Governor Whitmer Announces $89 Million for Detroit and Kalamazoo River Cleanup
Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced an $89 million 'Reclaiming the Rivers' program aimed at cleaning up pollution in the Detroit and Kalamazoo rivers. The funding originates from a Monsanto PCB settlement secured by Attorney General Dana Nessel and a separate settlement related to a 2019 Kalamazoo sediment release. Of the total, $50 million is allocated to address sediment contamination in the Detroit River, $25 million will fund restoration efforts within the Kalamazoo watershed, and $14 million will establish a statewide fund for additional projects. State officials indicated that more funds remain available for future environmental initiatives. The work involved in these cleanup efforts is expected to span several years, with some projects currently in the investigation and planning phases before physical cleanup operations commence.
