Macomb County Planning and Economic Development (MCPED) has released a new survey to gather public input on future land use near the Clinton River Spillway. The survey will be used by the county and its partners to determine improvements to 200 acres of publicly owned land located near Harper Avenue, Interstate 94 and Jefferson Avenue and running adjacent to the spillway.
“The Clinton River Spillway is an engineering marvel, built 70 years ago to alleviate flooding in Mount Clemens, Clinton Township and Harrison Township,” said Macomb County Public Works Commissioner Candice S. Miller, a member of the Clinton River Spillway Inter-County Drain Board. “Today we need to explore what public recreational opportunities may exist. We welcome public comment.”
The Clinton River Spillway was constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1950 to provide flood control for Mount Clemens, Clinton Township and Harrison Township. It is a 2.5 mile long, 80-foot-wide, man-made channel that runs in a southeasterly direction from approximately Gratiot to Lake St. Clair near Metro Parkway.
“For over 70 years the Clinton River Cutoff Canal, or spillway, has been preventing flooding in eastern Macomb County during wet weather events,” said Harrison Township Supervisor Ken Verkest. “For most of that time, this asset was overlooked for its recreational value. Recent investments in improving and developing the shoreline of the spillway have resulted in better wildlife habitat and greater access. Our hope is that the development of a master plan for the spillway will lead to further enhancements in habitat, access and recreation.”
MCPED has partnered with the Clinton River Spillway Inter-County Drain Board, the City of Mount Clemens, Clinton Township, Harrison Township and the Huron-Clinton Metroparks to make improvements to the area. The group would like to improve water quality, ensure flood control, create habitat and improve local recreational offerings.
The survey is their first step towards those objectives. It will be available through May 31 here and it features 10 questions that can be completed in under five minutes. For additional information on the spillway and other county initiatives, click here.
