Environment

Published October 23, 2017

Sterling Heights Sentry

Clinton River restoration work winding down, officials say

Published October 16, 2017

West Bloomfield Beacon

Local Scout works to improve Middle Straits Lake

WEST BLOOMFIELD — A local Eagle Scout project should have a lasting effect on the environment in the Middle Straits Lake area in West Bloomfield.

Charles Garrity, 15, a sophomore at Walled Lake Central High School, has been a Boy Scout since he was in first grade. For years he’s been active in his troop, and recently he was able to begin to advance toward becoming an Eagle Scout.

To do so, he needed to complete a community service project to move forward in Troop 54, based in Novi. Eagle Scout projects have to benefit the local community.

Published October 11, 2017

Woodward Talk

SOCRRA drop-off center temporarily closed for construction

OAKLAND COUNTY — The Southeastern Oakland County Resource Recovery Authority’s Recycling Drop-Off Center, located in Troy, will be closed temporarily while the site is undergoing construction for several weeks.

The center, 995 Coolidge Highway, was closed this week and will stay closed until the end of November. This is due to construction at the Materials Recovery Facility to convert SOCRRA to single-stream recycling. The drop-off recycling area is located outside the Materials Recovery Facility.

Published October 11, 2017

C&G Newspapers

RRRASOC to host household hazardous waste collection event

While most of us Michiganders are still basking in the favorable fall weather, we know — in the back of our minds — that winter is coming.

Getting ready for winter oftentimes means doing one last yard, basement or garage cleanup, according to Michael Csapo, general manager of the Resource Recovery and Recycling Authority of Southwest Oakland County, and residents looking to properly dispose of their household wastes are invited to the facility to do just that.

Published October 10, 2017

West Bloomfield Beacon

WBHS Earth Club aims to use solar energy to power science department

WEST BLOOMFIELD — A small group of students at West Bloomfield High School are hoping to make a big impact on the school.

The WBHS Environmentally Aware, Ready to Help, or EARTH, Club has been around since 1993 and involves students in a wide variety of environmentally friendly issues, from recycling to creating a nature preserve on WBHS’ campus.

“We have been on a renewable energy kick,” said club sponsor and physics teacher Joshua Barclay.

Published October 6, 2017

Mount Clemens - Clinton - Harrison Journal

Town hall focuses on unresolved contamination in Lake St. Clair

HARRISON TOWNSHIP — “It’s broken — it’s been broken, and no one is doing anything to fix it.”

That’s how state Rep. Peter Lucido, R-Shelby Township, referred to Macomb County’s flawed sewer infrastructure, which he said has ultimately been the cause of regular contamination causing mucky shorelines and beach closures, during a recent water quality meeting.

Published October 3, 2017

Grosse Pointe Times

Farms agrees to $4 million settlement in 2011 sewage backup lawsuits

GROSSE POINTE FARMS — More than six years after hundreds of Grosse Pointe Farms residents experienced basement sewage backups — with some homes being hit as many as three times in a matter of months — the city has reached a settlement in class action litigation spurred by the backups.

Published October 2, 2017

Birmingham - Bloomfield Eagle

Things are getting sweeter in the D, with help from honeybees

DETROIT — If one of the best parts of fall is enjoying candy apples and warm doughnuts at the cider mill, then the worst part is undoubtedly dodging the bees that swarm your treats.

But those invasive moochers aren’t bees at all; they’re yellow jacket wasps. And they’re giving poor ol’ honeybees a bum rap.

Published September 29, 2017

West Bloomfield Beacon

Hazardous waste event collects, recycles unused home products

WEST BLOOMFIELD — West Bloomfield Township held its biannual Household Hazardous Waste Day on Saturday, Sept. 17, to collect old and unused items that are unsafe to put in a landfill. The township then recycles or donates the materials.

Published September 27, 2017

Woodward Talk

Council hears potential solutions to solve recent flooding problems

BERKLEY — Following a Sept. 7 special meeting about last month’s heavy rain and flood incident, the Berkley City Council heard plans for preventing further problems.

At the council’s Sept. 18 meeting, City Manager Matthew Baumgarten gave a presentation on what the city had heard from residents and the questions they had asked during the Sept. 7 meeting.

He then went into detail about where the city is looking to go next to make sure another flood, like the ones on Aug. 28 and in 2014, doesn’t happen again.

Published September 18, 2017

Shelby - Utica News

Shelby Township honors influential environmental advocate

SHELBY TOWNSHIP — After 24 years with the Shelby Township Solid Waste and Recycling Committee, Chairwoman Marietta Crabtree decided not to opt for reappointment when her term ended. Her last day was Sept. 18.

At the Sept. 14 Board of Trustees meeting, the township presented Crabtree with a resolution honoring her more than two decades of service to the township.

Published September 12, 2017

Woodward Talk

Berkley discusses how flood happened and what to do next

BERKLEY — The heavy rainfall that hit Berkley on Monday, Aug. 28, caused a flood that inflicted damage to an estimated 700 homes in the city.

To address how the flood that hit 10 percent of the city’s homes potentially happened, and to figure out a way to make sure it doesn’t happen again, city staff and City Council members held a meeting Sept. 7 at Berkley High School.

Published September 11, 2017

West Bloomfield Beacon

Water treatment project first of its kind in Michigan

WATERFORD — The Oakland County Water Resources Commission broke ground on the Clinton River Water Resource Recovery Facility, formally known as the Pontiac Wastewater Treatment Plant, Sept. 12.

The groundbreaking marked a $32 million improvement project for the plant. The commission plans to build new facilities and bring in new equipment that modernizes the biosolids handling process to increase energy efficiency and reduce costs and the overall amount of waste sent to landfills.

Published September 5, 2017

Troy Times

Get the facts on what and why you should recycle

TROY — Find out the reasons you should put some items in your recycling bin and others in the trash when Victoria Czapski, community education coordinator for GFL Environmental, presents “Toss or Turn — Sustainable Recycling” 11 a.m.-noon Sept. 19 at the Troy Public Library.

Czapski will explain what can be recycled and why when she speaks at the library. She gives presentations to schools, Scouts, community organizations and senior citizen groups free of charge in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties.

Published September 5, 2017

Fraser - Clinton Township Chronicle

Gratiot receiving an environmentally friendly facelift

CLINTON TOWNSHIP — One of the most famous roadways in southeast Michigan is the focus of an aesthetic makeover.

Clinton Township Treasurer Paul Gieleghem, who serves as the chair of the township’s conservation committee, was recently joined by members of the U.S. Forest Service, the Clinton Township Planning Department, the Clinton Township Public Services Department and local businesses in an effort to revitalize and beautify Gratiot Avenue.

Published September 1, 2017

Shelby - Utica News

CRWC to offer presentations about local invasive species

SHELBY TOWNSHIP — The Clinton River Watershed Council will offer two free “What’s in Your Backyard?” programs this month centered around identifying invasive species and protecting water quality and native vegetation.

The first presentation will take place from 6 to 7 p.m. Sept. 12 at Washington Township Hall. The second presentation will take place from 6 to 7 p.m. Sept. 21 at the Shelby Township Senior Center. Registration is required.

Published August 31, 2017

C&G Newspapers

State rep. wants water quality monitoring back in place

METRO DETROIT — Regional water issues such as the Flint water crisis and toxic algae blooms in Lake Erie have brought to the forefront the importance of monitoring the lakes, said state Rep. Kevin Hertel, D-St. Clair Shores.

Published August 29, 2017

Grosse Pointe Times

With forestry master plan, City turns over a new leaf

GROSSE POINTE CITY — Since it was formed in January, Grosse Pointe City’s first-ever Urban Forestry Commission has grown quickly and has established some solid roots.

In June, the City Council approved a list of recommended and approved tree species — a list compiled by the commission with input from City Forester Brian Colter, who’s also the forester for Grosse Pointe Park. And now, the commission has prepared an urban forestry master plan, which was adopted by a unanimous vote of the City Council Aug. 21.

Published August 28, 2017

C&G Newspapers

County warns about potential lake toxins

OAKLAND COUNTY — The steamy, sunny summer made for great swimming conditions at various lakes around Oakland County.

But families weren’t the only ones enjoying the water. High levels of bacteria from algal blooms were found at a number of local lakes.

The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality notified the Oakland County Health Division earlier this month that harmful algal blooms, or HABs, had been detected in White Lake Township’s Sugden Lake and in Pontiac Lake, in Waterford and White Lake townships.

Published August 25, 2017

West Bloomfield Beacon

Former mayor recognized for work on nature sanctuary

ORCHARD LAKE — After 26 years, the Orchard Lake Nature Sanctuary remains one of the city’s gems. With 50 acres of rolling hills surrounded by two lakes, it’s a popular spot for residents and visitors.

Former Mayor Leo Larkin headed up the project of creating the sanctuary during his tenure in 1991. Since then, the sanctuary has grown to be a favorite local destination.