Kalamazoo River Watershed Council honored by Michigan Outdoors Writers Association

MOWA Report

Gaylord, Mich. — 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.

Dr. Kenneth Kornheiser, vice president of the Kalamazoo River Watershed Council, accepted the award for his group at the at the annual MOWA conference recently held at Treetops Resort in Gaylord.

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.

The spill resulted in the contamination of a 30-mile stretch of the Kalamazoo River.

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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.

KRWC also was 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 its 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.