Feds award $10 million for Muskegon Lake project

Wed, Jul 1, 2009

MUSKEGON (AP) — The federal government has awarded $10 million in economic stimulus money for a wetland and wildlife habitat restoration project on Muskegon Lake.

The Great Lakes Commission said Tuesday it is teaming with the West Michigan Shoreline Regional Development Commission on the project. They will oversee restoration of 10,000 feet of shoreline littered with broken concrete, foundry slag, sheet metal and other waste material.

Additionally, more than 180,000 tons of degraded lake bottom sediment will be removed to improve fish habitat.

Lt. Gov. John Cherry said the project will not only boost the local economy but also upgrade the environment.

The grant was awarded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Design and engineering work is expected to begin later this month. The project is scheduled for completion in 2010.