Muskegon Lake Delisted From EPA’s Areas of Concern After Removing 347,350 Tons of Debris

about 11 hours ago

Published: October 3, 2026

Muskegon Lake Delisted From EPA’s Areas of Concern After Removing 347,350 Tons of Debris

NOAA Fisheries and local partners removed 347,350 tons of debris from Muskegon Lake in Michigan during a decade‑long restoration program, leading to its delisting from the EPA’s Areas of Concern list in September 2025. The lake’s removal signals the end of a 40‑year environmental crisis, and authorities plan to monitor water quality for the next five years.

NOAA Fisheries and partners removed 347,350 tons of debris and 190,000 tons of contaminated soil from Muskegon Lake, Michigan, in September 2025, clearing it from the EPA’s Areas of Concern list. <

> The lake earned its AOC designation in 1987 after decades of industrial dumping, with mercury and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon levels crippling fish and wildlife. <

> Restoration work, begun in 2008, restored 134 acres of wetland and offshore habitat and more than 7,000 feet of shoreline, while the Veterans Memorial Park project reclaimed 15 acres and 6,000 feet of shore. The former Amoco site saw 9.8 acres of habitat restored and a 575‑foot concrete wall removed. <

> Total funding hit roughly $80 million, with NOAA Fisheries contributing about $36 million through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and the West Michigan Shoreline Regional Development Commission overseeing local execution. <

> Muskegon County Fish and Wildlife Officer Raj Patel told the press, "The lake is back to a healthy state; trout spawning is visible again, and the local fishing economy is rebounding." <

> EPA will now conduct annual water‑quality assessments for the next five years, while the Great Lakes Commission plans a follow‑up review to ensure the lake remains free of contamination.