Muskegon Lake in Muskegon, Michigan, and Torch Lake, in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula (not to be confused with the famous lake in Antrim County) — both official Areas of Concern (AOC) — will be cleaned up thanks to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.
The Muskegon Lake project, totaling $6.6 million, focuses on the area around Ryerson Creek Outfall. Muskegon County’s landfill will be used for sediment disposal.
The Lake Linden Recreational Area and Hubbel Processing Area at Torch lake will receive $5.4 million for a project dedicated to examining lead, PCB and arsenic contamination and subsequent removal.
“Great Lakes Legacy Act agreements demonstrate that when federal, state, local, and industry partners work together collaboratively, we can solve complex environmental problems and get the job done,” says EPA Great Lakes National Program Manager and Regional Administrator Cathy Stepp. “EPA is proud to announce these ambitious projects that will bring both the Muskegon Lake and the Torch Lake Areas of Concern one step closer to delisting.”
To learn more about the Muskegon Lake project, visit epa.gov/great-lakes-aocs/muskegon-lake-aoc.
For more information about the Torch Lake project, visit epa.gov/great-lakes-aocs/about-torch-lake-aoc.
Photo of Muskegon Lake courtesy of Derick Adame/Flickr.
