Gaylord, MI

May 27, 2025

The Michigan Outdoor Writers Association (MOWA), in partnership with Enbridge, has selected the Kalamazoo River Watershed Council (KRWC) as the recipient of the 2025 MOWA Clean Waterways Award.

In presenting the award to Dr. Kenneth Kornheiser, Vice President of the Kalamazoo River Watershed Council, at the annual MOWA conference held at Treetops Resort in Gaylord, MI, MOWA Board Member Jeff Nedwick cited the KRWC’s critical role in the cleanup and restoration of the Kalamazoo River after the July 2010 oil spill that released up to a million gallons of tar-sands crude oil into Talmadge Creek – a small tributary to the Kalamazoo River near Marshall, MI – which resulted in the contamination of a 30-mile stretch of the Kalamazoo River. The Kalamazoo River Watershed Council, an Assisting Agency under the Unified Command led by U.S. EPA and Enbridge, closely monitored the spill response and contributed numerous technical suggestions based on their experience and familiarity with the river and floodplain ecosystems. They were also involved in outreach activities, including public talks and presentations to schools and community groups.

Today, the KRWC continues to advocate for the protection and preservation of the Kalamazoo River watershed, including most recently their monitoring and communication of potential risks associated with the removal of PCB-contaminated sediment adjacent to the Trowbridge Dam.

“We wholeheartedly applaud the work of the Kalamazoo River Watershed Council to protect, restore and enhance the health and vitality of the Kalamazoo River and its many tributaries. Their work safeguards the integrity of this critical watershed and fosters a stronger connection between the community and the natural environment.”, said Ryan Duffy, Corporate Communications & Media Relations Strategist for Enbridge.

Additional information about the MOWA Clean Waterways Award can be found on the Michigan Outdoor Writers Association website: http://www.miowa.net/clean-waters-award/.

About MOWA

Founded in 1944, MOWA is a non-profit organization comprised of outdoor communicators passionate about the environment, and outdoor recreation. MOWA stands for the development and wise utilization of all natural resources. To accomplish those objectives, MOWA, through its membership, pledges to carry forward in every way at its command, a campaign of educating people to the urgent need for conservation of our wildlife and our natural resources, and pledges to disseminate vital information.

Contact: Jeff Nedwick
jeffsoutdrs@gmail.com

About Enbridge

Enbridge Inc. is a leading North American energy infrastructure company. It safely and reliably delivers the energy people need and want to fuel quality of life while advancing new low-carbon technologies—including hydrogen, renewable natural gas, and carbon capture and storage. The company is committed to reducing the carbon footprint of the energy they deliver and to achieving net zero emissions by 2050.  http://www.enbridge.com