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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 8, 2026
Jeff Johnston, EGLE Public Information Officer, JohnstonJ14@Michigan.gov, 517-231-9304
Tamara Lipsey, EGLE Aquatic Biologist, LipseyT@Michigan.gov, 517-342-4372
Nearly $100,000 will help local governments and nonprofit organizations improve Michigan waterways
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) today announced that $99,965 will be awarded through 20 grants to local governments and nonprofit organizations for stream cleanup and monitoring through the Michigan Clean Water Corps (MiCorps) Program. These annual grants help foster local stewardship and a sense of community while providing valuable data used to protect Michigan’s waters.
The MiCorps Volunteer Stream Cleanup Program provides grants to local units of government to clean and improve Michigan waterways. Local governments often partner with nonprofits or other volunteer groups for the cleanups, which include removal of trash and other manmade debris from streams and stream banks.
The cleanup grant program began in 1998 and is funded by fees from the sale of Michigan’s specialty water quality protection license plates, available from the Secretary of State’s Office.
The local governments selected to receive cleanup funding in 2026 are:
- Allegan County Conservation District, $833
- City of Ann Arbor, $5,000
- City of Battle Creek, $3,300
- City of Cedar Springs, $4,000
- Grand Valley Metropolitan Council, $1,456
- Iron/Baraga Conservation District, $5,000
- Ottawa County Office of the Water Resources Commissioner, $3,359
- Joseph Conservation District, $2,049
The MiCorps Volunteer Stream Monitoring Program provides grants to enable local governments and nonprofits to conduct volunteer-based water quality and stream habitat monitoring through benthic macroinvertebrate surveys and habitat assessments. Three types of monitoring grants are available. Startup grants get groups started with learning and planning, implementation grants fund the first two years of official monitoring, and maintenance grants help groups that are already monitoring replace equipment and continue their program.
Startup grants went to:
- Cass County Conservation District, $5,000.
- Iron/Baraga Conservation District, $5,000.
The following received an implementation grant:
- Lake Leelanau Lake Association, $6,879
- Montcalm Conservation District, $19,250
- Ottawa Conservation District, Holland, $19,250
Receiving maintenance grants are:
- Barry Conservation District, $2,139
- Friends of the St. Clair River, $2,999
- Jackson Conservation District, $2,480
- Outdoor Discovery Network, $2,991
- Missaukee Conservation District, $2,981
- The Refuge Church, Grandville, $3,000
- Van Buren Conservation District, $2,999
EGLE established MiCorps in 2004 to engage the public in collecting water quality data for use in water resources management and protection programs. MiCorps is sponsored by EGLE and is administered in partnership with Michigan State University Extension, the Michigan Lakes and Streams Association, and the Huron River Watershed Council.
Questions about the grant award process should be directed to Dr. Paul Steen, Huron River Watershed Council, at 734-519-0449 or PSteen@HRWC.org; or Tamara Lipsey; Lake Michigan Unit; Great Lakes Watershed Assessment, Restoration, and Management Section; EGLE Water Resources Division; at 517-342-4372 or LipseyT@Michigan.gov.
To stay up to date on other EGLE news, follow us at Michigan.gov/MIEnvironment.
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