Park, tribe to receive EPA conservation grants

GRAND HAVEN, Mich. (AP) – A national park and an American Indian tribe will receive a combined $1.1 million for environmental projects in northern Michigan.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said Thursday the projects will be funded under the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, a multi-year program designed to boost the health of the lakes by cleaning up toxic pollution, fighting invasive species and other measures.

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore gets $891,225 to control invasive plants, protect the endangered piping plover and restore forests damaged by the emerald ash borer.

The Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians gets $255,365 for watershed restoration work.

The EPA announced the projects at a briefing in Grand Haven. They're among eight it's unveiling this week under the Great Lakes program, designed specifically to create temporary jobs.