Restoring Marquette’s waterfront: A new chapter for the former Cliffs-Dow site

In the early 1900s, Cleveland-Cliffs Iron used the site to produce charcoal for nearby mining operations. When operations ceased in the late 1960s, the site was left with decades’ worth of industrial pollution and abandoned structures. Cleanup and revitalization efforts are now underway and the EPA Brownfield Cleanup Grant awarded in 2023 is fueling the city’s work to address long-standing contamination and improve groundwater quality.

Adjacent to the remediation site, the City of Marquette and its partners are advancing a shoreline restoration effort along Lake Superior known as a “living revetment.” This project will stabilize the shoreline, reduce erosion and improve habitat for fish and wildlife. Together with the brownfield cleanup, the living revetment is transforming Marquette’s waterfront into an accessible space for generations to come.

“Marquette County’s rich iron resources drove the American economy for decades,” said EPA Region 5 Administrator Anne Vogel. “Along with EPA’s recent investment of $400,000, we are excited to work closely with our state and local partners to energize their community once again.”

The transformation of the former Cliffs-Dow site is part of Michigan’s broader commitment to brownfield redevelopment. Since 2019, EGLE has helped turn more than 400 contaminated or abandoned properties into productive community spaces. These projects have supported over 19,000 jobs and attracted more than $7.3 billion in private investment, all while protecting public health and the environment.

The cleaned-up shoreline will offer new opportunities for recreation, public access and economic development in Marquette. The revitalization project shows what’s possible when local leadership and state-federal partnerships come together with a shared vision for environmental progress.

Revitalizing communities in Marquette and across Michigan aligns with the priorities outlined in Governor Whitmer’s proposed Fiscal Year 2026 budget. The proposal includes $80 million to expand recycling, extend landfill lifespan and clean up contaminated sites, along with $50 million to help communities meet lead standards, $30 million for water infrastructure improvements, $5.95 million to support Safe Drinking Water Act implementation and $7 million to reduce sewage contamination through statewide septic code efforts.

The former Cliffs-Dow site serves as a symbol of environmental resilience and a reminder that with collaboration and commitment, even the most contaminated land can be transformed into a place of community pride.

Check EGLE’s Brownfield Redevelopment program web page for more information.