Muskegon County Wastewater Facility

About the Program
Muskegon County Wastewater Management System maintains a wastewater facility located in Muskegon County, Michigan, approximately 15 miles from Lake Michigan. The site is in a rural area and borders farmland and a small town to the west. Team members utilize 1,619 acres of forest habitat and 34 acres of grassland habitat to benefit local wildlife by maintaining an educational nature trail for employees and community members.

Practices and Impacts

• Team members installed nest boxes on the property and monitor the boxes weekly during breeding season. In 2023, five nest boxes were relocated and equipped with predator guards to provide a safe habitat for cavity-nesting species. Nest boxes are cleaned annually. The site also educates employees and community members about avian conservation.
• A wildflower garden was planted on half an acre of land in 2015, with additional seed added in following years. Employees maintain the habitat for the benefit of native pollinator species. The site conducts an annual pollinator monitoring survey and maintains the habitat with annual weeding and mowing.
• A nature trail on-site provides wildlife conservation and education opportunities to learners annually. Visitors complete an evaluation form that provides feedback and captures any learnings from the nature trail.