By Nolan Ostrowski, News Editor
On Oct. 1, 2026, Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer announced the Reclaim the Rivers initiative, which is pledging $89 million towards restoring both the Detroit and Kalamazoo rivers, as well as other areas throughout the state.
According to the michigan.gov Facebook page, Reclaim the Rivers will be led by the “Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR).”
Of the $89 million, almost $50 million will go to the clean up of polychlorinated biphenyls, which are also known as PCBs. PCBs are human constructed organic chemicals that are made up of carbon, hydrogen, and chlorine atoms. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), PCBs can cause a variety of severe health effects in both humans and animals, including cancer, reproductive effects, neurological effects and more. They continue: “the studies in animals and humans suggest that PCBs may have serious potential effects on the immune systems of exposed individuals.”
Governor Whitmer announcing “Reclaim the Rivers” – Photo by Michigan Advance
Of the remaining $39 million, $25 million will go towards the Kalamazoo river’s watershed, specifically to “sediment, habitat, and riverfront projects, including planned dam removals and stream restoration” according to michigan.gov.
Lastly, over $14 million “will support restoration projects across Michigan.”
Reclaim the Rivers will take years, as state officials have said.
The Kalamazoo River – Photo by NOAA
