Traverse City 4 cities get funds to prevent rain runoff

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) - Four cities will receive federal grants totaling more than $430,000 for projects intended to improve Lake Michigan water quality. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency awarded the funding to Muskegon, Michigan; Highland Park and Wilmette, Illinois; and Michigan City, Indiana. It will support "green infrastructure" projects designed to help rainwater drain naturally into the ground instead of carrying pollutants into storm sewers and eventually into the lake. Muskegon will use its $110,448 grant to build a wetland, a bioswale and rain gardens. Officials say they'll prevent the discharge of over 5 million gallons of untreated stormwater each year. The other cities plan similar measures, plus installing porous pavement and planting trees. Great Lakes Shoreline Cities grants fund up to 50 percent of the cost of green infrastructure projects on public property. Published: Tue, Jun 09, 2015