The goal of the harbor tour was to educate public officials, residents, and local businesses on the environmental, economic, and quality of life benefits from a working waterfront. Forty-eight participants attended the tour and received an ‘insiders view’ of harbor and marina operations.
Generally, harbors and marinas are located in highly concentrated industrial areas with a variety of facilities, including bulk storage terminals, boat repair shops, and industries related to the transportation of goods. As such, harbors and marinas directly influence the economic and environmental quality of the surrounding area and can be a leader in promoting economic development and environmental stewardship. In 2008, the Lake Michigan Forum selected Muskegon as the first area for its Sustainable Harbor & Marina Initiative. The Forum engaged local waterfront stakeholders through its “Eco-EMS” process, which benchmarked the environmental footprint of harbors, marinas, and harbor-related infrastructure. The harbor tour was an opportunity to re-engage the public on the economic and environmental benefits of a vibrant working waterfront.
The harbor tour also provided an opportunity to promote the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, which will provide approximately $400 million in federal funding to remove toxics from the Great Lakes, restore critical fish and wildlife habitat, and reduce non-point source pollution. The federal funds will be disbursed through competitive grants from multiple federal agencies. Delta hopes to receive some of this funding to continue developing innovative projects that reduce toxic emissions and discharges into the Great Lakes.
