Study finds value, opportunities for coastal Macomb

MACOMB COUNTY — It is no secret that Lake St. Clair is a livelihood for its shoreline towns and Macomb County as a whole, but how much is the lake actually worth?

The question was asked at the county level and on July 26, Macomb County officials finally had their answer. At MacRay Harbor, just feet away from where the lake meets Harrison Township’s shores, the results of the Lake St. Clair Coastal Study were unveiled and findings analyzed before an audience of state, local and federal officials, and water economy industry personnel.

“This is the first time we’ve done a study like this here … we want people to really understand the numbers, the impact this truly has,” Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel said. “You’re looking at a $1.6 billion push to our economy in Macomb County, and that’s not just (to) Macomb County — that’s to the state of Michigan.”

The study found Lake St. Clair is responsible for at least $1.6 billion to the Macomb economy via real estate purchases and values, lodging stays, water-based industries and recreation. Gerard Santoro, program director for parks and natural resources with Macomb County Planning and Economic Development and the presenter of the study’s findings, has reason to believe the true number is higher.

“We can say — very conservatively, as our MSU professors that we hired to assist us said — that our local economy and our coastal areas are right at around $1.6 billion, and they said that’s extremely conservative because there’s some things we can’t measure,” Santoro said. “They said they wouldn’t be surprised if it was actually over $2 billion.”

While lake goers can find amenities like marinas and dining establishments at a higher frequency than the average coastal county, one place coastal Macomb County falls short is lakeside lodging. Macomb County has 59 hotels, but only two legacy motels are along Lake St. Clair. Hotels that can host events are not plentiful in Macomb County and none are along the lake. A follow-up study is being prepared to determine how the county can attract developers to build a destination hotel and convention space along Lake St. Clair.

A lack of lakeside lodging has not stopped people from coming. The study found a 620% increase in charter boat trips since 2012 and 1.4 million visits to marinas in 2022. While the over 20,000 boat slips are locked behind private residences or marinas, visitors and those without slips can get into the water at one of eight boat launches.

Environmental care and restoration was another aspect of the study, finding over $180 million being spent on environmental projects throughout the Macomb County coast. Part of it includes $132 million being spent on stormwater management projects with the aim of reducing the amount of pollution entering the lake.

Santoro ended the presentation by announcing that the county would partner with a major chamber of commerce — shortly thereafter announced to be the Macomb County Chamber of Commerce — to create a blue economy task force to develop and execute economic plans based on the study’s findings.