DTE Energy Foundation Tree Planting Grant 

Under funds from the DTE Energy Foundation Tree Planting Grant Program, WMSRDC provided 50 trees of differing species to replace the trees that were damaged by high water levels at the Muskegon State Park Channel Campground. This project was initiated by Rebecca Sandee and her Reeths Puffer classroom, who raised funds for student and volunteer transportation, waterbags, tree protection and support materials, mulch, and other related costs. The project culminated on May 31, as roughly 50 students planted all 50 trees under the guidance of DNR park staff, Reeths Puffer teachers, and parent volunteers. DNR park staff will continue to ensure tree health into the future.

Muskegon River Waterhshed Assembly Tree Planting Grant

This tree planting grant focused on the Muskegon River Watershed and mitigating storm water runoff. WMSRDC assisted in planting 400 trees and 40 seedlings in the cities of Roosevelt Park, Muskegon, and Fremont, in Dalton and Cedar Creek Townships, and at MERES Nature Preserve and the Causeway Veterans Memorial Park, equaling 85,400 gallons of water intercepted/filtered. These trees were planted and maintained with the help and cooperation of the local jurisdictions, nurseries and landscaping contractors.

This project was funded by a grant through the U.S. Forest Service and partnering with the Muskegon River Watershed Assembly.

Coastal Reforestation Grant

This project annually reduces 104,885 gallons of storm water runoff  that contributed to degraded water quality and replaced native trees impacted by invasive species and tree disease within the Lake Michigan Coastal Zone Management area. The two phase project addressed locations in the City of Muskegon and five State Parks in west Michigan in the first phase of the project. An additional location in Oceana County was addressed in the second phase. WMSRDC partners included the City of Muskegon and Muskegon Conservation District, as well as, Muskegon, Hoffmaster, Sliver Lake, Charles Mears, and Ludington State Parks. Phase 1 saw the installation of 558 trees in 2018 with an additional 4138 tree seedlings installed in 2019.

This project was funded by a grant through the U.S. Forest Service and Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.

Oceana County Tree Planting Grant

In 2019, WMSRDC partnered with the US Forest Service as a Great Lakes Restoration Initiative grant awarded to the Delta Institute. Five communities in Oceana County, from Mears to Rothbury and including Hart, Shelby, and New Era, along with the Hart Montague Trail saw trees planted. These plantings address another 24,900 gallons of storm water runoff and provide land managers with the tools to build capacity within the smaller communities for this type of work. The project has met with the partners for initial buy in and information sharing and planning, hired a forester, developed a planting plan, identified possible planting locations within the communities and along the Hart Montague Trail, and planted 202 trees and 309 seedlings.