The stormwater outflow project being done at Algoma’s Crescent Beach area that began after Labor Day is a month ahead of schedule. The construction was to be completed by mid-November, but now could be done by the end of next week, according to Algoma Public Works Director Matt Murphy. The first of two bio-retention ponds is already finished with all storm-piping placed underground. Murphy shares the potential timetable for the remaining work.
The environmental project is designed to remove some of the direct stormwater outflows into Lake Michigan coming from Lake Street. The bio-retention ponds will remove nutrients from the run-off water before going into the groundwater and lake. The re-routing of stormwater is a project that was completely funded through grants from the Fund for Lake Michigan and the Environmental Protection Agency.