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Waterways facilities
We provide one of the premier boating programs in the country.
- 82 state-sponsored harbors (19 state-managed harbors and 63 local state-sponsored harbors of refuge).
- 1,300-plus state and local boating access sites.
- two state lock/dam systems owned and administered by DNR.
- 6,000-plus boat slips spread across state and local harbors.
The Waterways Program
Derived from boat registration fees and the Michigan marine fuel tax, the Waterways Program helps fund the construction, operation and maintenance of public recreational boating facilities.
- The program supports state-administered harbors along the Great Lakes and state-administered boating access sites on the Great Lakes and inland waters.
- The grant-in-aid program provides grants to local government for harbors along the Great Lakes and boating access sites throughout Michigan.
Waterways Commission
The Michigan State Waterways Commission is a seven-member advisory board that works with the Department of Natural Resources on the use of dedicated funds, provided by boaters, for the acquisition, development and maintenance of public harbors and boating access sites, as well as certain locks and dams.
Key project updates
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East Arm and Bowers Harbor Boating Access Sites improvement projects
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Mullett Lake and the Inland Waterway
Waterways Facilities Assessment
In 2020, the DNR completed a Waterways Facilities Assessment of several state-sponsored (state and local grant-in-aid) harbors, boating access sites and two lock/dam facilities. This effort culminated in a report that includes facility infrastructure data, cost analysis, trends, and facility operation and development recommendations. This report provides guidance on funding, design, and operations.