The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) celebrated the 49th anniversary of Earth Day with the announcement of more than $29,000 in grants to fund river, stream and creek cleanup events in 14 communities around the state.  Michigan’s Volunteer River, Stream, and Creek Cleanup Program provides grants to local units of government to clean and improve Michigan waterways. Local governments often partner with nonprofit organizations or other volunteer groups for the cleanups, which include removal of trash and other debris from streams and stream banks. Removal of natural materials like fallen trees, branches and rocks is not allowed to ensure the continued health of the waterway.  The groups selected to receive funding in 2019 include:

• Huron River Watershed Council, “Huron River Coordinated Cleanups” – $4,864
• Alliance of Rouge Communities, “Rouge Rescue River Cleanup” – $4,500
• Marquette County Conservation District, “Whetstone Brook Cleanup” – $2,400
• St. Joseph County Conservation District, “River Country Clean Up 2019” – $2,247.50
• Grand Traverse Conservation District, “15th Annual Boardman River Clean Sweep – 2019” – $2,180
• Shiawassee County Health Department, “24th Annual Shiawassee River Cleanup” – $2,000
• City of Monroe, “2019 River Raisin Cleanup” – $1,830
• Lake Superior State University’s Center for Freshwater Research and Education, “Ashmun Creek Cleanup” – $1,614.50
• Gladwin Conservation District, “Cedar River Cleanup 2019” – $1,537
• City of Ecorse, “First Annual Ecorse Creek Cleanup” – $1,475
• City of Petoskey Department of Parks and Recreation, “Healing the Bear – Bear River Cleanup” – $1,406
• Michigan State University Landscape Services, “MSU Red Cedar River Cleanup Phase 1” – $1,250
• Village of Estral Beach, “2019 Swan Creek Cleanup” – $1,131.95
• Benzie Conservation District, “Betsie and Platte River Clean Sweeps” – $980

The cleanup grant program began in 1998 and is funded by the sale of the state’s water quality protection license plates. Grants are administered by the Great Lakes Commission, under contract with EGLE. These grants help foster local stewardship and a sense of community while protecting Michigan’s waters. For more information, visit www.glc.org/work/VRSCCP.

The Great Lakes Commission, led by chair John Linc Stine, former commissioner of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, is an interstate compact agency established under state and U.S. federal law and dedicated to promoting a strong economy, healthy environment and high quality of life for the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence region and its residents. The Commission consists of governors’ appointees, state legislators, and agency officials from its eight member states. Associate membership for Ontario and Québec was established through the signing of a “Declaration of Partnership.” The Commission maintains a formal Observer program involving U.S. and Canadian federal agencies, tribal authorities, binational agencies and other regional interests. The Commission office is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Learn more at www.glc.org.