NOAA Earth Day 2010

Wetland Restoration—Muskegon Lake, Michigan

Muskegon Lake Wetland Restoration

Broken concrete along the shoreline of Muskegon Lake

The Muskegon Lake Recovery Act project will remove 200,000 metric tons of sawmill waste and demolition material that fills shallow water and wetlands to restore aquatic habitat and replace 10,000 feet of hardened shoreline with native wetland vegetation. It will create or restore nearly 8 acres of emergent wetland and 16 acres of open-water wetland and will help meet established restoration targets for the recognized loss of fish and wildlife habitat.

Muskegon Lake is one of 43 Areas of Concern within the Great Lakes region where human activities have led to significant environmental degradation. Sawmill, industrial and commercial demolition material has filled 798 acres of shallow water and wetlands in Muskegon Lake. Approximately 74 percent of the shoreline has been hardened with broken concrete, foundry slag, sheet metal, slab wood, saw dust and other materials. The impairment of wetland habitat and the associated loss of fish and wildlife populations has prevented public access to the lake’s natural resources, degraded the quality of life for residents, and hampered efforts to attract tourism and businesses to the area.

The expected outcomes of the Muskegon Lake restoration project include: restored and protected fisheries and wildlife habitat, improved public access, job retention and creation, and long-term socioeconomic benefits related to improved habitat for fish and wildlife populations. This project is particularly timely for Muskegon County and Muskegon City where the current unemployment rates are 16.3 percent and 20.7 percent, respectively, which are among the highest rates in the nation. It will increase jobs and local business opportunities, enhance ecosystem services for fish and wildlife habitat, and improve recreational activities that promote tourism and increased local property values.

From the Event