Benton Harbor city commissioners approved an additional $300,000 Monday to support the cleanup of Ox Creek, a four-and-a-half-mile corridor that officials say has been used for illegal trash dumping for nearly a century.

The funding supplements a federal grant of more than $1 million previously awarded to the city for the project.

City officials say the debris poses environmental risks and threatens the regional water supply because the creek flows into Lake Michigan.

In addition to removing debris, the city plans to install cameras along the corridor to discourage illegal dumping.

Officials are also encouraging residents to report dumping activity. The city offers a reward program for tips that lead to a conviction.

The full cleanup project is expected to take several years. Work near Hall Park is anticipated to be completed this fall.