This week, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) and U.S. EPA jointly announced $10M in funding to support continued restoration and remediation of the Detroit River. “The Detroit River is one of Michigan’s most important natural and economic resources, and this investment marks another major step forward in restoring its health and protecting its future,” said EGLE Director Phil Roos. “Through strong partnerships at the federal, state, and local levels, we are making real progress cleaning up contamination, restoring critical habitat, and reconnecting communities to the river. This funding ensures that momentum continues.”
The EPA is providing $6.5M under the Great Lakes Legacy Act, a bipartisan federal cost-share program aimed at addressing sediment contamination in the Great Lakes. The state is contributing an additional $3.5M from the state’s Make it in Michigan Competitiveness Fund. The funding will be used to study and plan cleanup work along the Detroit River, including removing contaminated sediment from the riverbed and restoring natural habitats near Harbortown and other sections of the river. The restoration work aims to improve water quality, restore habitat, and expand safe public access to the river for the communities that live, work, and recreate along Detroit’s waterfront.
