A Great Lakes Area of Concern, Muskegon Lake in Michigan has undergone a cleanup through the Great Lakes Legacy Act. As a result, the city of Muskegon has seen environmental, economic, and quality of life benefits.

Citations:

1. Paul Isely Erik Nordman Kendra Robbins Julie Cowie. Muskegon Lake Area of Concern Habitat Restoration Project: Socio-Economic Assessment Revisited. July 2020.
2. Ibid.
3. Ibid.

Other Resources

• Great Lakes Commission: Assessing the Investment—The Economic Impact of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative: A Case Study of Muskegon, Michigan
• International Association of Great Lakes Research: Great Lakes Revival: How Restoring Polluted Waters Leads to Rebirth of Great Lakes Communities (pp. 39-46)
• Livability: Transforming Waterfronts Along the Muskegon Lakeshore
• Western Michigan Regional Shoreline Commission: Muskegon River Habitat Restoration at Veteran’s Memorial Park
• NOAA Fisheries: Muskegon Lake Nears Recovery After Years of Restoration
• MiBiz: Arts playing ‘huge role’ in shaping downtown Muskegon through pandemic
• WZZM Channel 13: A successful Muskegon festival season by the numbers
• WOOD Channel 8: ‘Hidden gem’ discovered: Muskegon Lake ripe for development
• FOX Channel 17: Great Lakes cruises bring passengers, revenue to Muskegon
• MLIVE: Marquette to Muskegon: Cruise ships bring big tourism dollars to the Great Lakes 
• Detroit Free Press: Cruise ships to visit Muskegon again after 2 years of COVID-19 cancelations

A Great Lakes Area of Concern, the Sheboygan River in Wisconsin has undergone a cleanup through the Great Lakes Legacy Act. As a result, the city of Sheboygan has seen environmental, economic, and quality of life benefits.

Citations:

1. Great Lakes Commission. Assessing the Investment—The Economic Impact of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative: A Case Study of Sheboygan, Wisconsin. September 2018.

Other Resources

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Sheboygan River AOC
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Remediation and Restoration Projects for Sheboygan River AOC
• City of Sheboygan, Department of Planning and Development[Conversation]
• Healing our Waters/Great Lakes Coalition: Sheboygan River cleanup nears completion

A Great Lakes Area of Concern, Ashtabula River in Ohio has undergone a cleanup through the Great Lakes Legacy Act. As a result, the city of Ashtabula has seen environmental, economic, and quality of life benefits.

Citations:

1. Great Lakes Commission. Assessing the Investment—The Economic Impact of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative: A Case Study of Ashtabula, Ohio. September 2018.
2. Ibid.

Other Resources

• Great Lakes Commission: Assessing the Investment—The Economic Impact of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative: Project Summary Report
• City of Ashtabula :The Ashtabula River Remedial Action Plan
• Ohio Department of Natural Resources: Plan a Visit/Find a Property—Ashtabula Scenic River
• Lift Bridge Community Association: Historic Ashtabula Harbor
• Ashtabula Star Beacon: Joyce tours Harbor Yak in anticipation of federal funds to rebuild Ferry Drive
• Ashtabula Star Beacon:Tourism numbers beating 2021
• Cleveland.com: From industrial powerhouse to tourist draw: 24 hours in Ashtabula’s fun, funky Bridge Street district
• Cleveland.com: Ashtabula’s Riverbend Hotel project back on track, with expected opening in spring 2023

A Great Lakes Area of Concern, the St. Louis River bordering Minnesota and Wisconsin has undergone a cleanup through the Great Lakes Legacy Act. As a result, the city of Duluth has seen environmental, economic, and quality of life benefits.

Sources

• Great Lakes Commission: Assessing the Investment—The Economic Impact of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative: A Case Study of Duluth, Minnesota
• International Association of Great Lakes Research: Great Lakes Revival: How Restoring Polluted Waters Leads to Rebirth of Great Lakes Communities (pp. 61-66)
• St. Louis River Alliance St. Louis River National Water Trail
• St. Louis River Alliance: St. Louis River Area of Concern Update: Kingsbury Bay/Grassy Point project completed!
• MPR News: Minnesota moves closer to completing St. Louis River restoration
• Duluth Star Tribune: Duluth rakes in record $12.4M in tourism revenue
• Duluth Star Tribune: Despite bump in tourism dollars, Duluth sees room for growth
• Duluth Star Tribune: Duluth’s tourism tax collection rebounds to pre-pandemic levels
• U.S. Census Bureau: Duluth, Minnesota 2010/Age and Sex
• U.S. Census Bureau: Duluth, Minnesota 2020/Age and Sex

A Great Lakes Area of Concern, the Buffalo River in New York has undergone a cleanup through the Great Lakes Legacy Act. As a result, the city of Buffalo has seen environmental, economic, and quality of life benefits.

Sources

• Great Lakes Commission: Assessing the Investment—The Economic Impact of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative: A Case Study of Buffalo, New York
• International Association of Great Lakes Research: Great Lakes Revival: How Restoring Polluted Waters Leads to Rebirth of Great Lakes Communities (pp. 3-10)
• Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper [Conversation]
• New York State: Buffalo Billion—Buffalo Blueway
• Buffalo Rising: Completion of $2 Million Buffalo Blueway Public Access Project at DEC Ohio Street Site
• Buffalo Rising: The Newly Renovated Red Jacket Riverfront Natural Habitat Park/li>
• Buffalo News: When the Buffalo River Caught Fire
• Buffalo News: ‘Census Data Shows Buffalo Growing for the First Time in 70 Years
• U.S. Census Bureau: New York 2020/Age and Sex
• U.S. Census Bureau: Buffalo, New York 2010/Age and Sex
• U.S. Census Bureau: Buffalo, New York 2020/Age and Sex

This report discusses stakeholder perceptions of the Lower Rouge River in the Rouge River Area of Concern (AOC) and attitudes toward a cleanup being performed under the Great Lakes Legacy Act.