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River businesses warn proposed plant would shrink school trips and tourism
Summary
Owners of river‑based businesses told ADEM that a large upstream discharge would depress visitation, cancel school outings and threaten jobs that depend on clean, swimmable water.
Local outfitters and recreation businesses told the hearing the Flint River is a local economic engine and that the proposed discharge could undercut the trust on which their operations depend.
"If discharge precedes higher bacteria counts after storms, visible algae growth, or even the perception that sewage is being released upstream will depress visitation," said Jason Paulson, owner of TGL Adventures. Paulson said the plant poses an "abnormal risk" to river‑based education and tourism and warned that canceled school trips and lost customers would translate into lost jobs and tax revenue.
Several other speakers echoed the economic point, saying that once a river's reputation is damaged it is difficult to restore and that many local businesses would suffer permanently if recreational use declines.
