Ecological impacts of a major oil sands pipeline spill into the Kalamazoo River (Michigan)

One of the largest oil sands (tar sands) spills from a pipeline occurred on the Kalamazoo River of southwest Michigan two years ago in July 2010. The estimated recovery of oil so far totals 1.1 million gallons. The spill occurred during unusually high river levels for the summer, which allowed the oil to be deposited in the largely forested floodplain. Macroinvertebrates were found to be reduced in certain sections of river, with some recovery in 2011.  Additionally, this spill had large amounts of submerged oil within the river, which could possibly have sublethal effects.  However, clean-up of submerged oil is challenging, and could be as harmful to biota in the river as the spill itself.