PHOTOS: Peters Stops in Traverse City on Day 4 of 10th and Final Motorcycle Tour

TRAVERSE CITY, MI - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) visited FishPass in Downtown Traverse City during his annual motorcycle tour across Michigan. Peters highlighted the $22.7 million in Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) funding he secured to help make the FishPass project possible. FishPass replaced the deteriorated Union Street Dam and will reconnect the Boardman/Ottaway River with Lake Michigan's Grand Traverse Bay. Once open, FishPass will sort and selectively pass native fish while blocking harmful invasive species, such as sea lamprey. FishPass is the capstone of a 20-year project to restore more than 100 miles of the Boardman/Ottaway River, strengthening local ecosystems and fisheries.

"It's an honor be here to see the progress and final touches made to FishPass before this exciting, long-term project is officially open," said Senator Peters. "FishPass is a reminder of the passion and commitment that Michiganders have for protecting our Great Lakes and natural resources. It shows that we are creating new and innovative solutions for that work. As long as I have the privilege of serving the state of Michigan, I will continue working to protect the Great Lakes, manage invasive species, and safeguard our state's precious waterways."

As construction of FishPass nears its completion, Peters toured the site with Traverse City Mayor Amy Shamroe, Angelina Raphael, Vice Chairwomen of the Grand Traverse Band of Chippewa Indians, and Dr. Marc Gaden, Executive Secretary of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission. During the visit, Gaden, a fellow motorcycle rider and annual participant in Peters' motorcycle tour, ceremoniously dedicated a new pedestrian bridge in honor of Peters. The bridge will be on display in Rotary Square and installed over the Boardman/Ottaway River in the coming months.

"We are fortunate to have such incredible freshwater resources here in Traverse City, and our community has long understood the importance of protecting them," said Traverse City Mayor Amy Shamroe. "We are grateful to Senator Peters for fighting to secure robust federal funding for FishPass, an investment that will strengthen our waterways while creating exciting new opportunities for research and economic growth in Traverse City."

"Invasive species remain one of the most serious threats facing the Great Lakes. FishPass demonstrates how innovative solutions can protect native fish while restoring the health of our waterways," said Marc Gaden, Executive Secretary of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission. "This project is a major priority for our Commission, so we're thankful for Senator Peters' efforts to secure the federal resources needed to move FishPass forward."

To view photos from Senator Peters' stop in Traverse City, click HERE.

Supporting FishPass is part of Peters' legacy of protecting the Great Lakes and Michigan's precious waterways for future generations. FishPass received federal funding from the GLRI, which has provided over $4.7 billion to fund more than 9,000 projects to combat the greatest threats to the Great Lakes, including invasive species, harmful algal blooms and loss of fish and wildlife habitats. Peters has consistently led the charge to fund the GLRI, including by securing $1 billion for the program - the largest investment in GLRI ever - as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Today, he is leading the effort to reauthorize the program for another five years at increased funding levels, which would put GLRI on solid footing for years to come.

Peters also created the U.S. Coast Guard Great Lakes Oil Spill Center of Expertise. Collocated in Ann Arbor and Sault Ste. Marie, the center is actively working to develop best practices for effectively responding to an oil spill in freshwater environments like the Great Lakes.

As Co-Chair of the Senate Great Lakes Task Force, Peters plays a key role in uniting Great Lakes lawmakers to coordinate legislative initiatives, funding priorities, and oversight efforts to address the most important issues facing the Great Lakes, such as invasive species, environmental contamination, shoreline erosion, water quality, infrastructure needs, and more.

Peters - an avid and longtime motorcycle rider - kicked off his "Thank you, Michigan" tour in Bay City. He then made stops in Alpena, Marquette, and Traverse City, before he will make stops in Grand Rapids and East Lansing. He will ride more than 1,000 miles across the state on this year's tour - which is Peters' 10^th and last official motorcycle tour.

"I've always said the best way to travel across our state is on a motorcycle," Peters said. "Representing Michigan in the U.S. Senate has been the absolute honor of my lifetime. So, this year's tour is about saying thank you to all of the amazing people and communities I've been able to partner with during my career to help make Michigan an amazing place to work, live, and raise a family."

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