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The City of Benton Harbor is engaging and supporting the local community to remove illegally-dumped large debris from Ox Creek and its adjacent floodplains in the Lake Michigan watershed.
Type of Project: Removal
Region: Great Lakes
Project Dates: October 2024 - September 2027
Who is involved?
With support from the NOAA Marine Debris Program through Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding, the City of Benton Harbor is working with the local community to remove and prevent marine debris. The City, in partnership with the Ox Creek Partnership, is working with numerous community-based organizations on this effort, including Let Us Rest, Total Wellness by Choice, Berrien Connection, Zoy Expeditions, Sarett Nature Center, and Benton Harbor Team Solutions.
What is the project and why is it important?
Illegal dumping is the unlawful disposal of waste in unauthorized areas such as under bridges, in forests, and off remote roadways. Large debris that is difficult to remove by hand, such as tires, mattresses, kitchen appliances, and construction materials, can pollute watersheds, worsen water quality, obstruct waterways, and decrease the economic prosperity of a region. Sites that are notorious for illegal dumping within a region often invite new illegal dumping activity, which creates a cycle of environmental destruction.
The City of Benton Harbor is a coastal community of southwest Michigan, located just offshore of Lake Michigan. Ox Creek flows through the heart of Benton Harbor and is an important part of the city and the environment. It links the city’s downtown with its neighborhoods and Berrien County’s largest commercial corridors, while also connecting to Lake Michigan and the larger Great Lakes ecoregion. As a result of illegal dumping, items including furniture, concrete barriers, and appliances are scattered throughout Ox Creek and its surrounding floodplains.
Large debris removal is a critical component of the overall Ox Creek revitalization effort. Community support and interest in this project resulted in the unanimous passage of a 2021 resolution by the City Commission and the formation of the Ox Creek Partnership. Through this project, the Benton Harbor community is invested in rehabilitating Ox Creek, preventing harm to aquatic habitat and terrestrial species, improving public access and recreational opportunities, and developing collaborative solutions to prevent illegal dumping through place-based outreach campaigns focused on proper disposal. The project is crucial for the overall restoration of Ox Creek to benefit the people, wildlife, and water of Benton Harbor.