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Ecological Consequences
During times of low electric demand, six
turbines pump water from Lake Michigan 362 feet uphill to
the 27 billion gallon reservoir, where it is stored. When
electrical demand is high, water is released from the reservoir, and
it flows back downhill and turns the turbines to generate
electricity. Unfortunately, this method of electric generation
has a very serious impact on Great Lakes fish.
As water is pumped out of Lake Michigan,
the fish are pulled in this water. Fish that travel through
the pumps to the reservoir are subjected to rapid acceleration
and deceleration as well as pressure changes and contact with
the the turbine blades. For those that survive the passage
to the reservoir, the return to Lake Michigan subjects them
to the same conditions. A significant portion of fish that
pass through the pump/turbines are killed or suffer injuries
that result in delayed mortality.
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Estimated
Fish Damages Caused by the LPSP
1980 Estimates (Liston et.al) |
Fish
Type |
1980
Mortality |
| Forage
Fish |
180,602,073 |
| Commercial
Fish |
72,192 |
| Game
Fish |
641,474 |
 As
a result of these damages the Michigan United Conservation
Clubs (MUCC) and the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) filed
a legal action with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
(FERC) and sought regulation of the facility under the provisions
of the Clean Water Act in federal court.
Subsequently, the state of Michigan
filed an action in state court for compensation for fish losses
at the facility and intervened in the proceedings before the
FERC, seeking the installation of barriers to reduce future
damages to Great Lakes resources. The MUCC and NWF joined
with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) in a comprehensive settlement. In addition,
the federal government and several Indian tribes with compensation
claims for the fish losses joined in this resolution of the
legal action brought by the state against the companies.
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