State Rep. Alicia St. Germaine (R-Harrison Township) is pleased to announce that the Michigan House approved her plan to allow lakefront property owners to clean up free floating vegetation and debris along the shoreline without first obtaining a state permit.

Under current law, property owners are often forced to wait through an unnecessary and time-consuming permitting process even when the cleanup involves nothing more than removing floating algae, muck, or debris at the water’s edge. House Bill 4314 allows property owners to manually remove free floating debris and vegetation without a permit, as long as the cleanup does not disturb the lakebed or involve dredging.

“Too often homeowners are stuck watching algae and muck build up along their shoreline, making lakes unpleasant, unhealthy, and unusable for swimming or boating,” said St. Germaine. “With this bill, we remove unnecessary barriers so residents, marinas, and entire communities can take quick action to protect their waterfront and keep the lakes clean.”

Local property owners, marina operators, and county officials have long raised concerns about recurring muck buildup, arguing that delays caused by the current permit process make cleanups expensive, slow, and difficult to manage.

“Lake St. Clair and our inland lakes are at the heart of our community,” said St. Germaine. “This change gives people the freedom to care for their property while helping preserve the beauty and health of our waterways.”