Keweenaw Report Your Source for Local News and Sports
A pipe failure at a paper mill in Escanaba is being blamed on a recent fish kill along the southern reaches of the Escanaba River at Gladstone.
The problem has since been fixed, and environmental conditions in the river have recovered.
When the pipe failed, a substance known as black liquor, which is an organic pollutant from the breakdown of pulpwood, was released into the river, killing high numbers of at least a dozen different sport fish including northern pike, walleye and bass in an area around Dam Number 2 to the mouth of the river at Lake Michigan.
Tom Asmus, Spokesman for EGLE said the black liquor draws oxygen from the water, which resulted in all the dead fish.
District Supervisor for EGLE’s Water Resource Division, Jay Parent, said prior to the reported fish kill, the paper mill had reported a ruptured pipe, which affected the mill’s wastewater treatment.
The pipe has now been repaired and outflowing water quality has improved.
Representatives from EGLE and the DNR’s Fisheries division, are now working on a damage assessment to the Escanaba River Fishery and once complete, will begin enforcement proceedings against the mill, which may include resource compensation to reinvest in the fishery.
