Michigan invests $89M to clean Detroit and Kalamazoo rivers

Michigan is putting $89 million toward cleaning up the Detroit and Kalamazoo rivers, with much of the money going toward contaminated sediment, habitat restoration and future river projects. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced the “Reclaim the Rivers” initiative in Detroit on Thursday at Belle Isles' Sunset Pointe, signaling a statewide commitment to long‑term river health.

State officials say the work along the Detroit and Kalamazoo rivers will take years, with some projects still in the investigation and planning stages before physical cleanup begins. Nearly $50 million will go toward the Detroit River, where decades of industrial activity left contamination in the sediment.

EGLE Director Phil Roos said the first work will focus on figuring out the best way to remove or contain contaminated sediment. Whitmer noted Michigan was among the first states to detect and act on PFAS contamination, and increased testing can uncover problems that have not yet been identified elsewhere.

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