Ecorse Creek's Pollutants Under Investigation

By Jacqueline Ventimiglia

The Wayne County Department of Enviornment is currently investigating the condition of several sewage pipes surrounding an area of Lincoln Park near Ecorse Creek.

Sue Thompson, who works for the department, stated that the antiquated sewage system had a history of releasing discharge, and this could, with heavy rain, enable waste to flow into Ecorse Creek, and eventually, into the Detroit River.

The quality of the creek, which passes through nine downriver cities, has been an environmental concern in the area for a long time. It recently received attention for serving as a mass grave for over a thousand of gizzard chad fish.

According to Thompson, the chad was introduced to the area recently, and their death was due to their susceptibility to drastic changes in temperature.

River-keeper Robert Burns, a member of Friends of the Detroit River, agreed that temperature change was the leading cause of death among the chad, but he also credited poor water quality as playing a role in the fishes? demise.

?To call the death of the fish purely natural is a misconception,? stated Burns.

Burns also reported that pollutants, such as gasoline, fertilizers, and animal waste make their way into the storm drains, are flushed into the creek, and eventually, reach the Detroit River.

Burns also believes that in addition to refraining from pouring car fuel down drains that can make their way into the water supply, people should use low phosphorous fertilizer.

The river-keeper also contends that phosphor can help produce algae, and these algae deplete oxygen levels in the water, thus leaving little hope of survival for the bottom feeding organisms.

Bruce Szczechowski, an environmental science teacher at Southgate Anderson High School, agrees. He is an active participant of the Stream Team, a program in partnership with several schools in the downriver area that endorses the improvement of the environment.

Szczechowski stated that highly phosphorous materials can put the entire aquatic food chain in jeopardy.