Saginaw Bay Coastal Initiative

The Saginaw Bay is the unique feature defining Michigan’s mitten and is easily seen and recognized on satellite photos of the earth.  Come see what it looks like up close along the coastal blueways trail. White sandy beach shorelines small cottages and big houses are interspersed by large natural coastal marsh areas and provide the full variety of a coastal paddling experience.  Experienced sea paddlers can find and ride big water or novice paddlers can cruise through gentle cove shorelines. excursions into the heart of Michigan’s historic lumbering era via our river routes that carried the logs for building much of the young country, are available for exploration with an online virtual historic tour to narrate the sights of the past and present.  The Saginaw Bay is at the intersection of the Atlantic and Mississippi flyways. Seasonal migrations of the most interesting birds fly here and spend the summers, great blue herons, black-crowned night herons, great egrets, sandhill cranes, elegant terns and the occasional wayward pelican can be seen throughout the coastal area.  Our shorebirds include spotted sandpiper, greater and lessor yellow legs, short billed dowager and many more unique waterfowl.

The Saginaw Bay Coastal Initiative (SBCI) is a group of interested people, businesses, and local governments in the bay front communities of: Arenac, Bay, Huron, Iosco, Midland, Saginaw, and Tuscola collaborating with state and federal agencies for actions to improve the Saginaw Bay.  For more information on Environmental Issues, please check out the webpage for the Environmental Affairs and Community Development Department.

Lake Huron Lakewide Action and Management Plan - Annual Report 2015 (Final)

With its land and waterscapes evolving through the interacting forces of water, geology and climate, Lake Huron and its watershed have been shaped into an area of global ecological significance. Lake Huron is renowned for its beaches, dunes, rugged shorelines, coastal wetlands, diverse river systems, forests and more than 30,000 islands. Conserving this precious resource is important to maintaining its enormous social, recreational and economic benefits.

AOC & BUI Documents

• Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) Great Lakes Area of Concern (AOC) Program Website
• U.S. EPA Great Lakes Areas of Concern
• Frequently Asked Questions about Michigan's Great Lakes Areas of Concern Program - (June 2015)
• NOAA Saginaw Bay Multi Stressor Project Report (June 2014)
• Beneficial Use Impairments (BUI) Delisting Criteria
• Lake Erie Lakewide Action and Management Plan Annual Report 2014 - (2014)
• Lake Huron Binational Partnership Annual Report 2013 - (2013)
• Lake Huron Binational Partnership 2008-2010 Action Plan - (2010)

• MDNR Strategyfor Delisting Michigan’s Great Lakes Areas of Concern – (April 16, 2010)

• Guidance for Delisting Michigan's Great Lakes Areas of Concern - (2008)
• Lake Erie Lakewide Management plan (LAMP) - (2008)
• Michigan DNR Remedial Action Plan for Saginaw River and Saginaw Bay Area of Concern - (March 2008)
• Measures of Success: Addressing Environmental Impairments in the Saginaw River and Saginaw Bay - (August 2000)
• Michigan Department of Natural Resources Remedial Action Plan for Saginaw River and Saginaw Bay - (September 1988)
• Saginaw River/Bay Area of Concern Remedial Action Plan - Stage 2 - (March 2, 2012)
• Saginaw River/Bay Area of Concern Habitat Restoration Plan - (June 2008)
• Saginaw River/Bay Remedial Action Plan - Volume 1 (December 1994)

• Saginaw River/Bay Remedial Action Plan - Volume 2 (December 1994)

Beach Closings Information:

•  Linking fecal bacteria in rivers to landscape, geochemical, and hydrologic factors and sources at the basin scale (June 29, 2015)
• DEQ Beach Guard Website for Michigan Beaches

Saginaw Bay Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (CISMA)

The Saginaw Bay Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (CISMA) exists to create and support collaborative weed management among federal and state agencies, municipalities, tribes,nonprofits, community organizations and private landowners within 17 counties in the Saginaw Bay Watershed. The Saginaw Bay Cooperative Weed Management Area covers Arenac, Bay, Clare, Genesee, Gladwin, Gratiot, Huron, Iosco, Isabella, Lapeer, Livingston, Midland, Oakland,Saginaw, Sanilac, Shiawassee and Tuscola Counties.

Lakefront & Beach Access Study Report - Bay City State Recreation Area

Clear zoning is assisting Bay County and the Parks & Recreation Division of the DNR in jointly evaluating the lakefront and beach access at Bay City State Recreation Area to improve the park’s local and regional appeal. The study will explore avenues by which the park can support the economic vitality of the Bay region, while protecting and preserving the natural and cultural features of the park.

Bay County and the DNR recognize that the water quality of the lake shore and muck on the shoreline may be a concern of park users. Many agencies have worked together over the years to improve the water quality in the Saginaw Bay. Efforts to remove shoreline muck are also ongoing. These are complex issues that have complicated and long-term management challenges on a local, state-wide, and federal level.

Click on the links below to download the report.

Lakefront & Beach Access Study Report Bay City State Recreation Area

• Appendix A - Public Input Summary
  
  
• Appendix B - Team Meeting Summary
  
  
• Appendix C - Supporting Documents

Saginaw Bay Blueways Trail

The Saginaw Bay is the unique feature defining Michigan's mitten and is easily seen and recognized on satellite photos of the Earth.Come see what it looks like up close along the coastal Blueways trail. White sandy beach shorelines small cottages and big houses are interspersed by large natural coastal marsh areas and provide the full variety of a coastal paddling experience.

For more information on the Saginaw Bay Water Trails, please check out the LIAA Michigan's Great Lakes Water Trails Website.

• Saginaw Bay Blueways Trail Map

Bay City State Recreation Area Beach	Boaters Beach at Bay City State Recreation Area
Sunset at Bay City State Recreation Area Beach	Fourth of July at Bay City State Recreation Area Beach
Volleyball at Bay City State Recreation Area Beach	Floating Dock at Recreation Area Beach
Fourth of July at Bay City State Recreation Area Beach	Bay City State Park Beach

Bay City State Park Recreation Area Historical Flyer and Map

Located in Bay County, the Bay City State Park Recreation Area. This historical flyer includes a map of the area and amenities. For more information about the Bay City State Recreation Area please check out the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Website.

• Click here to download the flyer and map. 
  

Bay City State Recreation Area Beach 1964

Historic Paraleon Beach

Paraleon Beach Dining Room

SBCI Meetings

The Saginaw Bay Coastal Initiative (SBCI) holds monthly its monthly meetings on the 3rd Thursday of each month, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Bay County Building, 515 Center Avenue, 2nd Floor Old Commission Chambers, Bay City, Michigan. 

2015 SBCI Meetings

• January 15, 2015 SBCI Meeting Agenda ~ The January 15, 2015 SBCI Meeting Was Canceled
• February 19, 2015 SBCI Meeting Agenda * February 19, 2015 SBCI Meeting Notes
• March 19, 2015 SBCI Meeting Agenda * March 19, 2015 SBCI Meeting Notes
• April 16, 2015 SBCI Meeting Agenda * April 16, 2015 SBCI Meeting Notes
• May 21, 2015 SBCI Meeting Agenda ~ The May 21, 2015 SBCI Meeting Was Canceled
• June 18, 2015 SBCI Meeting Agenda * June 18, 2015 SBCI Meeting Notes
• July 16, 2015 SBCI Meeting Agenda * July 16, 2015 SBCI Meeting Notes
• August 20, 2015 SBCI Meeting Agenda * August 20, 2015 SBCI Meeting Notes
• September 17, 2015 SBCI Meeting Agenda * September 17, 2015 SBCI Meeting Notes
• October 15, 2015 SBCI Meeting Agenda * October 15, 2015 SBCI Meeting Notes
• November 19, 2015 SBCI Meeting Agenda * November 19, 2015 SBCI Meeting Notes
• December 17, 2015 SBCI Meeting Agenda * December 17, 2015 SBCI Meeting Notes

2014 SBCI Meetings

• January 16, 2014 SBCI Meeting Agenda * January 16, 2014 SBCI Meeting Notes
• February 20, 2014 SBCI Meeting Agenda * February 20, 2014 SBCI Meeting Notes
• March 20, 2014 SBCI Meeting Agenda * March 20, 2014 SBCI Meeting Notes
• April 17, 2014 SBCI Meeting Agenda * April 17, 2014 SBCI Meeting Notes
• May 15, 2014 SBCI Meeting Agenda * May 15, 2014 SBCI Meeting Notes
• June 19, 2014 SBCI Meeting Agenda * June 19, 2014 SBCI Meeting Notes

2013 SBCI Meetings 

• April 18, 2013 SBCI Meeting Agenda * April 18, 2013 SBCI Meeting Notes
  
• May 16, 2013 SBCI Meeting Agenda * May 16, 2013 SBCI Meeting Notes
  
• June 20, 2013 SBCI Meeting Agenda * June 20, 2013 SBCI Meeting Notes
  
• July 18, 2013 SBCI Meeting Agenda * July 18, 2013 SBCI Meeting Notes
  
• August 15, 2013 SBCI Meeting Agenda * August 15, 2013 SBCI Meeting Notes
  
• September 19, 2013 SBCI Meeting Agenda * September 19, 29013 SBCI Meeting Notes
  
• October 17, 2013 SBCI Meeting Agenda * October 17, 2013 SBCI Meeting Notes
  
• November 21, 2013 SBCI Meeting Agenda * November 21, 2013 SBCI Meeting Notes
  
• December 19, 2013 SBCI Meeting Agenda * December 19, 2013 SBCI Meeting Note