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Pine River, animal factories under watchful eye of Sentinels
Stopping pollution from massive hog and dairy factories - also known as concentrated animal feeding operations, or CAFOs, is also a Mackinac Chapter priority. In January 2002, the chapter used administrative law to force the state to issue pollution protection permits for animal factories. Meanwhile however, careful tracking of the nine identified CAFOs located in the Hudson area from the past two years shows that every one of them failed to comply with Clean Water laws - as of April 2002, all nine of the operations have racked up water-pollution violations. In 2002, the Water Sentinels project began deploying additional volunteer water-quality monitors in watersheds throughout south-central Michigan that are impacted by hog and dairy CAFOs. The trained volunteers sample for E. coli bacteria, dissolved oxygen and ammonia in watersheds where some of the state's largest animal factories operate, companies like Walnutdale Farms, River Ridge, Bradford Farms, and Michigana Farms. Photo: Mackinac Chapter Water Sentinels hold a press event at the state capital. Up to Top HOME | Email Signup | About Us | Contact Us | Terms of Use | © 2008 Sierra Club |
The Mackinac Chapter Water Sentinels has been monitoring water quality in
Horse Creek and the Pine River (Gratiot County) since 2001 by assessing
benthic macroinvertebrates (aquatic insects) and polluted sediments. Federal
cleanup of the Pine River has been hampered by a number of issues including
contaminated upstream sediments and leaking chemical containment systems.
Since cleanup plans are likely to be inadequate for the oil-refinery
contamination, long-term monitoring and follow-up are needed in this
watershed. The project is working closely with professors at Alma College to
assess the damage.