LANSING, Mich. -- The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and the Great Lakes Commission have released nearly $27,000 in grants to fund river, stream, and creek cleanup events around the state.
Michigan's Volunteer River, Stream and Creek Cleanup program provides $500 to $5,000 grants to local units of government to improve Michigan's waters by cleaning up rivers, streams, and creeks.
Local governments often partner with nonprofit organizations or other volunteer groups to perform the cleanups, which include removal of trash and other debris from the water's edge and stream banks. Removal of natural materials like fallen trees, branches, and rocks is not allowed under this grant program.
The groups selected to receive funding in 2012 include:
- City of Charlotte, "8th Annual River Cleanup Day" - $756
- Missaukee Conservation District, "Missaukee/Muskegon Project" - $2,130
- City of Ann Arbor, "A2 Huron River Cleanups" - $2,985
- Tuscola Conservation District, "4th Annual Cass River Cleanup" - $1,010
- St. Joseph County Conservation District, "River Cleanup 2012" - $5,000
- City of Battle Creek, "2012 Global Citizens River Conservation Day" - $1,500
- Ingham Conservation District, "Sycamore Creek Cleanup" - $1,250
- Shiawassee County Health Department, "15th Annual Friends of the Shiawassee River Cleanup" - $1,970
- Hillsdale Conservation District, "The Maumee Watershed Monitoring Project - St. Joseph River System" - $1,790
- Barry Conservation District, "17th Annual Thornapple River Clean Up" - $1,750
- Van Buren Conservation District, "River Rescue in the Paw Paw River" - $1,795
- Grand Traverse Conservation District, "8th Annual Boardman River Clean Sweep" - $1,281
- City of Grand Rapids, "Mayors' Annual Grand River Cleanup" - $3,300
Michigan's VRSCC program began in 1998 and has been funded through various public acts. Since 2001, funds for this program have originated from the sale of the state's water quality protection license plates. Grants are administered by the Great Lakes Commission, under contract with the DEQ. These grants help foster local stewardship and a sense of community while protecting Michigan's waters.
SOURCE: Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
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