The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) Office of the Great Lakes yesterday announced two major advances in the recovery of the Lower Menominee River Area of Concern (AOC).
Restrictions on dredging and impairments to aquatic life in the riverbed are no longer considered problems due to successful restoration activities, MDEQ said.
The AOC program in the Michigan Office of the Great Lakes coordinated efforts with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) Office of the Great Lakes to restore the river and remove the Restrictions on Dredging Activities and Degradation of Benthos BUIs.
The state agencies provided technical assistance, tracking and a portion of funding through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency agreed with MDEQ and WDNR recommendations to declare the impairments restored based on a review of environmental data.
This achievement brings Michigan its 43rd and 44th BUI removals from an original 111, resulting in a 40 percent restoration total, MDEQ said.