The Wild Heart of Saugatuck Is at a Crossroads

A proposed marina would permanently alter the Kalamazoo River Mouth,  a place held in trust for all of us.

The Marina’s Impact Shown

This visualization is based on permit applications, expert analysis, and publicly available plans. It is intended to help community members understand the scale and consequences of the proposed development.

The Kalamazoo River Mouth is a rare and remarkable place, where river, forested dunes, and Lake Michigan meet. Sacred to the Potawatomi. Beloved by generations. Alive with paddlers, anglers, swimmers, and wildlife.

But this narrow channel isn’t just beautiful. It’s busy. And it’s fragile. A private marina development would carve directly into the most congested stretch of the river, reshaping the land, crowding the waterway, and putting public safety, natural systems, and cultural heritage at risk.

WHAT THIS REVEALS

This video shows the impact a marina would have on the river mouth and surrounding landscape.

You’ll see how excavating hundreds of thousands of tons of sand would erase critical dunes, impact rare wetlands, and introduce dozens of additional boats into an already crowded waterway. You’ll see what would be lost, and why state and federal agencies have already denied permits for this project.

This isn’t speculation. It’s the reality of what development here would mean.

Why This Place Matters

Michigan’s own environmental agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers denied permits for this project, citing harm to navigational safety, cultural values, and the natural character of the river mouth.

  • The river mouth supports rare and imperiled wetlands found almost nowhere else

  • It is part of a Traditional Cultural Property sacred to the Potawatomi

  • It is a shared public space — not a private waterway

  • It plays a vital role in local recreation, tourism, and quality of life

Your Voice Matters — Right Now

Local land-use decisions shape what this place becomes — or remains.

Saugatuck Township has a role in enforcing zoning laws and protecting the character of the river mouth. Public participation helps ensure those decisions reflect safety, stewardship, and the public good.

Contact Saugatuck Township to show your support for the dunes, the river, and the public trust.

Saugatuck Township

3461 Blue Star Hwy, PO Box 100
Saugatuck, MI 49453
269-857-7721

Township Board of Trustees

Twp. Supervisor — Abby Bigford
Twp. Clerk — Cindy Osman
Twp. Treasurer — Jon Helmrich
Twp. Trustee — Stacey Aldrich
Twp. Trustee — Brenda Marcy
Twp. Manager — Daniel DeFranco

This isn’t just about a marina.

It’s about safety. It’s about heritage.

It’s about whether future generations will recognize the place they love.