KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – State Representative Julie Rogers of Kalamazoo says after years of work, “we are one step closer to ensuring no other community will be left to clean up an ecological disaster caused by someone else.”
Rogers was referring to the ecological damage caused along the Kalamazoo River during repairs to the Morrow Dam. Almost four years ago, the operator of the Morrow Dam on the Kalamazoo River lowered water levels around the dam to make repairs deemed necessary by federal regulators. Before beginning work, Rogers says the company failed to share its plans and collaborate with Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE), resulting in 400,000 cubic yards of accumulated sediment being released downstream into the Kalamazoo River.
Rogers says the sediment remains and is causing ongoing damage to the river’s ecosystem of fish, wildlife, and vegetation.
She testified along with representatives from EGLE and the Kalamazoo River Watershed Council on her bill, HB 4832, in the House Committee on Natural Resources, Environment, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation last month. Rogers says the bill would ensure dam operators are held responsible for manmade ecological emergencies they create, and would give the EGLE director the power to issue emergency orders to direct owners of structures on lakes and rivers to clean up environmental messes they make.
The bill was voted out of committee October 12 and is now headed to the House floor.
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