Stormwater drains take more than water into Lake St. Clair.
The big drain pipes pick up a lot of trash along the way, and that trash gets into the lake after heavy rain storms.
Macomb County Public Works Department is trying a pilot project to see if the trash can be kept out.
A collection grate has been installed at the end of one of the county's longest storm drains, which traverses thousands of acres in Roseville and St. Clair Shores. Workers will collect the trash and dispose of it after storms, before the trash has a chance to get into the lake.
Candice Miller is Macomb County Public Works Commissioner. She hopes to expand the project.
"We think we have the ability — if it works well, and it's a reasonable expense, and we can figure it all out — to do it at other storm drains in Macomb County, and we've already got some inquiries from other areas."
Miller says she hopes Macomb County will eventually be joined in the effort by Wayne County and the Province of Ontario.
She says individuals can do their part to help clean up Lake St. Clair by not throwing trash on the ground, and making sure to maintain home sewage tanks to prevent leakage.
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