LANSING, Mich. (Oct. 3, 2025) — The Michigan Legislature today passed a bipartisan state budget for the 2026 Fiscal Year that centers on investments to lower costs, protect access to critical services, and expand opportunity for Michigan families. In the budget, lawmakers also secured targeted investments for local projects across the state — including $800,000 championed by Sen. Kevin Hertel (D-St. Clair Shores) and Rep. Alicia St. Germaine (R-Harrison Twp.) to combat the exponential growth of muck along the Lake St. Clair shoreline.
“Protecting Lake St. Clair for current and future generations cannot be a partisan issue —it’s a community issue, and no one understands that better than Macomb County,” said Sen. Hertel who represents the entire U.S. shoreline of Lake St. Clair in the Michigan Senate. “Once again, we have shown that by having a shared long-term vision, some political courage, and the willingness to work together, we can achieve great things together for the health of the lake. This bipartisan investment turns years of study into action, giving us the tools to tackle the muck problem and begin restoring our waterfront.”
The funding, requested by Macomb County Public Works Commissioner Candice Miller’s office, will support the implementation of a three-year field trial to test scalable techniques to manage the muck, also known as Microseira wollei or M. wollei, while also studying long-term effectiveness and regrowth patterns. Given Lake St. Clair’s annual generation of more than $1.6 billion in economic activity and support for more than 18,000 jobs, this $800,000 appropriation is a modest investment when compared to the economic and ecological value of the lake.
“This achievement marks a significant milestone for the state of Michigan. This funding is also a step in the right direction for the Save Lake St. Clair Advocacy Group and its more than 31,000 followers, who have tirelessly pushed for action and funding from elected officials and the state to address the pressing issue of this smelly, harmful algae that contains E. coli,” said Rep. St. Germaine. “As the heart of the Great Lakes community, we must continue to work together to protect our environment, recreation, and blue economy. I have worked diligently to ensure this project’s inclusion in the state budget, and I am proud to be a big part of its success.”
While M. wollei has been present in Lake St. Clair for nearly two decades, its recent exponential growth has begun to rapidly create thick mats of algae that plague shoreline neighborhoods and render boat slips unusable. This growing crisis prompted a joint investigation by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Macomb County Public Works. The results from their 2-year study, which was launched in 2023 and recently completed, now serve as the basis for the county’s proposed field trial.
“We appreciate the bipartisan efforts of Rep. St. Germaine and Senator Kevin Hertel in our collective efforts to improve water quality and accessibility of our beautiful Lake St. Clair,” said MCPW Commissioner Miller. “This $800,000.00 appropriation will help us to begin to address the ‘muck’ issue that is plaguing some shoreline areas of Lake St. Clair.”
Representing Lake St. Clair communities in the state Legislature, both Sen. Hertel and Rep. St. Germaine understand the importance of the lake. Macomb County alone is home to more than 50 marinas, thousands of boat slips, and a lake-based economy that supports tourism, small businesses, and property values. Lake St. Clair also provides drinking water to more than 4 million people and supports critical wildlife habitats.
As a result, the two legislators have been vocal advocates for this funding, with it being one of the few projects included in both the Senate and House budget proposals. This bipartisan effort underscores that Lake St. Clair is not a political issue, but rather a shared responsibility we all have to ensure the lake remains healthy and accessible for current residents and future generations.
To learn more about Sen. Hertel’s efforts to protect Lake St. Clair, click here.
