MACOMB COUNTY, Mich. (June 9, 2025) — The Oakland County Water Resources Commission recently proposed a corrective action plan after being found in violation of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act and being required by the Michigan Dept. of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) to take immediate steps to maintain compliance. However, the plan fails to address the root issue — inadequate infrastructure — and would continue the county’s problematic discharge of sewer overflows into the regional waterways, including Lake St. Clair.
Sen. Kevin Hertel (D-St. Clair Shores), who represents the entire U.S. shoreline of Lake St. Clair in the Michigan Senate, issued the following statement in response to Oakland County’s proposal to maintain the status quo:
“We only have one Lake St. Clair — if we don’t take the steps necessary to protect it, we don’t get another. While I am grateful for Oakland County finally stepping up and coming to the table in search of a solution to protect the lake from further damage, this plan is a far cry from what the situation demands. Continuing to dump sewage into the lake, permit or no permit, isn’t going to cut it. It’s time for Oakland to follow the path Macomb County has been forging for years and begin upgrading their infrastructure. Our future generations are counting on us to solve this problem — let’s get it done for them.”
Back in March, Sen. Hertel joined Macomb County Public Works Commissioner Candice Miller in calling on EGLE to impose stronger, enforceable measures on Oakland County to reduce their sewage overflows. This letter is just one action Sen. Hertel has taken to protect the health of Lake St. Clair. Over the past several years, he has worked to bring nearly $100 million back to the region to reduce combined sewer overflows, proactively address aging infrastructure, and protect local waterways. Currently, he is working to secure state funding to address the growing muck problem on Lake St. Clair.
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