*Residents in Springfield can breathe easier* as state environmental officials confirm Helmer Creek is safe after an unnaturally bright green hue sparked a weeklong investigation.
The discoloration first caught the attention of the Calhoun County Sheriff's Office on Tuesday, March 31, when social media posts began circulating photos of the creek running through the city and feeding into the Kalamazoo River.
The Calhoun County Sheriff's Office said that's how they first learned of the discoloration. They said on Wednesday that the color had "significantly" dissipated since the post was made.
Springfield officials and the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy asked the community to avoid Helmer Creek until further notice. By Thursday, April 2, EGLE determined the water is safe and there is no further public concern about the water quality.
Drones Trace Source to Storm Sewer
Chaz Wilkey, the Springfield Director of Public Works, said crews were in the area investigating Wednesday. He surmised someone may have dumped green dye into a nearby storm sewer.
Crews used drones to trace the full path of the discoloration to identify and potential origin points. The technology allowed investigators to follow the green hue downstream and back toward where it entered the water system.
The cause remains officially unknown. Authorities have not yet disclosed what specifically caused the discoloration.
The sheriff's office did not specify what was causing the color.
Anyone with information related to the incident was asked to contact the Calhoun County Sheriff's Office at 269-781-0880 or provide an anonymous tip through Silent Observer at 269-964-3888.
Timeline of Events
- Tuesday, March 31: Social media posts begin circulating photos of unnaturally green Helmer Creek