Working to stop the oil before Morrow Lake

KALAMAZOO COUNTY, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - The oil continues moving west Thursday, and despite everyone's best efforts, it could reach Morrow Lake.

Workers are making desperate efforts to keep the oil from getting there.

Kalamazoo County has posted signs all around Morrow Lake, the health department is not allowing any swimming, boating or fishing on the lake. Currently the priority is keeping the oil from getting in to the lake and reaching Morrow Dam.

"Report came out from the governor's office that that had been spotted," said Lt. Paul Baker, Kalamazoo County Emergency Management.

Lt. Baker says sampling by the EPA has found no oil in Morrow Lake or around the dam.

"Apparently there's different kinds of sheen, there could be an organic one that would be a simple clean up," said Lt. Baker.

Enbridge's booming operation east of the lake confirms the EPA's current sampling. The site's supervisor says there skimmer there is catching nothing but river waste and grass clippings. Storage trucks, ready to transport oil are sitting idle.

Kalamazoo County is already preparing booms west of Morrow Dam in case the oil makes it that far. Lt. Baker says the dam remains an important stopping point.

"It will have a fair greater effect on people in our community if it gets past Morrow Dam," said Lt. Baker, "cause it is residential, and there's a lot of commercial business and industrial business there."

Kalamazoo County is also testing air quality both above and below Morrow Dam to check for the presence of oil.