via NOAA
In the 1880s, Muskegon was known as the Lumber Queen of the Midwest.
“Around Muskegon Lake where it enters Lake Michigan, there were 47 sawmills,” says Kathy Evans of the West Michigan Shoreline Regional Development Commission.
She says other industries set up shop along the lake too, replacing natural lakefront ecosystems with a hardened shoreline dominated by wood pilings, foundry slag, and concrete.
But Evans’ group has worked to restore more than 10,000 feet of shoreline. They’ve removed old industrial debris, added healthy soil, and planted native species, creating habitats where wildlife can thrive once more.
Get Schooled:
- Learn more aboout Muskegon Lake Habitat Focus Area from NOAA.
- Read more about the project from MLive.
- Watch a video about the restoration from NOAA:
The fine print:
- This segment was produced in partnership with Cornell University’s Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future
