The Marquette County Conservation District and Megan McConville, a Northern Michigan University professor who specializes in water chemistry, are seeking volunteers to help clean up trash and debris from Whetstone Brook and its surrounding banks. Crews will meet at Founders Landing, where the tributary spills into Lake Superior, at 10 a.m. and work until 2 p.m. Saturday, May 18. Prizes and lunch will be included. Volunteers should wear boots and gloves.
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (ELGE) provided a $2,400 grant for the project. The ELGE celebrated the 49th anniversary of Earth Day by announcing grants for river, stream and creak cleanup events in 14 communities across the state, including Marquette.
“I'm new to the area and I was looking for opportunities to get involved in preserving local watersheds,” McConville said. “I became intrigued by Whetstone Brook because it's unique that it flows under city streets and parking lots and also supports a healthy trout population. The brook cascades down 7 feet under the roundabout nearest the lake before it becomes visible again near Founders Landing. We're eager to work with others who have a similar interest in preserving it.”
For more information or to RSVP for the cleanup, please contact Lynnae Branham, one of McConville's NMU students who is assisting with the project, at lbranham@nmu.edu.