LANSING - State Representative Steven Lindberg (D-Marquette) voted for a plan that will provide $1 million to help fund a restoration project to preserve Grand Marais Harbor. The plan is now set to be signed into law.
“I am happy to see that my colleagues in the House and Senate agree with me on the importance of saving this harbor of refuge at Grand Marais,” Lindberg said. “Without immediate action to replace the breakwall, this harbor will be lost forever, eliminating a necessary protection for all those traveling on the waters of Lake Superior.”
The plan passed by the House provides $1 million from the State Waterways Fund to help repair a deteriorating breakwall, which is allowing sand to be deposited into the harbor. The project, which is expected to cost more than $7 million, will also dredge sand from the harbor.
The plan will also provide $300,000 to postpone the closing of 23 state forest campgrounds, as proposed by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). This funding will allow the campgrounds to remain open until the DNR makes a final decision on the closures in June. The DNR tabled a decision on the proposed closings earlier this month in order to continue working on solutions that will help keep some of the campgrounds open.
“This gives us more time to either locate additional funding to allow the Department of Natural Resources to maintain these campgrounds or to enter into agreements with local communities that are willing to take over the management and maintenance of the camping sites,” Lindberg said. “In these tough economic times we need to do everything we can to protect the jobs we have and promote our region. These are two important steps in protecting the tourism industry for the Upper Peninsula.”
