The state of Michigan began its Great Lakes Harbors Program in 1947 when the legislature created the Michigan State Waterways Commission. The Commission was granted authority and supporting funds to create a marine highway along the 3,000 miles of Great Lakes shoreline. From 1947 to 1964, the Waterways Commission developed 83 harbors of refuge, enabling tens of thousands of boaters to encircle Michigan using safe harbors and overnight hospitality. In 1966, when the new state constitution went into effect, the Waterways Commission became part of the Department of Conservation. It has since become part of the Department of Natural Resources. Today, the number of safe harbors has grown as the Waterways Commission continues its mission to provide safe public access to the Great Lakes and inland waters of this state.
The program's goal is to locate harbors so that no boater will ever be more than 15 shoreline miles from safety. In a few places, it has not yet been possible to meet this goal, but the maps on pages 20-22 show how extensive this network of harbors has become.
Boaters have paid for much of this harbor network through taxes on marine fuel purchases and boat registration fees. Under the Waterways Grant-In-Aid Program, local units of government are given grant funds for construction of facilities.
In addition, the federal government supports the harbor program through funds allocated to the Dingell-Johnson Fund, administered by the Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, for the development of boating facilities designed to match local contributions.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers played an important role in the initial development and actual construction of the majority of Michigan's harbor network. The federal/state/local program of cooperation is aimed primarily at the development of facilities. Responsibility for continuing operation and maintenance lies with local communities, and so reasonable fees are charged for the upkeep and operation of docks and piers, showers, restrooms and other facilities at these harbors.
Only where local resources are unable to support such facilities does the state consider assuming these responsibilities. As a result, the state of Michigan operates only 18 of Michigan's harbor facilities.