K.I. SAWYER — A team of two dozen volunteers gathered in the K.I. Sawyer community Saturday, Oct. 18th, to clean up Silver Lead Creek, taking purposeful action to improve water quality and support

the development of the Silver Lead Creek Greenway, according to a news release.

The effort was made possible by collaboration among local volunteers and community partners. The cleanup was organized with help from Trout Unlimited-Fred Waara chapter, the Marquette County Conservation District, Marquette County Planning and Recreation and support from the Michigan Department of Environmrent, Great Lakes and Energy.

Together, volunteers removed trash from both the creek and surrounding trail areas to help improve the health of this cold water stream. To support the cleanup effort, Forsyth Township provided critical in-kind services, accepting the waste collected by volunteers at no cost through its local transfer station.

Debris from hard-to-reach portions of the creek was removed by canoe. On land, volunteers navigated the newly built non-motorized trail, which connects to Little Trout Lake Park, a site currently undergoing major improvements slated for completion early next year.

“Being involved with the clean-up as part of the Silver Lead Creek Greenway project near K.I. Sawyer was a great way for us to help both local fish and the local community. I’m looking forward to our continued involvement with this greenway project,” John Highlen from Trout Unlimited, said.

“Events like these are a great opportunity for all of us to work together to conserve and protect the natural areas that we are lucky enough to have right in our backyards,” said Chrisy Foye from the Marquette County Conservation District. “They benefit both the environment and the local community!”

The cleanup is one of the first community activities to be located in the 2025 established Silver Lead Creek Greenway, a new recreational corridor designed to blend outdoor access with long-term environmental stewardship. It also supports the broader revitalization of Little Trout Lake Park, a key community wellness space for recreation, education, and connection.

Financial assistance for this project was provided through a Michigan Environmental Justice Impact Grant from the Office of the Environmental Justice Public Advocate in the department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy.