Business owners in Leland Township have raised thousands of dollars to dredge their money-making harbor, reports upnorthlive.com.
The Leland harbor hasn’t been drenched since 2009 and as a result sand has built up, making it impossible for most boats to enter.
Harbor Master Russell Dzuba says, “ From the fourth of July to labor day, its non-stop traffic thorough the harbor and those people come in and drop a lot of money. ”
“ The federal government has left us on our own and that being said we’re not going to sit and cry about it, we’re going to do the job ourselves, ” says Dzuba.
While the harbor will be open this summer, Dzuba says local business owners can’t and won’t pay for the dredging service year after year.
So the harbor is looking to the federal government to step up. They have joined the Great Lakes Small Harbor Collation, a group of federal harbors and channels that are asking congress for assistance.
[mappress]
Dredging Today Staff, May 1, 2012; Image: usace