SEATTLE (AP) — Pierce County announced its goal to remove the Electron Dam on the Puyallup River, roughly 42 miles southeast of Seattle, following the pollution of the river by the dam’s owners.

Officials there say Electron Hydro, the dam’s owners, polluted over 40 miles of the river with black crumb rubber commonly found in artificial turf, killing many fish in the area and threatening the salmon spawning season.

The company improvised use of second-hand artificial turf in construction activities around the dam. The turf then broke loose and washed into the river.

The dam generates electricity for about 20,000 people.