Muskegon Lake Removed From Great Lakes Polluted Sites After $84M Cleanup

Muskegon Lake in Michigan has been officially removed from the U.S.-Canada Great Lakes Areas of Concern list after decades of extensive cleanup efforts costing approximately $84 million. This milestone follows the remediation of over 190,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment, restoration of more than 130 acres of habitat, and shoreline improvements, reversing the lake's historic industrial pollution dating back over a century. Local, state, and federal agencies, along with nonprofit organizations, collaborated to restore the lake, transforming it from a heavily polluted industrial site into a thriving area supporting parks, festivals, fishing, and recreation. The restoration is expected to boost the local recreation economy by an estimated $28 million annually and has already increased tourism and community engagement. Officials from the Environmental Protection Agency, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy, and local leaders celebrated the achievement as a testament to community cooperation and environmental stewardship. The delisting of Muskegon Lake represents a significant environmental and economic victory, though several other Areas of Concern remain in Michigan.