Yeah, the Red Cedar River looks gross and unappetizing. But it's not as bad as it seems.
And East Lansing is actually dealing with pollution problems as much as it can.
About $40 million is being used to improve the management of pollution and water discharge in East Lansing.
East Lansing's Wastewater Treatment Plant had 14 violations of a state-issued permit from July 2003 to December 2004, according to a report released by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group. And in that time, the treatment plant polluted the Red Cedar River six times with raw sewage due to overflowing storm drains.
Although 14 minor violations in less than a year and a half might seem like a lot, Todd Sneathen, East Lansing's director of public works, said it isn't, and pollution managing improvements have greatly helped.
Whether minor or major, pollution is never a good. And even minor violations might lead to altercations for wildlife and bigger problems for East Lansing.
Any student who has seen the river might assume that the brown, mucky water is probably polluted. In the spring and fall semesters of 2005, the Fisheries and Wildlife Club found several items that don't belong in a river: a couch, moped, grill, 28 bikes, two vacuum cleaners and seven folding chairs.
Still, tests of the river's quality over the years has shown it in good — perhaps not the greatest — condition.
And there are even signs of diverse wildlife in the Red Cedar River, such as ducks and the occasional salmon.
There are signs of major improvement that should serve as validation and encouragement for East Lansing to continue cleaning efforts.
In the last six years, storm drain overflows have decreased due to better equipment and staff practices.
A storage basin, which will give the Department of Public Works an additional 2.6 million gallons of storm and wastewater capacity, is even in the works.
Other discharge into local waterways must be accompanied with a permit to ensure levels of pollutants allotted on the permit are not exceeded.
And monthly check-ins must be made with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality by permitted facilities.
Although the city of East Lansing has had a high volume of small violations regarding pollution and water discharge, $40 million can go a long way and seems to be going in the right direction.
It is nice to see ducks and fish swimming in the Red Cedar River, and it's even better to know that steps are being made to ensure that the river is healthy and clean.
