Seymour Road Landfill

About the Program
WM has a capped landfill in Montrose, Michigan, about 100 miles north of Detroit. The area is mostly rural farmland, with the Flint River nearby. The property includes mostly grassland habitat, with some runoff ponds from the initial construction. There is a forested area on the border of the property as well. The property comprises 98 acres. As it is a capped landfill, WM is committed to this site for the long term; in particular, the team is committed to improving the grassland habitat and encouraging tree growth.

Practices and Impacts

• The team focuses their work on the 45-acre grassland. There is a range of grassy vegetation and pollinator plant species are managed with fertilization and mowing to encourage wildlife.
• More recently, the team has begun to focus on retention ponds that remain from initial construction. To improve the habitat, the team seeded wetland plant species around three acres of pond habitat, and the goal is to improve the area for increased wetland diversity and improved water quality.
• The project team manages invasive species across the entire property. The current focus is on removal of phragmites and autumn olive. Treatments include mowing and herbicide treatment. This work is ongoing and, because of the large property, will take many years.