In September 2023, the U.S. Coast Guard was in the Straits of Mackinac along with partners from the US Navy and specialists in spill response, testing their oil spill preparedness in the event of a worst case scenario.
This exercise isn’t just about equipment. It’s about rethinking response strategies and exploring what’s at stake in a freshwater spill, where threats are unique and the stakes high.
Most spills happen in saltwater, so the skills and experience needed to respond in a freshwater environment are thin by comparison. And unlike the ocean, the Great Lakes are a source of drinking water for millions of people.
Catch more news at Great Lakes Now:
Lest we forget – A history of Detroit River oil pollution
Missed calls, forgotten instructions: Inside an oil spill cleanup on Toronto waterways
Featured image: Oil spill. (Photo Credit: GLN)
