EGLE invites Michiganders: World Lake Day, Aug. 27

EGLE invites Michiganders: World Lake Day, Aug. 27

by | Aug 22, 2025 | Environmental

 
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Aug. 22, 2025
Jeff Johnston, EGLE Public Information Officer, JohnstonJ14@Michigan.gov, 517-231-9304

Jump into lakes and stewardship with both feet on World Lake Day, Aug. 27

EGLE invites Michiganders to join United Nations’ first annual recognition

With more than 11,000 lakes in our midst and four Great Lakes surrounding us, you could say every day is lake day in Michigan. But Wednesday, Aug. 27, is officially the first World Lake Day, declared by the United Nations (U.N.) General Assembly and dedicated to preserving, celebrating, and sustainably managing the world’s lakes.

The State of Michigan is marking the occasion with a proclamation by Governor Gretchen Whitmer, and the Office of the Great Lakes (OGL) in Michigan’s Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) is seizing the day to invite all Michiganders to connect with local water resources, learn about lakes, take steps to steward and safeguard our waters, and reflect on the wonders of our Great Lakes State. A list of opportunities to get involved is below.

“Michigan’s lakes – Great and small – are not only vital to our environment, they are essential to our identity,” said EGLE Director Phil Roos. “EGLE is honored to join the United Nations in celebrating World Lake Day and promoting good stewardship of these precious freshwater resources.”

The U.N. suggests participating in activities related to education and raising awareness of the importance of lakes, and the preservation, conservation, restoration, and sustainable management practices of lakes and ecosystems.

The OGL encourages Michiganders to take time on World Lake Day – or any day – to learn about, care for, and enjoy Michigan waters, through actions as simple as picking up trash or joining an organized cleanup, swimming or wading, boating or fishing, reading a book or article, or supporting organizations advancing research or stewardship. Among the opportunities to engage:

  • Register to join the “Lakes for Life: Global Voices, Local Action” webinar, 1-2:30 p.m., Aug. 27, sharing powerful lake stories, youth-led action, and science-based solutions across continents. This live celebration, co-hosted by AquaVox, Water Solutionaries and Shedd Aquarium, will bring together leaders, experts, educators, and community members including Emily Finnell, head of the OGL, to highlight the importance of lakes in sustaining life, biodiversity, and livelihoods around the world.
  • Observe wildlife in your backyard, a nearby water body, or anywhere. Consider exploring tools and resources to identify Michigan flora and fauna while contributing new biodiversity data to science, such as iNaturalist, Seek, or eBird. Or share photos and reflections on EGLE’s Facebook page or on personal social media accounts using the hashtag #WorldLakeDay.

In a way, World Lake Day is a late-summer complement to the annual Michigan Great Lakes and Fresh Water Week held by EGLE and partners in early June to focus on resources and activities related to our waters.

Globally, World Lake Day highlights the crucial role lakes play in worldwide ecosystems, economies, and cultures.

In July, the 2025 World Lake Conference in Brisbane, Australia, laid some of the groundwork for the observation.

“Lakes are lifelines for drinking water, biodiversity, recreation, climate resilience, and more,” said Michigan Great Lakes Senior Advisor and Strategist Emily Finnell, who addressed the conference on topics including stewardship. “Michigan offers powerful examples of how communities can unite to safeguard these vital waters for future generations.”

Michigan features more than 3,200 miles of coastline along four Great Lakes, 36,000 miles of rivers and streams, and enough groundwater to fill Lake Michigan over again. The Great Lakes hold more than 21% of the world’s fresh surface water, and more than 40 million people in the U.S. and Canada rely on the Great Lakes for their drinking water.

The UN’s designation of World Lake reflects growing international recognition of freshwater lakes as critical resources and defenses against the worst impacts of climate change. The observation will be held each Aug. 27 – the date of the first World Lake Conference in 1984 in Shiga Prefecture, Japan. Michigan has had a sister state relationship with Shiga Prefecture since 1955 because of their shared commitment to lakes. Japan’s largest freshwater body, Lake Biwa, is in Shiga.

The International Lake Environment Committee Foundation has more information about World Lake Day. Learn more about caring for Michigan’s lakes on OGL’s Stewarding the Great Lakes webpage, including links to local events, videos, educational resources on topics such as invasive species identification, proper disposal of old medications, and information on how to volunteer with the Michigan Clean Water Corps.
Golden oyster mushrooms invading Michigan forests

Golden oyster mushrooms invading Michigan forests

by | Aug 5, 2025 | Environmental
Michigan Invasive Species Program banner

News Release
Aug. 5, 2025
Contact: Joanne Foreman, 517-284-5814

Popular golden oyster mushrooms now invading Michigan forests

New study shows impacts to native mushroom species

What started as a fun and tasty culinary trend – growing exotic mushrooms at home from a simple storebought or online kit – has become another threat to Michigan’s natural resources.

A recent article published in The Conversation describes U.S. Forest Service researchers’ findings regarding the impact of golden oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus citrinopileatus) on Wisconsin forests.

Fungal ecologist Aishwarya Veerabahu stands beside a patch of golden oyster mushrooms growing on a stump in a Wisconsin forest.Native to Asian and Russian hardwood forests, these imported mushrooms are now growing in the wild in areas of the Midwest, including Michigan’s southern Lower Peninsula.

Golden oyster mushrooms, known for their bright yellow caps and nutty flavor, are featured on restaurant menus and in cooking videos. The mushrooms became popular among DIY enthusiasts with the introduction of grow kits in the early 2000s. By 2010, they began appearing in U.S. forests.

According to Aishwarya Veerabahu, a graduate student in the Department of Botany at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, “No one knows exactly how golden oyster mushrooms escaped into the wild, whether from a grow kit, a commercial mushroom farm or outdoor logs inoculated with golden oysters – a home-cultivation technique.”

To assist with research efforts, Michiganders are encouraged to report any sightings of golden oyster mushrooms in the wild. Observations can be recorded at iNaturalist.org.

Why be concerned?

Veerabahu and colleagues sampled fungal communities in forests around Madison, Wisconsin, and determined that in logs colonized by golden oyster mushrooms, only half the expected diversity of native fungal species was present.

“Fungi are sources of revolutionary medicines, including antibiotics like penicillin, cholesterol medication and organ transplant stabilizers,” said Veerabahu. “The value of undiscovered, potentially useful chemicals can be lost when invasive species push others out.”

What can be done?

Veerabahu recommends that people consider refraining from using golden oyster mushroom grow kits to prevent any new introductions.

“For people who make a living selling these mushrooms, consider adding a note that this species is invasive and should be cultivated indoors and not composted,” she said. “If you enjoy growing mushrooms at home, try cultivating safe, native species that you have [lawfully] collected in your region.”

New species are often introduced by people long before the species’ invasive qualities are known. To avoid introducing or spreading species that may be invasive, never release pets, aquarium plants or other species into the wild, choose native species for gardening, and keep exotic plants – and fungi – indoors.

For more information on golden oyster mushrooms, read Veerabahu’s full article.

Note to editors: Accompanying photos are available below for download. Caption information follows.

Golden oyster: Fungal ecologist Aishwarya Veerabahu stands beside a patch of golden oyster mushrooms growing on a stump in a Wisconsin forest. Photo courtesy of Aishwarya Veerabahu.
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EGLE advises on cleanup from northern Michigan ice storm

EGLE advises on cleanup from northern Michigan ice storm

by | Jul 29, 2025 | Environmental

 
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 29, 2025
Jeff Johnston, EGLE Public Information Officer, JohnstonJ14@Michigan.gov, 517-231-9304
Joe Haas, Gaylord Resource District Supervisor, HaasJ@michigan.gov , 989-330-9252
Teresa Salveta, Environmental Quality Analyst, SalvetaT1@michigan.gov, 989-619-3740
Eric Calabro, Inland Lakes Policy Analyst, CalabroE@michigan.gov , 517-243-5584

Ice storm waterfront cleanup: EGLE recommendations, permitting requirements, and best practices for northern Michigan

As northern Michigan is recovering and rebuilding from the March 2025 ice storm, affected landowners have been interested in regaining access to their lake or stream and cleaning up their waterfront. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) can help by providing guidance and information on best practices, project design advice, or through pre-application meetings when removing trees and debris from the water and shoreline.

Before removal, EGLE recommends waterfront landowners consider leaving fallen trees and limbs in the water, unless removal is absolutely required for safety, navigation, or use of the water body. Fallen trees along the shoreline and in the water provide many benefits such as cover, feeding, nesting, and basking habitat for fish, birds, turtles, and other wildlife. Shoreline woody structure can also improve fishing by attracting fish and increasing the number of fish in the area.

If removal of trees and woody debris is required, scheduling a pre-application meeting with the local EGLE District staff is a great first step to determine any regulatory requirements. In general, hand removal of woody debris that does not alter the soil, sediment, bed, or banks of the water body does not require a permit from EGLE. When removal cannot be done without soil or sediment removal/disturbance, or the use of heavy equipment, a permit is required.

EGLE recommends not driving heavy equipment into the water for removal of woody structure and debris. Removal of debris should follow the Clean and Open Method: the woody material is cut and removed within the main channel to allow the natural flow of water, without removing wood or soil within the bed or banks.

Additionally, EGLE recommends the following best management practices: 1) Remove the minimum amount of the obstruction necessary to restore navigability or alleviate flooding. 2) Properly dispose of any material removed from the lake or river in an upland (non-floodplain, non-wetland, non-bottomland) location.

If removal of trees and woody structures is not required for safety, navigation, or use of the waterbody, EGLE encourages leaving them in the water to provide habitat and shoreline protection benefits.

To stay up to date on other EGLE news, follow us at Michigan.gov/MIEnvironment.
EGLE advises on cleanup from northern Michigan ice storm

$4.6 million in brownfield funding to six projects

by | Jul 28, 2025 | Environmental

 
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 28, 2025
Josef Greenberg Stephens, EGLE Spokesperson, GreenbergJ@Michigan.gov, 517-897-4965
EGLE Media Office, EGLE-Media-Office@Michigan.gov, 517-284-9278

EGLE awards $4.6 million in brownfield funding to six projects expected to create more than 900 new jobs

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) is awarding $4.6 million in brownfield redevelopment funding to six projects estimated to create 906 new jobs and draw more than $125 million in capital investment.

Central Lake Auto Clinic 2432 Main Street, Central Lake, Antrim County

A $400,000 Brownfield Redevelopment Grant will be used to clean up a contaminated gas station site. The former Central Lake Auto Clinic will be demolished and replaced with a 5,440 square-foot building split into commercial or retail units. The redevelopment is expected to create six new full-time equivalent jobs and draw $400,000 in capital investment. Construction is scheduled to be finished in the summer of 2026.

Read more about the Central Lake Auto Clinic project, or contact Julie Lowe, EGLE Brownfield Coordinator, at LoweJ2@Michigan.gov, 989-619-0617.

Flint Group Building 111 Day Drive, Three Rivers, St. Joseph County

Clark Logistics is redeveloping a former printing supplies factory into a $2.2 million warehouse and logistics center. EGLE awarded the project a $1 million grant to be used for assessments and a vapor mitigation system. The previous owner is working to remediate contaminated groundwater under a consent decree with EGLE. The redevelopment is expected to bring 10-20 new full-time equivalent jobs to Three Rivers. Construction is scheduled to be completed in the spring of 2026.

Read more about the Flint Group Building project, or contact Doug Koop, EGLE Brownfield Coordinator, at KoopD@Michigan.gov, 517-245-5054.

Metro 94 Commerce Center 6775 Inkster Road, Taylor, Wayne County

An unregulated landfill is being redeveloped into a $40 million industrial building. The former Beverly Dump in Taylor is contaminated with PCBs, PFAS compounds, methane, organic compounds, and metals. A $1 million EGLE grant will go towards site assessments and a vapor mitigation system. EGLE, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), and the city of Taylor approved $14 million in Tax Increment Financing for contact barriers, utility upgrades, and site preparation. The redevelopment is expected to create 185 full-time equivalent jobs and be finished in the winter of 2027.

Read more about the Metro 94 Commerce Center project, or contact Heath Bobick, EGLE Brownfield Coordinator, at BobickH@Michigan.gov, 517-287-6457.

Otsego County Court Complex 540 South Illinois Avenue, Gaylord, Otsego County

A contaminated former industrial site in downtown Gaylord will become Otsego County’s new court complex. EGLE awarded the project a $450,000 grant to pay for assessments and cleanup. Otsego County is paying $6.9 million for the complex, which will make downtown Gaylord more walkable when it’s finished in the summer of 2026.

Read more about the Otsego County Court Complex project, or contact Julie Lowe, EGLE Brownfield Coordinator, at LoweJ2@Michigan.gov, 989-619-0617.

Romulus Distribution Center 36411 Ecorse Road, Romulus, Wayne County

EGLE is awarding a second round of brownfield funding to the $75 million redevelopment of an unregulated landfill in Romulus. The project received a $1 million EGLE grant in 2024 for assessments and cleanup work. This year EGLE is awarding it a $1 million Brownfield Redevelopment Loan to pay for specialized foundations and a vapor mitigation system. EGLE, the MEDC, and the city of Romulus also approved $25 million in Tax Increment Financing to pay for contact barriers, utility upgrades, and site preparation. The distribution center will consist of two large industrial buildings and an estimated 675 full-time equivalent jobs. Construction is scheduled to be done in the winter of 2027.

Read about the Romulus Distribution Center project, or contact Heath Bobick, EGLE Brownfield Coordinator, at BobickH@Michigan.gov, 517-281-6457.

Sempco Inc. Redevelopment 201 North 8th Street, West Branch, Ogemaw County

A beverage company is redeveloping a former industrial building into its new headquarters. The building has been vacant since 2012, and the city of West Branch considers it a safety risk. A $750,000 EGLE grant will pay for cleanup work including lead and asbestos abatement, removal of contaminated soil, and removal of any drums or underground storage tanks on the site. The $1.064 million project is expected to create 20 new full-time equivalent jobs and is expected to help revitalize nearby downtown West Branch. It’s scheduled to be finished in the spring of 2026.

Read about the Sempco Inc. Redevelopment project, or contact Heath Bobick, EGLE Brownfield Coordinator, at BobickH@Michigan.gov, 517-281-6457.

More than half of EGLE’s annual budget supports local projects, protects public health and the environment, and helps create economic growth and jobs for Michigan workers. Redevelopment increases the value of brownfield sites and other nearby properties. In 2024 EGLE awarded $25.1 million in brownfield incentives to 87 projects around Michigan.
EGLE awards $4.2 million in grants to create 287 new homes

EGLE awards $4.2 million in grants to create 287 new homes

by | Jul 23, 2025 | Environmental
EGLE Main GovD banner
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 23, 2025
Josef Greenberg, EGLE Spokesperson, GreenbergJ@Michigan.gov, 517-897-4965
EGLE Media Office, EGLE-Media-Office@Michigan.gov, 517-284-9278

EGLE awards $4.2 million in brownfield grants that will create 287 new homes in Michigan

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) is awarding a combined $4.2 million in Brownfield Redevelopment Grants to six projects that will create a total of 287 new housing units in Michigan.

“Today we’re transforming more abandoned or underutilized property sites into hundreds of units of quality, affordable homes across Michigan,” said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. “These brownfield grants not only provide more Michiganders with safe places to live, but they also make our communities stronger, better places for small businesses and future investment. Together, we will grow our economy, drive down the cost of housing, and create good-paying construction jobs along the way.”

The new housing redevelopments include:

Auburn Place 454 Auburn Avenue, Pontiac

A $1 million grant will help cover environmental costs for the redevelopment of a vacant and contaminated site into 54 new units of affordable housing. Most apartments in the five-story building will be reserved for households making 30%-60% of the Area Median Income. A few will be set aside for tenants who are currently homeless. The Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) and Oakland County Housing Trust Fund are helping fund the $30.3 million project, which is expected to be finished in the summer of 2026.

Read more about the Auburn Place project, or contact EGLE Brownfield Coordinator Michelle Bakun at Bakunm@Michigan.gov or 568-234-3502.

Cadillac Lofts II 223 Mitchell Street, Cadillac

The site of a former dry cleaner is being turned into a four-story mixed-use building with 50 apartments plus commercial space. An $817,925 EGLE grant will pay to haul away contaminated soil and install a vapor mitigation system. MSHDA, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development are also contributing funding. The $16.7 million redevelopment is the second phase of the Cadillac Lofts project. Phase I, which also used an EGLE grant, was finished in 2024. Phase II is scheduled to be finished in the fall of 2026.

Read more about the Cadillac Lofts II project, or contact EGLE Brownfield Coordinator Aaron Assmann at AssmanA@Michigan.gov or 616-430-5275.

Flats on Bridge 401 South Bridge Street, Elk Rapids

The village of Elk Rapids in Antrim County will be getting 24 new units of workforce housing thanks in part to a $700,000 EGLE grant. The former bulk petroleum site has contaminated soil that will need to be removed. An Affordable Housing Deed Restriction requires apartments to be set aside for households making up to 80% of the Area Median Income. MSHDA awarded the project Low-Income Housing Tax Credits while the village of Elk Rapids approved Payment in Lieu of Taxes to help reduce costs. Construction is expected to be done in the spring of 2027.

Read more about the Flats on Bridge project, or contact EGLE Brownfield Coordinator Julie Lowe at LoweJ2@Michigan.gov or 989-619-0617.

Lofts of Muskegon 122 West Muskegon Avenue, Muskegon

The home of a former gas station, auto shop, rubber company, and dry cleaner is being redeveloped into 46 units of new affordable housing. An $850,000 EGLE grant will be used to dispose of contaminated soil, install a vapor mitigation system and perform other environmental work. The $16 million redevelopment will have units set aside for households making 30%-80% of the Area Median Income. MSHDA Low Income Housing Tax Credits and city of Muskegon Payment in Lieu of Taxes will help reduce costs. Construction is scheduled to be done in the spring of 2026.

Read more about the Lofts of Muskegon project, or contact EGLE Brownfield Coordinator Aaron Assmann at AssmanA@Michigan.gov or 616-430-5275.

Royal Oak Cottages Woodside Road, Glen Lodge Road, Garden Lane, Parkside Street, Westview Avenue, Royal Oak Township

EGLE awarded a $410,000 grant to help with the creation of 24 new affordable single-family homes. They will be priced at 30%-60% of the Area Median Income. The grant will be used to dispose of contaminated soil. The $15.7 million redevelopment is getting financial assistance from Oakland County, Low Income Housing Tax Credits from MSHDA, and Payment in Lieu of Taxes from Royal Oak Township. The homes are expected to be finished in the spring of 2026.

Read more about the Royal Oak Cottages project, or contact EGLE Brownfield Coordinator Abbie Hanson at HansonA2@Michigan.gov or 906-202-1285.

Water Street Lofts 114 First Street, 1201 Washington Avenue, 1210 North Water Street, Bay City

Downtown Bay City will be getting 89 new apartment units at a site that’s currently vacant and contaminated. EGLE Brownfield Site Assessment funds were used to investigate the properties. A $400,000 EGLE grant will pay for management of contaminated soil and groundwater. MSHDA and the Bay City Brownfield Redevelopment Authority are providing financial incentives. The $23.4 million redevelopment will be walking distance from the Saginaw River riverwalk when it’s finished in 2027. Read more about the Water Street Lofts project, or contact EGLE Brownfield Coordinator Heath Bobick at BobickH@Michigan.gov or 517-281-6457.

More than half of EGLE’s annual budget supports local projects, protects public health and the environment, and helps create economic growth and jobs for Michigan workers. Redevelopment increases the value of brownfield sites and other nearby properties. In 2024 EGLE awarded $25.1 million in brownfield incentives to 87 projects around Michigan.
EGLE invites Michiganders: World Lake Day, Aug. 27

Protecting western Lake Erie from harmful algal blooms

by | Jun 27, 2025 | Environmental

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
June 26, 2025
Jeff Johnston, EGLE Public Information Officer, JohnstonJ14@Michigan.gov, 517-231-9304

Momentum builds to protect western Lake Erie from harmful algal blooms

Michigan convenes partners focused on action to protect drinking water, vital ecosystems

ADRIAN, Michigan – The second annual State of the Western Lake Erie Basin Conference today brought together more than 200 people representing efforts to reduce the risk of harmful algal blooms (HAB) in the lake.

Each summer, Lake Erie is prone to runaway blooms of cyanobacteria, commonly known as blue-green algae, that can harm aquatic life and impact drinking water. More than 11 million people in the U.S. and Canada rely on the lake as their drinking water source.

HAB risk factors include nutrient-rich releases from wastewater treatment plants and runoff from farm fields and fertilized lawns; the effects of invasive species; and Lake Erie’s warm, shallow waters.

The daylong conference at Adrian College – presented by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD); Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE); Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR); University of Michigan Water Center; and Hillsdale Conservation District – offered networking, discussion, and updates on phosphorus management in Michigan’s portion of the Western Lake Erie Basin.

“We wake up every day dedicated to protecting the resource that shapes our culture, economy, and way of life,” said EGLE Director Phil Roos. “The health of the basin and the effort to reduce harmful algal blooms is personal to us.”

“Lake Erie is an invaluable resource that we’re working to protect as part of MDARD’s mission to improve quality of life for all Michiganders,” said MDARD Director Tim Boring. “This conference is an opportunity to work with our partners, the community, and producers on ways to achieve meaningful outcomes for this vital waterway.”

Conference attendees represented agriculture, trade, conservation, government, education, industry, environmental protection, and more. Much of the focus was on goals to reduce nutrients that feed HABs.

Michigan’s recently updated Domestic Action Plan (DAP) for combatting HABs in western Lake Erie contains measures to reduce phosphorus runoff into the basin by a sustained 40% from 2008 levels.

Phosphorus is essential for growing crops in the Western Lake Erie Basin (WLEB) but can enter waterways during rains or floods and ultimately reach Lake Erie.

Total phosphorus loads in the basin are down by nearly 23%, exceeding a 20% aspirational goal for the basin, largely due to point source reductions. At the Great Lakes Water Authority’s Water Resource Recovery Facility, for example, phosphorus loads dropped by more than half, from 764 metric tons in 2008 to an average of 362 metric tons between 2018 and 2022.

EGLE’s Water Resources Division has developed a plan to roll out lower phosphorus limits in U.S. National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits for all major wastewater treatment plants in the WLEB, as well as a new guidebook to help operators meet these targets.

Reaching the full 40% phosphorus reduction target will require progress in controlling nonpoint source and agricultural sources of pollution.

MDARD, EGLE, and the DNR review and revise the DAP every five years based on progress and changing needs. Key strategies include:

  • Continued work with WLEB communities to tighten sewage treatment facility permits.
  • A new Soil Health Investment Program in partnership with conservation districts in Michigan’s Hillsdale, Lenawee, Monroe, and Washtenaw counties.
  • Partnerships for agricultural conservation.
  • Regenerative agriculture principles and practices that reduce nutrient loss, mitigate impacts of extreme weather, and prioritize market-driven agricultural diversity that can power rural communities.
  • Work by the DNR, conservation group Ducks Unlimited, and partners to restore more than 300 acres of wetlands in the Stony Creek and South Branch River Raisin watersheds.

Conference speakers and presenters also included leaders and representatives from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Ducks Unlimited, the Michigan State University Institute of Water Research and Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, the University of Michigan Water Center and School for Environment and Sustainability, the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, The Nature Conservancy, The Ohio State University, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

For more information on the DAP update and Michigan’s actions in the WLEB, visit Michigan.gov/MDARD-WLEB.