Milk River Drainage District Improvement Project

The Milk River Intercounty Drain Drainage District (MRIDDD) was established in 1908 under the Michigan Drain Code. MRIDDD facilities accept storm drainage from the Cities of Harper Woods and St. Clair Shores and combined sewage from the City of Grosse Pointe Woods. Enclosed drains transport these storm water and combined sewage flows to the Milk River Retention Treatment Basin (RTB) facility where it is pumped into Wayne County’s Northeast Sewage Disposal System. During wet weather events, flows may be pumped into the RTB for storage. If the capacity of the RTB is exceeded during major wet weather events, flows are screened, settled, skimmed, and disinfected before being discharged into the Milk River. A recirculation facility is also utilized to seasonally pump lake water from Lake St. Clair to the outfall of the Milk River RTB to increase dissolved oxygen levels in the river. MRIDDD facilities are operated by Wayne County. The MRIDDD is managed by the MRIDDD Drainage Board established under Chapter 21 of the Michigan Drain Code. The Drainage Board is chaired by the director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development or his or her designee. Other current Drainage Board members include the Macomb County Drain Commissioner and Wayne County Drain Commissioner, or their designees, and appointees of the City of St. Clair Shores and City of Harper Woods/Grosse Pointe Woods.