A beloved natural treasure to the university and local communities, Asylum Lake Preserve has been very much on our minds in the wake of this recent pollution event. Thanks to concerned faculty for keeping this important issue on the WMU AAUP’s radar. We urge everyone to feel empowered to ask questions as conversations continue about WMU’s responsibility as steward of this precious ecosystem.
KALAMAZOO, MI — “The Department of Environment, Great Lakes & Energy has cited Western Michigan University for an unlawful discharge of sediment from a construction site into a lake.
EGLE staff were dispatched Thursday, June 20, after a rainfall event caused outflows of water filled with sediment from the construction site where the Business Technology Research Park 2 (BTR2) is being built.
The June 28 violation notice states EGLE Water Resources Division staff observed the “unlawful discharge” of sediment-laden water from WMU’s construction site into Kalamazoo’s Asylum Lake, across Drake Road from the Oshtemo Township construction site.”
Strength in solidarity 