According to folks at the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality the high levels of E coli in the Chippewa River can be traced back to raw sewage being illegally dumped into the storm sewers in Beal City.  According to the Morning Sun article and the study; Storm sewer outfall discharges to the Wagner Drain, which is a “water of the state.”  The study went on to say that several businesses in the Beal City area may be the main cause of the issue.  Check back to my1043.net for updates in this story as it continues.