Concerned citizens launch a billboard campaign to combat misinformation by Canadian oil giant Enbridge
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
News from: Watershed Aware, LLC
Thursday July 3, 2025
Contact: Matthew Borke, 313-402-0024, borkester@gmail.com
Concerned citizens launch a billboard campaign along the I-75 corridor to combat misinformation spread by Canadian oil giant Enbridge regarding their proposed Line 5 tunnel project.
Group aims to catch the eyes of motorists on their way to enjoy the lakes for the July 4th holiday weekend.
Concerned citizens from across the state have banded together to create a billboard campaign to inform Michigan citizens of the facts behind Enbridge’s Line 5 Oil Tunnel project, which has been fast-tracked due to Trump’s declaration of a National Energy Emergency Order. Enbridge, currently attempting to assert its power over a state government in the Supreme Court, uses their multi-million dollar advertising budget to run radio, television and social media ads that are meant to sway public opinion in favor of the tunnel project. Unfortunately, these ads are often misleading or even untruthful, in keeping with the company's history. To combat the spread of misinformation, a diverse group of Michiganders has been raising funds to put billboards up along the I-75 corridor. The first board went live today, July 3rd, in Gaylord, Michigan, notifying citizens that the Tunnel project will involve “the discharge of 5 million gallons per day of … wastewater … to Lake Michigan” according to their permit request. The goal of the campaign is to even the communications playing field by addressing misleading Enbridge ads by sharing facts about the tunnel project that many people are not aware of.
“During their reckless construction of the Line 3/93 pipeline through Anishinaabe lands, Enbridge and their contractors caused extensive and permanent ecological damage by disrupting groundwater and wetlands all along the route. It’s been emotional to see the damage that’s been done, that is a permanent scar on our landscape and has violated the treaties. [Enbridge’s] story of not doing any permanent harm was false. They had breached aquifers, they had destroyed peatlands that had taken millenia to develop.“ Geologist Jeff Broberg Waadookawaad Amikwag.
On June 30th the US Army Corps of Engineers closed their public comment on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), 30 days short of the usual timeline due to following an order.
“My ancestors are rolling in their graves. Profits over people threaten all of our lifeways. The blatant disregard and disrespect towards the tribes' ancestor remains is colonizer thinking to the core.” Jannan Cornstalk, member of Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, Water Is Life Festival.
“While people are celebrating their 4th of July, the alleged freedoms and rights that were fought for. The Indigenous people of Michigan are fighting a tunnel that is being built for Canadian gains and profits, their plan is to desecrate tribal ancestral remains that have been buried for thousands of years on both sides of the Straits of Mackinac. This proves that we are not free nor do we have rights, even in death. This is disgraceful.” Andrea Pierce, Chair of Anishinaabek Caucus, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians citizen.
Folks can reach out to watershedaware@proton.me for more information.
###
Watershed Aware is a limited liability corporation founded by a group of concerned citizens working to develop a researched, fact-based billboard campaign to support a healthy watershed for all. Our goal is to help Michigan citizens understand more clearly the impacts and costs of Enbridge’s proposed Line 5 Tunnel Project.