SEMCOG Grants Include Rain Garden and Bioswale in Southfield and Other Local Projects
(SEMCOG, May 9, 2023)
Oakland County, MI – SEMCOG, the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments, has awarded $900,000 to 10 local projects through the Green Stormwater Infrastructure Implementation Program. Through this program, which is funded by a grant from the the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, communities can implement green infrastructure best management practices to reduce stormwater runoff to Lake Erie. Collectively, these green stormwater infrastructure projects will reduce more than 3 million gallons of stormwater runoff annually working towards improving water quality across the region.
“Implementing green stormwater infrastructure is a regional priority for improving Southeast Michigan’s environmental, economic, and community health,” said Amy O’Leary, Executive Director of SEMCOG. “The combined impact of these projects will build up our regional green infrastructure network while reducing stormwater runoff impacts in our waterways.”
“With the support of SEMCOG, we will invest in green infrastructure that is essential to our city’s environmental sustainability and public health efforts,” said Dearborn Mayor Abdullah H. Hammoud. “Rain gardens are designed to capture and filter stormwater runoff, which can help to reduce flooding, improve water quality, and mitigate the effects of climate change. They also provide habitat for wildlife and can help to beautify our city. We are excited to begin construction on our rain gardens. We believe that this project will be a valuable asset to our community and will help to make Dearborn a more sustainable and livable city.”
“SEMCOG’s Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) Program brings critical funding to the region to address stormwater pollution, an issue that is critical to address as the region develops and climate change brings increasing rainfall,” said Rebecca Esselman, Executive Director, Huron River Watershed Council. “SEMCOG provided great help as the Huron River Watershed Council and municipal partners invest in green stormwater infrastructure solutions in Norton Creek. Providing funding at critical points in the process, SEMCOG funded the planning and partnership building that led to the GSI projects we are constructing this year,” said Ric Lawson, Watershed Planner, Huron River Watershed Council.
“Over the past five years, the City of Wixom has been successfully working with the Huron River Watershed to improve our stormwater infrastructure. This funding through SEMCOG will help support our future efforts on implementing Green Stormwater Infrastructure improvements in our community and improve the water quality in the southeast Michigan region,” said Steve Brown, Wixom City Manager.
“The City of Trenton is excited to be awarded one of the SEMCOG Green Infrastructure Grants. These funds will assist us with work at our Rotary Park as we work to restabilize the shoreline and mitigate the water runoff into the Detroit River waterway,” said Tim Beaker, Director of Parks and Recreation, City of Trenton.
The Green Infrastructure Grant Program
SEMCOG was awarded Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funding, to conduct a Green Infrastructure Subaward program for local SEMCOG communities and counties that are tributary to Lake Erie. The goal of this program is to reduce annual stormwater runoff volume and improve water quality of local streams and Lake Erie, contributing to the implementation of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Action Plan III to reduce untreated stormwater runoff.
SEMCOG first received funding to conduct this program in 2018. During the initial grant cycle, five projects were implemented, resulting in an estimated 4.2 million gallons of total annual runoff reduction.
The following 10 projects support SEMCOG’s GREEN Initiative, the Green Infrastructure Vision for Southeast Michigan, and the Water Resource Plan for Southeast Michigan. Many of these projects support green infrastructure development in SEMCOG’s Equity Emphasis Areas.
Green Infrastructure Grant Subawardees
Congratulations to the following communities!
City of Center Line, Macomb County, Memorial Park Permeable Pavers & Prairie Garden
Award: $80,000
Clinton Township, Macomb County, Joy Park Parking Lot Bioretention
Award: $95,000
City of Dearborn, Wayne County, Rain Gardens for Public Health
Award: $95,000
Grosse Pointe Park, Wayne County, City Hall Rain Garden
Award: $53,885
Huron River Watershed Council, City of Wixom, and City of Walled Lake, Oakland County, Norton Creek Municipal Facility Bioretention
Award: $97,000
City of Northville, Oakland and Wayne County, Greening Mill Race Village
Award: $95,000
Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner’s Office, George W. Kuhn Facility Parking Lot Bioretention
Award: $95,000
City of River Rouge, Wayne County, Belanger Park Bioretention
Award: $95,000
City of Southfield, Oakland County, Bauervic Woods Rain Garden and Bioswale
Award: $95,000
City of Trenton, Wayne County, Rotary Park Rain Gardens
Award: $95,000