Through the Saginaw Bay Coastal Initiative (SBCI), the DEQ and other state agencies is working with citizens, local government officials, and multiple regional and federal agencies to develop and implement a comprehensive approach to promoting environmentally sound economic development and resource restoration in the Saginaw Bay coastal areas by:

• Identifying methods to enhance the economic development of the Saginaw Bay coastal area and the quality of its parks and beaches and other natural areas;
• Seeking partnerships to develop new cultural, recreational, and social resources for Bay area citizens and visitors; and
• Working with local interests to improving water quality in Saginaw Bay and its associated waterways.

The Initiative will encourage regular discussions to determine how state, federal and local interests can work together to achieve resource protection, improve environmental quality, expand economic development.  This includes opportunities to discuss the local impact of state and federal programs and to look for opportunities to meet the goals of these programs through new and innovative means. 

To ensure coordination in the development and implementation of the Initiative, as well as active participation by the DEQ, other state and federal agencies, and local interests:

• The Director designated the Saginaw Bay District Office as the focal point of the DEQ participation and the Office of the Great Lakes with coordination of the overall Department activities.  The Director and the Department's Senior Management Team have identified needed steps to provide direction and resources to the effort.  The Director has also asked the divisions/offices to identify issues of concern from the division/office perspectivesDEQ staff to to identify issues of concern potential resources that can be made available to address the issues.  
• Director Chester initiated actions to bring all appropriate state agencies into the Initiative.  The DEQ identified key issues that are of significant importance to the Saginaw Bay coastal area and DEQ resources available to address the issues.  The DEQ is coordinating the identification of issues from the other state agencies perspectives and the potential resources that can be made available to address the issues identified through the Initiative.   
• Director Chester asked federal agencies to participate in the development and implementation of the Initiative.  The DEQ is working with these agencies to coordinate the identification of issues from the federal agencies perspectives and to identify potential federal resources that can be made available to address the issues identified through the Initiative.   
• Director Chester asked key local community opinion leaders to participate in the development and implementation of the Initiative.  The DEQ is working with local interests to coordinate efforts to identify issues, priorities, and resources.  The focus of this Community Leaders/Government Partners group will be to:

• Identify efforts state, federal and local agencies can pursue to have a positive economic impact on the area, including efforts at the Saginaw Bay State Recreational Area and other state and local parks in the coastal area. 
• Identify short and long term environmentally sound projects that will expand, stimulate and diversify the local economies, and create new cultural, recreational and social resources.
• Pursue the necessary resources for implementation of identified projects.
• Promote voluntary actions to protect and improve Saginaw Bay coastal resources.
• Initiate activities to encourage other potential partners to actively participate in the Initiative, including identifying an appropriate timeframe and development of next steps agreeable to all participants.

• Issue Work Groups of interested local, state and federal interests have been formed to review and identify means to address issues identified through the process.  The Work Groups are composed of technical people who deal with the issue regularly and are charged with: 1) defining the issue, 2) developing a plan to address the issue, 3) ensuring involvement by all appropriate interests, and 4) making recommendations to their appropriate agencies to initiate actions.