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Zephyr Site

Muskegon Lake Area of Concern
These are the kinds of things that make Michigan unique. ​We have so much water.
It does improve the quality of life because we can live, work, and play in the same area.
Through all the hard work we have been able to bring resources back so everyone can enjoy them. 

- Muskegon area citizen, 2015

The cleanup of the wetlands below the former Zephyr Oil Refinery is complete!

The sediment cleanup ​​of the former Zephyr Oil Refinery is complete! Contaminated sediment has been removed from the wetlands, invasive cattails and other non-natives were removed, and native wetland species were planted. This has created 16 acres of abundant habitat for frogs, turtles, fish, ducks, and more! The project was through a Great Lakes Legacy Act (GLLA) partnership between EPA and Michigan DEQ (EGLE). Local groups like the Muskegon Lake Watershed Partnership and West Michigan Shoreline Regional Development Commission played a major supporting role.

Where did the contamination come from? In the early 1900s, Muskegon County experienced a mini oil boom. Around this time, the Zephyr Oil Refinery began production atop a bluff overlooking the Muskegon River, converting crude oil into gasoline and naphtha. As the refinery aged, production switched to light oil and other products, ultimately focusing on bulk storage, but pollution remained a problem. Over its lifetime the company spilled oil - over 700,000 gallons in its bulk storage days - and built a ditch from the wetlands below to bring water closer to the operations to put out fires. During the oil-based fires, the water mixed with oil, ash, and smoke to return to the wetlands in a contaminated state. 

Location

Cleanup is located in the wetlands of the former Zephyr Oil Refinery just south of Holton Rd. (M120) and east of the railroad tracks (cleanup area denoted in yellow in the figure). MDEQ is conducting additional cleanup in the upland portion of the site in collaboration with the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers. The cleanup is located in the Muskegon Lakes Area of Concern and on private property. 
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A detailed map of the Zephyr cleanup and restoration process
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This map created by WMSRDC shows all the Muskegon Lake Area of Concern projects, including the Zephyr Site.

Drone Footage Before and After

​​Take a bird's-eye tour of the Zephyr wetlands. The first video shows the site in summer 2017 prior to any cleanup activity. The second video gives an aerial view of the site during habitat restoration in fall 2018. The videos can be played at the same time for comparison.

Cleanup Process

Long-term Benefits

Sediment to remediate: 48,870 cubic yards
Contaminants: Total petroleum hydrocarbons, lead and other heavy metals 
Method: Dry excavation
When: 2018
Partners: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
​Cost: $16 million
Notes: A small portion (about 1,400 cubic yards) of sediment was hazardous for lead and was stabilized to non-hazardous conditions before removal.
  • Migratory waterfowl rely on wetlands. Removal of invasive cattails and other non-natives, along with the installation of native plants and flowers, improves habitat for fish and wildlife.
  • Wetlands are some of the most biologically productive ecosystems in the world, supporting threatened and endangered species. A clean wetland environment for breeding and nesting can help increase fish and wildlife populations.

More Information

Documents and Resources
  • Former Zephyr Oil Refinery completion fact sheet (PDF, 2p, 600KB) October 2018
  • ​Public meeting presentations by EPA (PDF, 17p, 1.6MB) and Michigan DEQ (PDF, 14p, 4.5MB) March 2018
  • Public meeting presentation (PDF, 20p, 2MB) September 2017
  • NOAA habitat restoration video (YouTube) February 2017
  • ​Community needs assessment for outreach (PDF, 26 p, 1.1MB) October 2015
  • Feasibility study report (PDF, 187p, 7MB) March 2014
​
Stakeholders​​
  • ​Muskegon Lake Watershed Partnership
  • West Michigan Shoreline Regional Development Commission
  • Muskegon Charter Township
  • Muskegon County
  • Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
  • Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
  • U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
IISG and GLR logos
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Contact Us

Great Lakes Mud c/o Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant
Purdue University
195 Marsteller Street
West Lafayette, IN 47907-2033

​Email: abelle@illinois.edu
© 2019 Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant, All Rights Reserved.
Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant strives to ensure equal access and an
​inclusive environment.
Website last updated December 14, 2022
  • Home
  • Pollution
    • Dioxins
    • Heavy Metals
    • NAPL
    • Oil and Grease
    • PAHs
    • PCBs
    • TBT
    • TPH
  • Partnership
    • Great Lakes Legacy Act
    • Cost-Sharing
  • Cleanup Process
    • Project Stages
    • Dredging
    • Dry Excavation
    • Caps and Covers
    • Habitat Restoration
  • Waterbody
    • Indiana >
      • East Branch - Grand Calumet River AOC
      • East Branch Phase II - Grand Calumet River AOC
      • East Chicago Waterways - Grand Calumet River AOC
      • Indiana Harbor Canal TSCA - Grand Calumet River AOC
      • Lake George Canal Middle & East - Grand Calumet River AOC
      • Roxana Marsh - Grand Calumet River AOC
      • Stateline - Grand Calumet River AOC
      • West Branch - Grand Calumet River AOC
    • Michigan >
      • Black Lagoon - Detroit River AOC
      • Centennial Park - Detroit River AOC
      • Division Street Outfall - Muskegon Lake AOC
      • Former MGP Site - St. Marys River AOC
      • Lower Rouge River Old Channel - Rouge River AOC
      • River Raisin - River Raisin AOC
      • Riverwalk - Detroit River AOC
      • Ruddiman Creek - Muskegon Lake AOC
      • Ryerson Creek Outfall - Muskegon Lake AOC
      • Tannery Bay - St. Marys River AOC
      • Torch Lake - Torch Lake AOC
      • Upper Trenton Channel - Detroit River AOC
      • Zephyr Site - Muskegon Lake AOC
    • Minnesota >
      • Azcon/DSPA Slip - St. Louis River AOC
      • Minnesota Slip - St. Louis River AOC
      • Munger Landing - St. Louis River AOC
      • Scanlon Reservoir - St. Louis River AOC
      • Slip 3 and Slip C - St. Louis River AOC
      • SLR Interlake/Duluth Tar - St. Louis River AOC
      • Spirit Lake Site - St. Louis River AOC
    • New York >
      • Buffalo River - Buffalo River AOC
    • Ohio >
      • Ashtabula River - Ashtabula River AOC
      • Cuyahoga River Old Channel - Cuyahoga River AOC
      • Gorge Dam - Cuyahoga River AOC
      • Jack's Marine North Slip - Ashtabula River AOC
      • Ottawa River - Maumee AOC
      • Otter Creek - Maumee AOC
    • Wisconsin >
      • Greater Milwaukee Estuary - Milwaukee Estuary AOC
      • Hog Island Inlet - St. Louis River AOC
      • Howards Bay - St. Louis River AOC
      • Kinnickinnic River - Milwaukee Estuary AOC
      • Lincoln Park - Milwaukee Estuary AOC
      • Sheboygan River - Sheboygan River AOC
      • Tyco - Menominee River AOC
    • More coming soon...
  • Education
    • Grade School Curriculum
    • High School Curriculum
    • More Resources >
      • Indiana
      • Michigan
      • Minnesota
      • Ohio
      • Wisconsin
  • Contact