MITU entered a lawsuit between the State of Michigan and the owners of the Golden Lotus Dam on the Pigeon River, to see that the fishkills caused by operation of the dam would no longer be allowed to occur, and sought dam removal.  A settlement agreement was reached by the parties, and included removal of the dam, and is contained in an interim court order, signed by Ostego County Circuit Court Judge Murphy.  MITU has been working for the last year to follow the process outlined in the agreement to develop a plan for removing the dam.  As of February 2011, the defendants and the State of Michigan are asserting that only partial dam removal is acceptable (and propose to leave the base of the dam in place).  This plan would limit the extent of river restoration and block fish passage in the Pigeon River.  MITU is continuing to fight to see that the settlement agreement is upheld, and a dam removal occurs.

• Disaster Strikes the Pigeon River Again - Article in Michigan Trout Magazine
• DNR Report on the Fishkill of June 2008
• Complaints filed by State, Feb 2009
• MITU Complaints filed
• Golden Lotus’ response to complaints
• April 5, 2010 Interim Order (Settlement Agreement)
• Pigeon River Dam Failure Update - Article in Michigan Trout Magazine
• Pigeon River Dam Update - Article in Michigan Trout Magazine
• Draft Conceptual Plan Report proposed May 2010, by Golden Lotus
• October Technical Report by Golden Lotus
• November Technical Report by Golden Lotus
• December Technical Report by Golden Lotus
• MITU Primary Motion March 2011
• MITU Memo in support of March 2011 Motion
• MITU Supplemental Motion April 6, 2011
• Golden Lotus Permit Application
• MITU technical comments on permit application
• Link to the MDEQ webpage for the pending permit application
• State of Michigan’s Response to MITU Motion to Clarify & Enforce the Interim Order
• Golden Lotus’ Response to MITU motion to clarify and enforce the Interim Order

MITU's Burroughs reply affidavit to State's and Golden Lotus' Responses

• Burroughs Reply Affidavit
• Section 324.48301
• MITU Reply to State and GL responses to Motion
• Response to Golden Lotus motion to strike Burroughs reply affidavit
• Pigeon Dam opinion 7-22-11
• GL’s Motion for Reconsideration 8-10-11
• MITU-PRCA response to GL motion for relief 8-20-11
• Court opinion on GL’s motion for reconsideration 8-28-11
• Golden Lotus’ Motion for Stay of Order 9-15-11
• Golden Lotus application for leave to appeal 9-15-11
• TU/PRCA request for extension on motion to stay the order 9/22/11
• TU/PRCA request for extension on response to application for leave to appeal 9/22/11
• MITU response to GL leave to appeal 11-4-2011
• Golden Lotus supplemental filing plea for leave to appeal 12-19-11
• MITU response to GL supplemental for leave to appeal 12-21-11