SAUGATUCK, MI (WHTC) – The City of Saugatuck is gearing up for a busy Summer tourist season.
As funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative could be wiped out in President Trump’s proposed budget, the harbor in Saugatuck doesn’t meet the Army Corp Of Engineers standards for maintaining dredging. The City of Saugatuck has to pay for some of the dredging if need be, but have been lucky in the last few years.
Saugatuck Mayor Chris Peterson says the Kalamazoo’s river levels are pretty high and they anticipate that the level will remain there as it did last Summer. The lake is essential for boaters and the city will not have to do any dredging this year.
“We haven’t had to do anything other than some minimal drudging that Tower Marine has done. The Army Core of Engineers does do it up to Coral Gables, but beyond that it’s the responsibility of us. We have a long term in place working with our neighbors up stream to work to kind of work with the silt deposits to try to stop it from coming down as well as some plans to keep it moving.”
A bipartisan effort is underway in States that surround the Great Lakes. Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenaw is leading the Senate in the effort to make sure Congress does not pass these budget cuts. Congressman Fred Upton and Bill Huizenga have been vocal of their opposition of the cuts.
The GLRI funds projects to fight invasive species, clean up toxic substances, restore wetlands and wildlife habitat, and more. Congressman Fred Upton put out a statement reminding people that Congress gets the final say when it comes to the budget.
Every year $300 million goes towards the GLRI.
