Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel touted the economic benefits of Lake St. Clair and other county waterways during a speech Friday, outlining upcoming projects meant to revitalize and improve waterfront areas.

Hackel spoke as part of the first-ever “More to our Shore: Macomb’s Fresh Water Advantage” address, which replaced his annual State of the Lake address. Often using humor, Hackel, along with Deputy County Executive John Paul Rea, addressed dozens of business officials, city leaders and community members at Lake St. Clair Metropark about Macomb County’s freshwater assets, outlining the economic impact of waterways and environmental stewardship efforts.

One development Macomb County is interested in creating is a waterfront hotel and convention center, and Rea said an almost completed feasibility study backs the “credibility of a development of that scale” along Lake St. Clair.

Hackel said there are numerous coastal parks in Macomb County, and he said communities are “taking advantage” of the fact that Macomb is a coastal destination through ongoing projects.

“People or communities are taking advantage of that and realizing, ‘How do we capture the beauty to give people that access and an opportunity to truly appreciate what we all know about Lake St. Clair, not just here, but across the region?’” he said.

Rea said the “Blue Economy” provides $1.8 billion in economic value through marinas, parks, coastal commercial areas, special events and other areas.

“You have our boat launches, which are just epicenters of commerce that whether it’s all the crazy stuff that fishermen put in their boats or it’s folks that are going out there to have a day on the water with their family and friends,” Rea said.

Hackel highlighted a few current projects meant to enhance coastal areas, such as the development of the Jefferson Pedestrian Bridge in Harrison Township and improvements to Lake St. Clair Metropark, including restoring the north marina and installing a new boardwalk.

“Exciting things are really happening in and around the coastline and even around the Clinton River as well,” he said.

A project that may be down the road is revitalizing Mount Clemens’ riverfront. Michelle Weiss, the Mount Clemens Downtown Development Authority coordinator, said the city is planning to move its City Hall and the fire department from the Clinton River riverfront to a location in downtown Mount Clemens. Those buildings on the riverfront will be demolished and the area will be redeveloped.

“It’s been so underutilized,” she said of the Clinton River in Mount Clemens.

She said the city hasn’t decided yet how the riverfront area will be redeveloped, but it is interested in hiring a consultant to help it with the planning. She said she personally would like to see condos, retail and restaurants built in the area.

Macomb County officials, meanwhile, want to bring a hotel and conference center to the county’s waterways.

Rea said the county is particularly interested in putting one on Lake St. Clair, but the Clinton River is another option. He said the county has completed a draft of a feasibility study for the proposal, and it “truly certifies” the credible business opportunity to develop a hotel property on Lake St. Clair.

“We have the market research and analytics that illustrate we not only have the population base, the business mix and vitality, and the visitors that come into market that could support a hotel property,” he said, adding the county and chamber of commerce and tourism officials are trying to figure out “who is the key hotel operator we can bring into market here.”

He said the conference space could be used for banquets and corporate events.