Southeast Michigan Awarded Five Coastal Management Grants

SEMCOG has joined forces with partners around the region to address challenges and understand vulnerabilities from increased precipitation and severe flooding. To prevent and minimize the impacts of fluctuating water levels and other effects of climate change, coastal communities are working toward the preservation and fortification of assets such as sea walls, coastal roads and highways, parks and recreation spaces such as beaches and trails. For this reason, we are excited to share the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy’s (ELGE) recent announcement of awards for more than $1.1 million in coastal management grants, including five awards in the Southeast Michigan region.

SEMCOG has received a $64,000 grant, which will support our continued efforts to help protect, preserve, enhance, and develop coastal resources in Southeast Michigan. SEMCOG’s award will be used in its work with local communities to identify high-priority, publicly-owned properties and assess feasibility for green storm water infrastructure that will help to preserve coastlines and mitigate the impact of flooding on coastal communities. The acquisition of grant funding provides SEMCOG, in partnership with the Center for Watershed Protection, an opportunity to combine national best practices with local priorities. This work continues an ongoing effort to identify gaps and needs in coastal resilience planning and hazard mitigation as well as current best management practices.

Previously, SEMCOG received Michigan Coastal Management grant, which includes work with the Land Information Access Association (LIAA) on the Resilient Michigan Collaborative project. LIAA is conducting a coastal sustainability assessment of zoning and planning documents for the region’s coastal communities. Other products include heat vulnerability and flooding scenario maps for the coastal communities; however, SEMCOG is utilizing the heat vulnerability analysis to create county-wide maps beyond just the coastal areas. We are looking forward to the continued partnership with LIAA on this effort, and updates will be shared on this project, as they develop.

We sincerely lend our congratulations to the four following regional awards also provided from the EGLE costal management grant;

• Michigan Association of Planning, Ann Arbor: $100,000 to conduct regionally focused coastal leadership academies and a Coastal Resilience Summit.

SEMCOG is partnering with Michigan Association of Planning on this effort and encourages those interested in participating in the leadership academy to sign up. This academy introduces participants to the Michigan’s Great Lakes coastline, water levels, weather, public trust resources, decision-making tools, adaption strategies, and resilient planning and zoning.

• City of Marysville: $24,000 to develop a master plan for improvements at Veterans Memorial Park along the St. Clair River. Barrier-free, paddle-craft water access and increasing green infrastructure are priorities.
• Fort Gratiot Township: $76,250 to construct a barrier-free walkway to Lake Huron, install green infrastructure and plant native vegetation for coastal habitat improvement.
• Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority, Brighton: $194,863 to install a barrier-free kayak launch, install site amenities for an outdoor education space, and plant trees.