KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – Eagle Creek Renewable Energy, the owner of the Morrow Dam on the Kalamazoo River, have agreed to pay the state $25-million after a huge sediment spill.
It happened in 2019 and resulted in over 30-miles of the river being covered in the sediment.
State officials say the drawdown during a repair of the spillway gates at the dam was “grossly mismanaged.”
STS Hydropower has said the emergency drawdown eliminated the risk that the dam would fail.
State Senator Sean McCann says the Kalamazoo River is a vital resource to the state and community and “the disastrous sediment released at Morrow Dam set back our progress to restore this waterway. It choked the growth of fish and wildlife for many seasons.”
He said he appreciates the work by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel to reach the settlement as “the best likely outcome given the circumstances and to achieve some accountability for the responsible parties.”
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