Fresh Water is one of Michigan’s greatest resources. June tenth through the sixteenth residents and visitors are encouraged to celebrate access to Michigan’s lakes by going out on a boat.
Officials with the Department of Natural Resources said Michigan Boating Week exists to highlight the importance of the state’s 7.4 billion dollar boating industry, as well as its influence on resident’s quality of life.
Maia Turek is the Recreation Coordinator for the Michigan DNR. She said in Michigan you are never more than 6 miles away from a body of water and with almost 1500 boat launches in the state, michiganders have numerous options to get out on the water.
“Having a boat launch not far from your home or being able to just go out and fish any of the 154 different species of fish that we have in our lakes. We just assume that’s how it is everywhere or we just kind of take it for granted until we do go other places and realize how fortunate we are in Michigan to have the access that we have”.
Turek said the state is looking to improve the experience for boaters.
“The DNR is doing a survey during Michigan Boating Week. Because what we want to do is find out is what are your expectations if you use harbors. What would you like to see there, or what kind of services or amenities are important to you? We’re going to be using that to help us plan, basically, our services that we provide at some of these facilities into the future”.
Turek said they are looking for ways to expand on what the DNR already provides, especially as the needs of boaters continue to change.