Stabenow, Peters Announce Grant to Protect Coastal Land in Petoskey

Michigan's U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters today announced a $205,000 grant to the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to acquire 6.32 acres of coastal dune and shoreline habitat to be added the Petoskey State Park for conservation and public use.

"The Great Lakes are part of who we are and our way of life," said Senator Stabenow, Co-Chair of the Senate Great Lakes Task Force. "This support will help protect miles of Lake Michigan shoreline and expand Petoskey State Park, making it an even greater place for families to visit."

"The Great Lakes are a vital part of Michigan's tourism industry and economy, and we must ensure that these treasured natural resources are protected for recreation and tourism in the future," said Senator Peters, a member of the Great Lakes Task Force. "This award will help ensure that our coastal land is preserved for visitors to enjoy for years to come."

The Petoskey State Park provides public access to Lake Michigan for recreational activities, and contains the Little Traverse Wheelway multi-use recreational trail. The land being added to the park includes 1,400 feet of undeveloped Lake Michigan Shoreline, which will extend the park's uninterrupted natural coastal dune and shoreline to 7,300 feet. The additional land will be managed as parkland for conservation and public recreational use.

The grant comes through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program (CELCP), which provides funds to states to purchase and protect threatened coastal land, habitats, wildlife and recreation.