HOW MICHIGAN MARINAS ARE ADOPTING BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES TO REDUCE THE SPREAD OF AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIESJosh GunnMichigan Sea Grant / Michigan State University Extension

Goal of AIS BMPs in Marinas

• Over 11,000 inland lakes over 5 acres

• Majority of AIS is in Great Lakes, and difficulty is preventing spread into inland lakes

• Another concern is the spread among inland lakes

Small Public Harbors, Municipal Marinas, Private Marinas Accommodation Practices

Installed public boat wash station

Portable boat wash station Parking area to inspect

and clean boat

Education Practices Signage Training

Clean Boats Clean Waters Program

Community-based program where volunteers go to parks, harbors, and public marinas to educate boaters and demonstrate proper ways to inspect boats and trailers

Michigan Lakes and Streams Association is taking an increasing role in the Clean Boats Clean Waters Program due to the increase in participation on inland lakes

Large Privately Owned Marinas

Maintenance services (like boat bottom pressure washing) provided at larger marinas may be classified as an industrial activity and the facility must comply with DEQ requirement for not discharging wastewater directly into sewer system or into surface water

There are different systems in use in Michigan to handle boatwash wastewater prior to discharge or transfer into a storage tank: Filtration systems Settling systems Closed-loop recycling systems

Disclaimer: Use of the mentioned systems does not ensure compliance with Michigan DEQ requirements and Clean Water Act Regulations; please contact DEQ, local municipality, and/or consultant prior to selecting an appropriate boat wash technology

Typical Permanent Boat Washing Station Design

Two Key Factors:1. When boat washing is being

conducted, all wastewater goes to storage or municipal sewer

2. When boat washing is not being conducted, stormwater cannot go into municipal sewer NOTE: if design results in

stormwater overflow, it is considered a point source and additional permits beyond a StormwaterDischarge Permit may be required

Boat Wash Technologies: Installed public boat wash stations

Lake Associations and Municipal Marinas showing interest in installing or retrofitting these into their facility

Unless washing is done prior to boat going into lake, it only prevents removal of AIS

Boat Wash Technologies: Portable boat wash stations

Can be packed up if space is an issue

Cheaper than a permanent station

Photos: Steve Kohls, Brainerd Dispatch

Boat Wash Technologies: Filtration systems

Sewer filtration systems need maintenance (cleaning and/or replacing)

Boat Wash Technologies: Settling Systems

Allows larger organics and particulates to settle prior to pumping into sewer or storage

Can include larger settling basins that go deeper into the ground before discharge into tank or sewer

Boat Wash Technologies: Recycling systems

Closed system designed to reduce the quantity of water used

Filtration and treatment of water

Potentially higher maintenance cost

If chemically treated, water will still need to be properly disposed of at end of season

Another commonly heard suggestion…

Take this

To this

For More Information:

Under The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, The Green Marina Education and Outreach Project has worked to educate marinas, boaters, and the public on AIS and boat bottom washing Regional BMP guide to assist Great Lakes Marinas in

adopting BMPs that reduce the transfer of AIS from one body of water to another

A previous Clean Marina Webinar was held on boat wash practices webpage of past presentations:

http://www.miseagrant.umich.edu/greenmarina/boatwash/index.html

Josh GunnMichigan Sea Grant Extension EducatorMichigan Clean Marina CoordinatorPhone: (586)469-6087Email: gunnjosh@msu.edu