Overview
- The county announced a three-year pilot program funded by a state earmark of roughly $800,000–$900,000 to remove and study algae muck at three Lake St. Clair shorelines.
- Work is planned to begin in September 2026, pending required state and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permits, and two contractors — Dean Marine & Excavating and Sediment Lakes Aquatic Management — have been selected.
- Targeted sites are Veterans Memorial Park in St. Clair Shores, Campau Bay near the Clinton River mouth in Harrison Township, and the Hidden Cove marina south of the Clinton River Spillway.
- Officials say the project will compare removal techniques, clear a test plot in Campau Bay to study regrowth, and measure how quickly Microseira wollei (a lakebed-forming blue‑green algae) returns after dredging.
- Residents have reported foul odors, beach closures and lost recreational access, and county leaders warn dredging may be temporary and that lasting control will likely need more study and sustained state or federal funding.