EPA Grant

I am pleased to announce that the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded the City of Auburn Hills a grant in the amount of $140,000.  The grant will be used to restore approximately two acres of wetland habitat along the Galloway Creek that were illegally filled (not by the City) back in the late 1980’s.   The grant funds will be used to cover the costs associated with design and construction and do not require any matching funds from the City.  Auburn Hills is one of 11 projects selected for funding.  34 projects were submitted for consideration.

The main purpose of the grant is to restore wetland habitat within the Clinton River Watershed, which has declined over decades.  Shawn Keenan, Assistant City Planner, developed the proposal with the assistance of the City’s consulting engineers.   Mr. Keenan then shepherded the City’s proposal through an extensive review process which included an initial review by the Clinton River Public Advisory Council’s Habitat Committee, followed by more technical reviews by the State of Michigan.  The Clinton River Public Advisory Council conducted the final review before making their recommendation to the EPA for their final approval.   

In addition to increasing wetland habitat within the watershed, the project will help improve the water quality of the Galloway Creek and should help provide additional flood protection for properties adjoining and downstream.

Planning and design is expected to occur over the next three to four months and construction will take place in 2016.  The EPA’s goal is to have the project completed in 2016.  

Tom Tanghe, City Manager