Past History

A history of exploitation and degradation - During the 1800’s, people used the abundant water resources of the Kalamazoo River for waterpower, navigation and fisheries.  Hydroelectric dams built along the river provided power as early as 1900, with 7 dams along the main river and over 100 in the overall watershed by the 1930’s. Later the river became crucial for the development of manufacturing, including paper industries.  Unfortunately the river was also used to dispose of wastes, resulting in dramatic degradation of water quality. In 1953 a photo of a massive fish kill on the Kalamazoo River was featured on the cover of Life Magazine, and public reaction contributed to the awakening of the U.S. environmental movement.  Contamination of fishes with PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) led to the designation of the lower river as a federal Superfund Site in 1990. The history of industrial and sewage contamination as well as growing recognition of the PCB contamination problem resulted in the widespread impression of the river as unsanitary and worthless.

Present Situation

The condition and appearance of the river are greatly improved now. Diverse fishes and clams are back, and the water is safe for recreation. Point sources of pollution from sewage and industrial activity are treated and their discharges are regulated.  Increasing attention is paid to more diffuse sources of pollution such as storm-water runoff and groundwater pollution. Waterfront property in urban areas is being redeveloped for other purposes, and natural flood plain forests are recovering. However, fish consumption advisories remain in effect and options to clean up contaminated sediments are still being deliberated, and though little action taken so far, actions are accelerating.  There are many projects and many partners currently involved in watershed management detailed on this website.