Q. In September, trees were being removed by the dozens at the empty site just north of the Broadway bridges. It sure changes the feel of Argo Cascades! What is happening?

A. That area has a long history of industrial use. The current owner, DTE, is undertaking the sizable task of cleaning up contamination left by a coal-gas plant that operated there during the first half of the twentieth century.

The contamination extends into the riverbank, which is why so many trees were removed. The river’s edge will be restored with trees and other plantings after the cleanup is completed, in late September or early October.

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