PARCHMENT, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — A group of Kalamazoo-area residents trying to raise awareness about the long-term effects of sludge released into the Kalamazoo River locally are also concerned about a potential short-term problem.
Kalamazoo River Alliance spoke to the E.P.A. asking if the mud piles in the river, along with ice jams, will increase the chance of flooding in the Kalamazoo area. The E.P.A. said it is likely, especially in the downtown Kalamazoo areas that are already prone to flooding.
The sludge and sediment, which was released when Eagle Creek Renewable Energy lowered Morrow Lake at the dam in Comstock Township in 2019, has narrowed the river and blocked drainage points for miles since then. The sludge may also impact the formation and flow of ice jams which in turn could cause flooding.
Kalamazoo River Alliance aims to hold the responsible parties accountable for the sediment release into the Kalamazoo River via the Morrow Dam, which Eagle Creek Renewable Energy claimed would be repaired within four months. Nearly a year and a half later, the sediment in the Kalamazoo River is still noticeably present in several locations with mud piles in the water.
In the Kalamazoo and Parchment areas, downstream from the dam, the sludge has already had a negative impact on the river by burying wildlife habitats, smothering fish and turtles, and causing safety issues for kayakers and anglers along the river, according to the group.
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