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Water Resources News – Red Run Drain Update
Did you know that our office cleaned up more than 3,000 lbs. of trash from the Red Run Drain this summer?
As one of the member counties of the Red Run Drain Board, we clean up and perform maintenance of the drain, a Macomb County waterway that handles treated water flowing from the George W. Kuhn Retention Treatment Facility in Oakland County. This summer we worked to remove illegally dumped garbage in a 200-yard Macomb County section of the drain in Sterling Heights which had accumulated over time to the point where it became visible in aerial photographs.
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Our crew removed more than 60 tires, more than 3,000 pounds of steel construction debris, two automobile engines, multiple stolen bicycles, stolen payphones, numerous shopping carts, steel and electrical cables, and other accumulated garbage illegally dumped into the Red Run Drain.
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The degradation of tires creates toxic pollution that is a severe hazard to the environment and to public health; 38 states including Michigan have banned tires from landfills.
Is there a plan for additional work on the Red Run Drain to protect the environment and regional water quality?
Yes, at a recent meeting of the Red Run Intercounty Drain Board, the Board approved work to assess current conditions of the Red Run Drain and provide specific recommendations for maintenance, repair and improvement projects as soon as December 2025. Potential construction of the drain improvements could begin in 2026.
Our commitment
We maintain the 9-mile easement of the Red Run Drain within Macomb County. Maintenance work is performed at any time of the year if a resident reports issues in the water or surrounding areas. As stewards of the environment, we are committed to protecting water quality in Oakland County and beyond, throughout the Southeast Michigan Region.
Do you know of a drain that needs cleaning?
Please reach out to our pollution hotline at 248-858-1352. You can view our pollution hotline brochure with more information, here.
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