Our River Raisin, Creeks and Drains are Filthy and Unsafe for Recreational Activities Thanks to Local Factory Farms

The Environmentally Concerned Citizens of South Central Michigan (ECCSCM) completed its fifth round of water monitoring tests for our 2015 Water Monitoring Project on October 27, 2015.  They monitored 10 sites in the Bear Cr./Black Cr./Raisin and lower (MI) Bean Cr./Tiffin/Maumee watersheds this year.  ECCSCM sampled 8 of these sites on 10.27.15.

This is what they found:

Numbers in bold either meet or exceed MI water quality standards or the EPA-recommended maximum levels.

We noted widespread manure application in all of these areas on the days immediately preceding our sample collection.

Of special concern is Shierson Drain, with extremely high levels not only of E. coli, but also of phosphorus, nitrates, and ammonia.  A DO reading was not taken on that drain.

The E. coli result at Shierson Drain on Ridgeville Rd. (county catch basin which was flowing and nearly full) was 150000/100mL.  At the Deline Drain on Tomer Rd., the E. coli count was 91000/100mL.  At the tributary to Lime Cr. on Ingall Hwy. (just north of Packard Rd.), the E. coli count was 5500/100mL.  At Silver Cr. on Mulberry Rd. (which is the outlet for Shierson Dr.), the E. coli count was 1200/100mL. The MI limit for partial body contact - E. coli is 1000/100mL.

My comment: Think about it: Shierson Drain has 150 x as many E. coli than the MI limit for partial body contact - as in going into the water with a pair of waders! My aquatic ecology students and I repeatedly measured E. coli values of 70,000 and up from the River Raisin near the confluence with Wolf Creek, Island Park and Laberdee Rd. close to the confluence with the North Branch of the River coming from Tecumseh. These values are now confirmed by these insanely high values measured by the ECCSCM. 

All eight sites had excessive phosphorus levels, with Shierson Dr. at the highest.  Multiply the orthophosphate (PO4) result by .3262 to obtain P.  Michigan does not have water quality standards for phosphorus for non-point sources, but it is <1 mg/L (ppm) for point sources (industry, municipal wastewater treatment plants).  The safe level for aquatic life is <.05 mg/L, and the danger level is .1 mg/L.

Two sites, Carter Dr., Silver Cr., and Shierson Dr., had nitrate levels that were either at or above the MI water quality standard.

Three sites, Rice Lake Dr., Medina Dr., and the tributary to Lime Cr. on Ingall Hwy. had dissolved oxygen levels that were below the MI water quality standard for warmwater streams, as  dangerously low as .23 mg/L.  DO readings were not taken for Shierson Dr., Carter Dr., or Silver Cr., due to equipment issues.

The test results at six of our 8 sites showed the presence of ammonia, and the highest level, 6 ppm, at Shierson Drain, was the highest level that ECCSCM has ever recorded..

You can download an Excel spreadsheet with all data - including the exact GPS coordinates of the sample sites here.

And all this shit (literally) goes into Lake Erie and contributes to the toxic algae blooms we see almost every year! Maybe it is time to re-think if you really need to consume gallons of milk and meat on a daily basis that is produced at such costs for the environment and causes unbelievable hardship and suffering to the animals abused in these factory farms! Everybody who continues to live this absurd lifestyle is guilty of crimes against our "Common Home" and crimes against our Fellow Beasts.