On or about July 26, 2010, а 30-inch diameter pipeline owned bу Enbridge Energy near Marshall, Michigan ruptured, discharging crude oil into а wetland adjacent to Talmadge Creek (Calhoun County). The oil flowed through Talmadge Creek into the Kalamazoo River, а Lake Michigan tributary. Enbridge has estimated that the discharge was 20,082 barrels or 843,444 gallons. The Kalamazoo River was in floodstage at the time of the discharge, and the oil flowed down the river and into its floodplain for approximately 38 miles to Morrow Lake. The Kalamazoo River is bordered by wetlands, floodplain forest, residential properties, farm lands and commercial properties between Marshall and the Morrow Lake dam. These discharges affected natural resources within the jurisdictions of the United States, the State of Michigan, the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi Tribe, and the Match-E-Be-NashShe-Wish Band of the Pottawatomi Tribe who are collectively acting as Trustees for this NRDA. The Trustees have reached two settlements with Enbridge Energy that together are providing at least $62 million in restoration projects and reimbursement of Trustee costs. Restoration projects include removal of a dam and restoration of a section of the Kalamazoo River; habitat restoration in the floodplain, other wetlands and uplands in the watershed; improvement of water quality and connectivity in tributaries by improving road stream crossings; turtle reproduction enhancements; wild rice restoration; tribal cultural enhancements; and an increase in recreational access to the river.
Additional case information can be found on the FWS trustee's website at:
http://www.fws.gov/midwest/es/ec/nrda/MichiganEnbridge/
An interactive story map of the restoration and recovery of the area after the spill can be found
here.