(WWJ) -- The health of Lake St. Clair has never been better, but there's still work to be done.
That was the message from Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel at Wednesday's State of the Lake address.
Hackel, along with other officials, talked about efforts to protect and preserve water quality in the lake and the efforts underway to deal with invasive species. They celebrated the accomplishments of the county's Blue Economy Initiative, which was created to enhance and protect Lake St. Clair and its tributaries through economic development, environmental stewarship and qaulity of life enhancements to benefit residents and visitors, according to a press release.
Officials say the initiative has had an impact on the economy. Michigan's ports and harbors produced a $19.7 billion economic impact on the state, according to officials.
Macomb County Public Works Commissioner Candice Miller gave an update on the county's major expansion and upgrade of the Chapaton pump station in St. Clair Shores at 9 Mile Road and Jefferson.
"We're undertaking a $30 million project there, which will effectively reduce, almost eliminate, the amount of combined sewer overflows that has been going on from that basin for 60 years."
Miller says they are in the design phase of the project and expect to start construction next year.
Hackel says the lake -- the busiest fresh-water lake in the country -- is in great shape.
"When you talk about recreational activity, boating access, boating attractions and fishing. There's no other lake that has as much going on as Lake St. Clair during those summer months," Hackel said. "We have the fresh water advantage here. Not only throughout the state, but in Macomb County. 31 ½ miles of coastline, our main objective is to try and figure out how to we continue to make this lake clean?"
Bassmaster is hosting its Angler of the Year competition at Lake St. Clair Metropark in September.
