The Michigan state Senate is considering a proposal to earmark $30 million from the state’s “rainy day” fund and allocate the money for emergency dredging of harbors and waterways this year to alleviate statewide low water levels that threaten Michigan’s boating industry, according to a report published on The Detroit News website, detroitnews.com.
The proposal was unveiled in early February as part of a plan to deal with the long-term and recurring need to dredge the state’s 90 recreational harbors that cater to recreational boaters, the website reports. The Senate is also reportedly looking into financing options that include tapping the Michigan Department of Transportation budget and the Natural Resources Trust Fund for the necessary money to dredge.
“Everything is on the table,” State Senator Geoff Hansen (R-Hart), who is taking the lead on this issue, was quoted as saying in the news report.
