Governor Whitmer Announces $89 Million 'Reclaim the Rivers' Initiative for Detroit and Kalamazoo Rivers
Governor Gretchen Whitmer has announced the 'Reclaim the Rivers' initiative, committing $89 million to clean up and restore the Detroit River, Kalamazoo River, and other Michigan waterways. Led by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the project aims to address decades of industrial contamination, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and mercury. The funding includes nearly $50 million for PCB cleanup in the Detroit River, $25 million for river restoration in the Kalamazoo River watershed, and over $14 million for statewide river restoration projects. These investments will support sediment cleanup, habitat restoration, expanded boating access, and enhanced parks and trails. The initiative seeks to achieve lasting, transformational change on both rivers by 2040, leveraging state investments with a nearly 2-to-1 federal match under the Great Lakes Legacy Act for sediment c...