nationwide. It would help pay for beach nourishment, dune restoration, and other shoreline protection measures.
Andrews tells us right now, if the state wants to engage in a coastal management program, it has to match funds with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
“Keeping the beaches and dunes maintained and preventing erosion and storm damage from chipping away at them is a huge cost to the state, and if the feds fund the program, then it alleviates a lot of the burden for us,” Andrews said.
Andrews says House passage of the resolution would send a clear message to the state’s congressional delegation that coastal management should be a priority. However, he is not optimistic House Speaker Matt Hall will allow that.
“We’re asking for a hearing in the committee on it to try to move it to the floor for a vote, but our expectation is that the Speaker, for whatever reason, does not want this resolution to get voted on.”
Andrews said this week that Hall is unlikely to allow much legislation to pass the House at all this year.
With 3,000 miles of coast, Andrews Michigan is uniquely vulnerable to coastal erosion. He says it threatens public infrastructure, private property, tourism, drinking water systems, and natural resources. He also believes just about all of Michigan’s congressional representatives would understand the need for a coastal storm risk management trust fund, considering nearly all have coastal areas in their districts.
