The Michigan Office of the Great Lakes, Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has announced a significant achievement in the restoration of the St. Clair River.
Twelve projects were completed to restore habitat for fish and wildlife, DEQ said in their latest release.
The projects span from the upper river to the Lake St. Clair delta and restored shoreline, wetlands, tributaries and spawning reefs in the river.
The St. Clair River carries Great Lakes water from Lake Huron to Lake St. Clair and forms a natural border with Michigan’s Canadian neighbors. It was designated as a binational Area of Concern (AOC) under the 1987 Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement due to pollution and habitat loss.
Much of the habitat loss occurred due to filling, draining, and dredging from historic riverfront development activities. Negative impacts to the river were labeled Beneficial Use Impairments (BUIs), said DEQ.