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Aug. 30, 2018
Contact: Mark Mills, 269-967-5367
Otsego Township Dam site reopens to public recreation after successful cleanup effort
 Marking the completion of a two-year cleanup effort ordered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and supported by the Department of Natural Resources, the Otsego Township Dam impoundment in Allegan County has reopened to public access and recreational use. Representatives from the Michigan departments of Natural Resources and Environmental Quality, the EPA and Allegan County, state Rep. Mary Whiteford, U.S. Rep. Fred Upton and several area neighbors gathered at the site today for the official ribbon-cutting.
Mark Mills, DNR wildlife field operations manager based out of Allegan County, said that the river and state-managed properties along the river are open to the public for river access and outdoor activities including hunting, fishing, birdwatching, kayaking/canoeing and hiking. The site has been closed since 2016 to ensure safe operations during the cleanup.
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People can access the river via two public parking lots: one on Jefferson Road west of Otsego, near the Pine Creek impoundment, and one at the former dam location near Fox Mountain Drive, east of Bittersweet Ski Area on River Road.
The Otsego Township Dam cleanup site is a 1.7-mile stretch of a larger 80-mile cleanup in Allegan County on the Allied Paper/Portage Creek/Kalamazoo River Superfund site. Completed work includes:
- Removal of the Otsego Township Dam.
- Removal of PCB-contaminated sediments and soils from the river channel and banks.
- Restoration of the banks using native vegetation.
Mills said the effort is paying off, as the area experiences the return of fish and wildlife to the riverbanks.
 “Fortunately, we are seeing fish and wildlife recolonize fairly quickly in the water and land through this stretch of the river," Mills said. "We’re also excited to see people recreating in and along the restored river.”
Some areas of the site still pose unsafe conditions, and signage may warn of hazardous conditions or temporarily restrict access to those areas. In some cases, riverbanks recently have been planted, and soft ground and muddy conditions could present a hazard. In other areas, signage temporarily will limit access to give newly planted vegetation the chance to take root. Additionally, there are sections of the river with fast water that could present a hazard.
Areas without signage are safe, but everyone on or near the river should use caution when exploring and enjoying any part of the site. River conditions, especially, can change rapidly.
For more information about recreation opportunities and safety restrictions at this site, contact the DNR Customer Service Center in Plainwell at 269-685-6851.
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/Note to editors: Accompanying photos are available below for download. Caption information follows.
Following a two-year cleanup, ordered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and supported by the DNR, the Otsego Township Dam site in Allegan County has reopened to public use and recreation./
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