One of the most polluted waterways in the Michigan is on its way to increased health and sustainability.
In an effort to improve the water quality in Ox Creek and support pollinators that are critical for local agriculture, Meijer partnered with the Berrien County Drain Commission and the Southwest Michigan Planning Commission on the installation of four rain gardens throughout its Benton Harbor Meijer parking lot. The groups came together Wednesday for a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of the project, which used $1.2 million in grant funds and nearly $500,000 in donated funds from Meijer.
The Ox Creek Watershed is located in the far west part of the larger St. Joseph River Watershed. It flows into the Paw Paw River, then to the St. Joseph River, and out to Lake Michigan. Marcy Hamilton, Senior Planning & Deputy Executive Director Program Director for the Southwest Michigan Planning Commission, said Ox Creek is one of the most polluted waterways in the state.
“Ox Creek does not meet state water quality standards because of sediment and flashy flows, which cause erosion and destroy habitat for fish and other aquatic organisms,” Hamilton said. “A rain garden not only brings beauty to an area filled with many parking lots, but also soaks water into the ground, cleanses the water and slows it down, lessening the impact to Ox Creek.”
The project is comprised of three small rain gardens in the Meijer’s main parking lot, and a fourth – nearly a ½ acre in size – on property located next to the store. The property was donated by Meijer, whose founder Fred Meijer was passionate about environmentalism. He even spoke at the first Earth Day in Grand Rapids in 1970.
“Fred said he wanted to leave the world a better place than when he entered it,” said Erik Petrovskis, Director of Environmental Compliance and Sustainability at Meijer. “I think if he was here, he would be very proud of the sort of work that went into this project.”
Installation of the half-acre main garden, which had previously been used for overflow parking, began this summer when crews dug up the parking lot. It was then filled with compost soil to help infiltrate storm water and grow native plants, and finally, planted with about 20 different species of trees, shrubs, grasses and flowers, including purple coneflower, butterfly weed and goldenrod, which will support pollinators.
“We’re lucky to live in the Great Lakes,” Petrovskis said. “It’s a resource that provides not only economic value to us here in Berrien County, but it provides recreation and biodiversity. These are privileges we can’t take for granted, and it’s really our responsibility to improve water quality in the area.”
Along those lines, Hamilton says the SWMPC and the City of Benton Harbor are working on additional projects to improve Ox Creek.
“I know the city and the township are committed to continuing to improve Ox Creek,” Hamilton said. “We’re working on a big grant right now with the city to do some habitat restoration along Ox Creek, continue this down into the city and really make a difference. If we improve this creek, we improve the Paw Paw and St. Joe [rivers], and ultimately Lake Michigan.”
With all the rain over the last week or so, Berrien County Drain Commissioner Christopher Quattrin said the rain gardens have had a chance to prove their worth.
“We are viewing this in full form and function,” he said. “Design is only a theory until it’s built and it works. Well, it’s built, and it works.”
Watch our video highlights of the event below:
By Ryan Yuenger
MOTM Contributor
