LaPorte Receives ‘Lighthouse Award’ for Clean Marina Program

Michigan Sea Grant Communications Director Elizabeth LaPorte recently received a “Lighthouse Award” from the Michigan Boating Industries Association (MBIA) for her contribution to the development of the Michigan Clean Marina Program. MBIA presented the award at the group’s annual meeting in December in Kalamazoo.

The Clean Marina Program, supported by MBIA, Michigan Sea Grant, and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), promotes best management practices to preserve and protect Michigan’s Great Lakes and connecting waterways. The voluntary program encourages cost-effective practices that reduce pollutants associated with recreational boating, maintenance and storage.

“Michigan Sea Grant’s involvement in the Clean Marina Program with MBIA and MDEQ has been a wonderful partnership,” said LaPorte. “Growing up near Saginaw Bay gave me first-hand experience about the relationship between boating and good environmental stewardship.”

LaPorte led Michigan Sea Grant’s communications team, based at the University of Michigan, in producing a 70-page Clean Marina guidebook, program logo, Web site, brochure and other public outreach materials. The guidebook includes tip sheets on boat cleaning, petroleum control, waste disposal and recycling, and alternatives to toxic products.

Clean Marina Program participants include marinas, marine dealers, suppliers and related industries. To date, more than 40 Michigan marinas have pledged participation in the program. Recently, the first two marinas received program certification, after participating in a workshop and addressing a checklist of best management practices.