Producing Results for People, Communities - Healing Our Waters ...

Great Lakes Restoration Projects:

Producing Results for People, Communities

The Great Lakes are one of the world’s greatest natural resources, an incomparable freshwater ecosystem that provides drinking water for than 30 million people and supports one of the world’s largest regional economies.

More than 120 organizations representing millions of people are uniting to restore one of America’s greatest natural wonders — the Great Lakes. The coalition seeks to stop sewage contamination, shut the door on invasive species, and restore wetlands and other damaged habitat, each of which is an essential component of restoring the health of the Great Lakes. For more information, contact: Jeff Skelding Campaign Director 202-797-6893 [email protected]

Chad Lord Policy Director 202-454-3385 [email protected]

Jennifer Hill Field Director 734-887-7104 [email protected]

Jordan Lubetkin Communications Director 734-887-7109 [email protected]

Healing Our Waters®-Great Lakes Coalition • c/o National Wildlife Federation • 213 W. Liberty Street, Suite 200, Ann Arbor, MI 48104

Written by Jeff Alexander • Designed by Tuan Do

Spanning 94,000 square miles, these inland seas are home to some of America’s best beaches, world-class fisheries, more than 30,000 islands and one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations: Niagara Falls. It is hard to believe that, decades after environmental protections were enacted, the Great Lakes remain threatened by toxic pollutants in harbors and tributaries that threaten the health of people and wildlife; invasive species that cost the region at least $200 million per year in damages and control costs; and habitat destruction that hurts water quality, wildlife, and the region’s outdoor recreation industry. Restoring the lakes may be a formidable task but it is a goal that is achievable. As this report demonstrates, communities across the Great Lakes region are working to heal the lakes. Through federal programs like the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, private businesses and property owners are working together to clean up toxic hot spots, restore fish and wildlife habitat and protect the Lakes from invasive species. The fruit of their labor is becoming more evident by the day. Restoration projects have: Brought back the native Atlantic salmon fishery in Lake Ontario; restored wetlands in Buffalo; improved Lake Huron’s fishery by removing dams in rivers that flow into the lake; dredged 250,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment from the Ottawa River in Ohio; and cleaned up part of the Grand Calumet River in Indiana — one of America’s most polluted rivers. These are just a few examples of Great Lakes restoration projects that are improving water quality, eliminating toxic hazards and improving fisheries. Restoration projects also create jobs and pump new revenue into communities. Several restoration projects in the Detroit area are featured in this report, for two reasons: Detroit is home to some of the region’s most successful Great Lakes restoration projects; and the Motor City was the site of the 2011 Healing Our Waters – Great Lakes Coalition’s Great Lakes Restoration Conference. Detroit is a leader in Great Lakes restoration, and the city’s efforts are paying huge dividends for the environment and the city’s struggling economy. The bottom line is that Great Lakes restoration projects deliver results and offer some of the best returns on the dollar in the federal budget. The successful restoration projects contained in this report can be replicated in communities throughout the Great Lakes states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin—if the federal government continues to support solutions to these urgent problems by funding important programs like the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. Now is not the time to scale back our nation’s commitment to the Great Lakes, because there is still much work that needs to be done to clean up contamination, stop sewage overflows, and restore wetlands that keep polluted runoff from farms and cities out of the lakes. If restoration efforts stall, the problems will get worse and more costly to fix. This report highlights solutions to restore the Great Lakes, protect drinking water, safeguard public health, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of people. It’s time for federal public officials to act to protect this iconic resource now and for generations to come.

Removing dams boosts brook trout population

Flowing Well Trout Farm Restoration Project Kalkaska, Michigan

Description

The Flowing Well Trout Farm, built in the mid-1900s, erected 12 small dams to create fish rearing ponds. The dams, built on the North branch of the Manistee River and the Flowing Well Creek, diverted the natural flow of a trout stream, caused unnaturally high water temperatures, blocked fish passage and disrupted the natural movement of sediment and woody debris in the river. Approximate cost of project

$626,000. Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funds helped support this project. Resource challenges addressed

Fish passage, excessive warming of water temperatures, fragmentation of a river ecosystem, the loss of wetlands and the loss of fish spawning habitat. Key partners (public and private)

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Division, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Great Lake Restoration Initiative, Elliott Donnelly Chapter of Trout Unlimited, Paul Young Chapter of Trout Unlimited, Sustain Our Great Lakes grant (administered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation), U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Conservation Resource Alliance’s River Care program.

The north branch of the Manistee River before the dams were removed. (Photo courtesy of Conservation Resource Alliance)

Project Summary

Removing several dams from a defunct fish farm in northern Michigan restored natural conditions in 37 miles of a trout stream, which increased the native brook trout population.

After the dams were removed. (Photo courtesy of Conservation Resource Alliance) Types of jobs created

Biologists, ecologists, environmental engineers, civil engineers, truck drivers, excavators, project monitors and administrative support personnel. Results and accomplishments

The project restored natural conditions in 37 miles of a trout stream, increased the native brook trout population, lowered water temperatures, eliminated sediment buildup, removed the risk of dams failing and restored 100 acres of wetlands. Web site

www.rivercare.org

G r e at L a k e s R e sto r ation P r oj e cts : P r od u cing R e s u lts fo r P e opl e , C omm u niti e s

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Reducing erosion improves a New York trout stream

Description

Clear Creek Habitat Restoration Project

Brook trout historically lived in rivers and streams across New York, but their distribution and abundance were severely reduced by competition from other species, the loss of fish habitat, and the fragmentation of rivers. In Clear Creek, excess stream channel erosion and sediment inputs, in-stream barriers, elevated water temperatures and competition from non-native fish species restricted brook trout to a few tributaries in the watershed. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other organizations used a combination of approaches to restore 1,200 linear feet of in-stream habitat and re-establish fish passage over a sheet-pile grade control structure, which reconnected six miles of trout habitat in Clear Creek.

Freedom, New York

Approximate cost of project


Stream bank erosion and sedimentation, the loss of instream habitat and deep pools that trout favor. Key partners (public and private)

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, New York Department of Environmental Conservation, Trout Unlimited – Western New York Chapter, Trout Unlimited – Red House Brook Chapter, Seneca Trail Resource Conservation and Development Council and the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.

Excess stream bank erosion and sediment deposition before the restoration project. (Photo courtesy of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) Project Summary

Stabilizing eroding stream banks and improving fish passage in New York’s Clear Creek could improve the trout stream by reducing the amount of sediment washing into the waterway. The project is part of a growing effort to help New York reclaim its heritage as a state teeming with healthy trout streams.

Improved natural stability of the stream channel after the restoration. (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service photo)

Types of jobs created

Ecologists, biologists, excavators and truck drivers.

Results and accomplishments

The project begins to restore prime habitat in a section of stream where trout were once abundant by restoring natural stream function. The New York Department of Environmental Conservation maintains 5.5 miles of easement along Clear Creek, along the project site, to support recreational fishing. An additional 1,200 linear feet of habitat will be restored immediately downstream of the completed project during summer 2012. Web site

http //1.usa.gov/zelDR8

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Nature returns to an urban creek in Cleveland

Big Creek Watershed Stormwater Management Improvement Cleveland, Ohio

Description

A group of government agencies and private engineering firms developed a plan to restore nearly one mile of Big Creek, which was disfigured by decades of urban development. Intense development increased the volume of polluted stormwater that flowed into the creek, the Cuyahoga River and Lake Erie. Human activities also straightened the creek, separated it from natural floodplains and destroyed wetlands. The restoration work removed large debris from the creek, stabilized eroding stream banks, replaced defective culverts, created wetlands, reconnected the creek to the floodplain and restored its natural meander. Crews also planted native vegetation along the restored stream banks. Approximate cost of project

$923,758

A section of Big Creek before the restoration project began. (Photo courtesy of Biohabitats)

Project Summary

Urban development in Cleveland left Big Creek, a tributary of the Cuyahoga River, a polluted mess that was prone to flooding. An ambitious restoration project returned the creek to a more natural state. The project reduced polluted runoff and created wetlands and other habitat that benefited fish, wildlife and people who live near the creek.

The same section of the creek after the restoration work was completed. (Photo courtesy of Biohabitats)

Resource challenges addressed

Soil erosion, non-point and point source pollution, excessive stormwater runoff, loss of wetlands and loss of fish and wildlife habitat. Key partners (public and private)

The cities of Parma and Cleveland, the Ohio Department of Transportation, and the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District and the city of Cleveland’s Division of Water Pollution Control. The engineering firms DLZ and Biohabitats designed the restoration project and managed construction activities. Biohabitats prepared stream channel restoration designs for 4,500 linear feet along the Chevrolet Branch of Big Creek. Types of jobs created

Environmental engineers, hydrologists, ecologists, biologists, excavators, landscape architects and landscapers. Results and accomplishments

The restoration work created wetlands and other habitat for fish and wildlife and restored a more natural flow in the creek. The work also curtailed flooding and reduced the volume of sediment and other pollutants that wash into the Cuyahoga River and Lake Erie following rain showers or periods of snow melt. Web site

http //bit.ly/zNBDKU G r e at L a k e s R e sto r ation P r oj e cts : P r od u cing R e s u lts fo r P e opl e , C omm u niti e s

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Crews hit the road to improve a Michigan trout stream

Silver Creek Super Project Presque Isle County, Michigan

Description

The conservation group Huron Pines led a coalition that undertook an effort to improve fish passage and aquatic habitat in Silver Creek, the highest quality tributary of the Ocqueoc River, which flows into Lake Huron. The coalition improved 10 road-stream crossings that either blocked fish passage or were major sources of sand and silt washing into the river and burying prime fish spawning areas. New culverts were installed at six sites and all of the roads over the creek were paved. The culverts and paving reduced sediment runoff into the creek and allowed fish and other aquatic life to move freely throughout the waterway and the Ocqueoc River. The scope of the project was also expanded to remove invasive plants and reduce sediment runoff from private property along the creek. The project is slated for completion in 2012. Approximate cost of project


Fish passage and sedimentation. The old road-stream crossings blocked the natural movement of fish and other aquatic life and flushed sediment into the creek, where it blanketed gravel beds where fish spawn. Key partners (public and private)

Crews work on a Silver Creek road crossing to remove obstructions to fish passage and reduce sediment runoff into the creek. (Photo courtesy of Huron Pines)

Project Summary

Improvements at 10 roadstream crossings over Silver Creek improved fish passage and reduced the amount of sediment washing into the trout stream, which is a tributary of the Ocqueoc River and Lake Huron.

Improvements to road crossings allowed fish to move freely throughout the creek and reduced soil erosion that harmed fish spawning beds.

Huron Pines, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Presque Isle County Road Commission, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Great Lakes Commission, Wolverine Power Cooperative, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, Trout Unlimited, Michigan Fly Fishing Club, Presque Isle Conservation District and the Ocqueoc River Watershed Commission.


Excavators and other heavy equipment operators, truck drivers, civil engineers, environmental engineers, biologists and aquatic ecologists. Results and accomplishments

The project allowed trout and other fish to move freely throughout the creek, reduced the amount of harmful sand and silt washing into the creek, and increased public awareness and stewardship of the waterway. Web site

http //www.huronpines.org/project/93

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New bridge restores a trout stream’s natural flow

Platte River & Burnt Mill Bridge Benzie County, Michigan

Description

The Burnt Mill road crossing, located near the headwaters of the 90-mile-long Platte River, featured a culvert that restricted the river’s natural flow. Water that backed up behind the culvert caused stream-bank erosion, which caused trees to fall into the river and unleashed sediment that buried rocky spawning areas favored by trout and salmon. The river’s altered flow increased water temperatures, which threatened the trout population. Replacing the undersized culvert with a wooden bridge restored the river’s natural flow, the natural movement of sediments and aquatic life, and provided a safer river crossing for motorists. Approximate cost of project

$328,000 Resource challenges addressed

Altered flow of the Platte River, a blue ribbon trout stream; excessive sedimentation, which suffocated valuable fish spawning habitat; and unnatural warming of water temperatures in the river. Key partners (public and private)

Conservation Resource Alliance, Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, Benzie County Road Commission, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Platte River Watershed Council, Benzie Conservation District and McDowell Construction.

An undersized culvert at the old Burnt Mill crossing constricted the flow of the Platte River. (Photo courtesy of Conservation Resource Alliance)

Project Summary

Replacing a narrow culvert that restricted the Platte River, a blue ribbon trout stream in northern Michigan, restored the river’s natural flow and reduced stream bank erosion that was suffocating prime spawning areas for trout and salmon. The bridge that replaced the culvert also increased public safety by providing a safe road over the river.

The new Burnt Mill Bridge restored the Platte River’s natural flow.


Biologists, ecologists, landscape architects, civil engineers, excavators and carpenters.


Restored the river’s natural flow, which will help the native brook trout population; reduced the volume of sediment washing into the river by 5 tons annually; and restored the natural movement of nutrients and aquatic life above and below the road crossing. Web site

www.rivercare.org


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Alteration to dam improves fishery in Lake Huron

Potagannissing Dam Modifications Drummond Island, northern Lake Huron

The Potagannissing Dam under construction.

Description

A dam built in 1947 on the Potagannissing River was designed to create a marsh for waterfowl. But the dam unintentionally blocked fish passage, which contributed to a decline in the northern pike population on Drummond Island and in the St. Marys River, which links Lake Superior and Lake Huron. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources installed a fish ladder in 1999, but northern pike were unable to navigate the structure. So the DNR removed three feet from the top of the dam and built a series of four rock-ramp structures, which allowed all species of fish to swim over the dam and reach prime spawning habitat areas upstream. Approximate cost of project

$50,000 Resource challenge addressed

Fish passage, loss of spawning habitat and altered stream flow.

The finished product. Rock steps were placed in the river to allow fish passage over the dam remnants.

Key partners (public and private)

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Drummond Island Sportsmen’s Club and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Fish Passage Program.

Project Summary


A 60-year-old dam on the Potagannissing River, located on northern Lake Huron’s Drummond Island, was modified to permit fish passage and bolster the region’s northern pike fishery.

Excavator, biologists, ecologists, landscape architects and environmental engineers. Results and accomplishments

Providing fish passage at the dam was expected to increase the number of northern pike in the Potagannissing River and Potagannissing Bay, which is part of the St. Marys river. Modifying the dam gave fish access to 800 acres of high quality habitat on Drummond Island. Biologists said it would take several years for the northern pike fishery to realize the benefits of the dam modifications. Web site

http //1.usa.gov/u13VJB

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Removal of two dams in Michigan restores river

Watervliet Dams Removal Watervliet, Michigan Workers remove an old dam on Michigan’s Paw Paw River. (Photo courtesy of Environmental Consulting & Technology, Inc.)

Description

Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funds, along with state and local funds, were used to remove two dams and a spillway in the Paw Paw River, just east of the city of Watervliet in southwest Michigan. The dams restricted fish passage and prevented migratory fish from Lake Michigan from reaching the upper 100 miles of river. The dams and spillway were built in 1918 to support a paper mill. The paper mill closed in 1968 and the dams fell into disrepair, which presented a safety hazard to boaters and anglers. Removing the dams restored the river’s natural channel, improved water quality and created fish and wildlife habitat by turning a stagnant stretch of the river into a vibrant waterway. The project was significant because the Paw Paw River, which supports 40 species of fish, is a high quality tributary of Lake Michigan. Approximate cost

$1,103,957. Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funds helped support this project. Resource challenges addressed

Impaired water quality, loss of fish and wildlife habitat and ecosystem fragmentation. Key partners (public and private)

Funding was provided by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ($922,759), with additional funding from Berrien County ($25,000), the Michigan Department of Natural Resources ($56,198), and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ($100,000). Other partners included The Nature Conservancy, Two Rivers Coalition and the city of Watervliet. Project consultants were Environmental Consulting & Technology and the Southwest Michigan Planning Commission.

The finished product.

After the closing of an old paper mill in 1968, a dam on Michigan’s Paw Paw river fell into disrepair, posing a safety hazard to boaters and anglers. (Photo courtesy of Environmental Consulting & Technology, Inc.) Project Summary

Federal Great Lakes restoration funds supported the removal of two obsolete, crumbling dams on the Paw Paw River, in southwest Michigan, removing fish barriers, restoring the river’s natural channel and providing more recreational activities.


Civil engineers, excavators and other heavy equipment operators, chemists, biologists, ecologists, environmental engineers and community planners. A total of 21 jobs were created. Results and accomplishments

Removing the dams liberated and restored a stretch of the Paw Paw River that had been submerged by dam impoundments for five decades. The project reconnected 100 miles of free-flowing stream to Lake Michigan, created new fish and wildlife habitat and increased recreational opportunities for anglers and paddlers. The project eliminated a financial strain on taxpayers by ending the Berrien County’s need to maintain the dams. Restoring the river is also expected to generate economic benefits for communities along the river by re-establishing a fishery for salmon and other migratory species. Web site

http //www.swmpc.org/watervlietdam.asp


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Wetland restoration improves fish & wildlife populations

Description

Oxbow Wetland Restoration

Protection and restoration of the Oxbow Wetland was an effort to return native plant and animal species to a 15-acre site located at an oxbow in the Buffalo Creek. It is part of a larger project to restore and protect 34 acres of floodplain and wetland habitat along Buffalo Creek, in the Town of West Seneca. The restored oxbow will play an important role in increasing fish and wildlife populations in the Buffalo River Area of Concern.

West Seneca, New York



In the 1950s, the oxbow wetland was cut off from Buffalo Creek as part of a flood control project designed to protect farmland. The alterations allowed Japanese knotweed and other invasive plants to colonize part of the oxbow, driving out native species and reducing habitat for several species of fish and wildlife. Restoring the oxbow was significant. It is the first major wetland in the Buffalo River system upstream from the river’s mouth at Lake Erie. The site supports several New York State “species in conservation need,” including red-headed woodpeckers and snapping turtles, as well as many wetland plant species. As early as 1975, the site was identified as a unique and critical Buffalo River habitat in need of protection. Replacing invasives with native plant species here helps re-set the successional trajectory in support of downstream habitat restoration efforts. Key partners (public and private) Oxbow Wetland Project Summary

Removing invasive plants and restoring a 15-acre oxbow wetland on Buffalo Creek, a natural feature rarely found in urban streams, dramatically improved fish and wildlife populations in the creek. Those improvements will bolster the larger effort to restore the Buffalo River Area of Concern.

Buffalo-Niagara Riverkeeper, Town of West Seneca Environmental Commission, the State University of New York at Buffalo, Ecology and Environment Inc., the Erie County Soil and Water Conservation District, the Western New York Land Conservancy, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the Great Lakes Marsh Monitoring Program, Tifft Nature Preserve, and various local fish and wildlife groups. Types of jobs created

Ecologists, educators, biologists, hydrologists, heavy equipment operators, nursery growers and suppliers, and planners. Results and accomplishments

Work crews removed thousands of knotweed plants and other invasive species from 12,000 square feet of land on the oxbow and replanted several areas with native plants, greatly increasing species diversity on the site. The Riverkeeper organization facilitated the transfer and conservation easement on the original 14 acres from a private donor to the town of West Seneca and is currently working on a second land transfer that will protect a total of 30 acres in perpetuity. They also developed booklets that have prepared government officials and property owners better protect their stream corridors within the Buffalo River Watershed. Web site

www.bnriverkeeper.org

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River clean-up removes contaminated sediments

Ottawa River Sediment Cleanup Toledo, Ohio

Description

Nearly 260,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment was dredged from a 5.5-mile stretch of the Ottawa River in Toledo. For decades, the river was a major source of chemical pollutants entering Lake Erie’s Maumee Bay, where the contaminants harmed fish and wildlife. Crews worked around the clock to finish the project in six months; it was scheduled to take two years. Project cost

$47 million ($2 million under budget). Great Lakes Legacy Act funds helped support this project. Resource challenge addressed

Legal and illegal industrial waste discharges into the Ottawa River prior to the 1970s deposited large quantities of toxic chemicals in river bottom sediments. The pollutants made the river unsafe for humans and contaminated western Lake Erie, prompting advisories that urged people to limit their consumption of fish from the lake. Key partners (public and private)

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency split the cleanup cost 50-50 with a consortium of businesses that included Allied Waste Industries, Chrysler LLC, the city of Toledo, DuPont Co., GenCorp Inc., Honeywell International Inc., Illinois Tool Works Inc., and United Technologies. Types of jobs created

Dredge operators, truck drivers, environmental engineers, chemists, ecologists and biologists. Ottawa River hydraulic dredge Project Summary

Federal Great Lakes restoration funds support removal of 260,000 cubic yards of toxic sediments along a 5-mile stretch of the Ottawa River in Toledo, Ohio, that posed a risk to people and wildlife— including major sportfish such as walleye and perch.


The project brought about the removal of 260,000 cubic yards of toxic mud from the river bottom, which improved water quality in the river and reduced the volume of pollution flowing into Lake Erie. Crews removed more than 7,500 pounds of PCBs and more than 1 million pounds of heavy metals from the river. Those contaminants had made the river unfit for human use and contributed to advisories urging people to limit their consumption of fish from the river and its receiving water, Lake Erie’s Maumee Bay. The restoration project helped reduce the health risks to people and wildlife. Because more fish are caught every year in Lake Erie than in the other four Great Lakes combined, the cleanup was particularly significant for the lake’s thriving walleye and perch fisheries. Web site

http //www.epa.gov/glla/ottawa/


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Restoration project removes harmful pollutants

St. Marys River Area of Concern Cleanup The St. Marys River, the connecting channel between Lake Superior and Lake Huron

Description

Two separate cleanup projects removed a combined total of 67,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment from the St. Marys River, one of 43 Great Lakes Areas of Concern. Approximate cost

The combined cost of the two projects was $12 million. Great Lakes Legacy Act funds helped support this project. Resource challenge

Historic pollution discharges from a tannery and a manufactured gas plant on the U.S. side of the St. Marys River contaminated a large area of the river bottom with mercury, chromium and toxic chemicals that were toxic to fish and other aquatic life. Mercury and other pollutants in the sediment accumulated in fish, posing health threats to humans and wildlife that consumed the tainted fish.

Project Summary

Federal Great Lakes restoration funds helped support the removal of more than 500,000 pounds of harmful pollutants from the St. Mary’s River that helped make the river safer for fish and, ultimately, the people who eat those fish.


The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, State of Michigan, Phelps Dodge Corp., Consumers Energy, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the city of Sault Ste. Marie and the St. Marys River Binational Public Advisory Council. Types of jobs created

Biologists, ecologists, chemists, landscape engineers, environmental engineers, dredge operators and truck drivers. Results and accomplishments

In 2007, dredging in an area of the St. Marys River known as Tannery Bay removed 40,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment that contained 500,000 pounds of chromium and 25 pounds of mercury. The contaminated sediment that was removed would have covered an area the size of a football field to a height of 24 feet. In 2010, crews dredged another 26,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment in an area of the river near the MCM Marine Facility. That area was contaminated in the early 1900s by a manufactured gas plant. Web site

www.epa.gov/glla

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Dam removal a huge step toward river’s recovery

Paint Creek Dam Removal Oakland County, in suburban Detroit, Michigan Before dam removal

Project Summary

Removing a dam from Paint Creek, a tributary of the Clinton River in suburban Detroit, will bolster efforts to save one of the last remaining trout streams in southeast Michigan and help restore the Clinton River Area of Concern. Description

Paint Creek is one of two remaining coldwater trout streams in suburban Detroit. The creek flows into the Clinton River, which is one of 43 Great Lakes Areas of Concern. Historically, the Paint Creek Dam — which was built in 1835 — provided power for a grain mill. But in doing so, the dam blocked fish passage and caused sediment in the creek to accumulate behind the concrete structure. The resulting changes to Paint Creek were one of many problems facing the Clinton River. Urbanization of the watershed in recent decades caused sewer overflows and pollution from storm water runoff. Heavy metals, PCBs and other pollutants discharged into the river now linger in the sediments, where they pose health risks to humans, fish and wildlife. Removing the Paint Creek Dam in 2011 was a major step toward restoring the Clinton River system. Approximate cost of project


Fish passage, unnatural fluctuations in water flow and water temperature, loss of fish and wildlife habitat and ecosystem fragmentation. Key partners (public and private)

Clinton River Watershed Council, Clinton River AOC Public Advisory Council, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, Oakland University, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, Environmental Consulting & Technology, Inc., Trout Unlimited and Lawrence Technological University. After dam removal Types of jobs created Project Summary

Federal Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funds are helping community in Oakland County, Mich., remove an old dam to improve water, fish habitat and recreational opportunities.

Civil and environmental engineers, biologists, heavy equipment operators, truck drivers, landscape architects and general laborers. Results and accomplishments

Removing the dam opened up 16 miles of free flowing water in Paint Creek and the Clinton River. Once completed in 2012, the project also will restore 1,500 feet of stream channel, reconnect 2.5 acres of wetlands and reduce bank erosion by more than 95 percent in this stretch of the creek. Web site

www.crwc.org


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Dam removal improves water quality, fish habitat in urban stream

Euclid Creek Dam Removal Euclid, Ohio

Description

The Euclid Creek East Branch Dam in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, was removed in December 2010. The project restored the natural stream flow to a portion of Euclid Creek for the first time in 80 years. The dam was the first of six targeted for removal as part of a watershed restoration plan. Approximate cost of project

$526,585 (funded through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) Resource challenge addressed

BEFORE: Euclid Creed dam was an impediment to fish passage.

The Euclid Creek East Branch Dam was located on the East Branch of Euclid Creek, a heavily industrialized tributary to Lake Erie that is affected by urban runoff and habitat degradation. The project removed a low-head dam that was constructed in the early 1930s to impound water for swimming at a YMCA camp. The original pool behind the dam was completely filled with sediment and the dam no longer served any purpose. The structure was an impediment to fish migration upstream from the main branch of Euclid Creek. Key partners

Ohio Department of Natural Resources, City of Euclid, Cleveland Metroparks, Cuyahoga County Engineer, Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation District, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District, Friends of Euclid Creek Types of jobs created

The project created 38 jobs. • 20 people worked on design, surveying, field administration and constructions services; • 11 people worked on the construction portion of the project; and, • 7 worked on replanting the shoreline after the dam removal was complete. Results and accomplishments AFTER: Removal of the dam has provided fish with new habitat and increased recreational fishing opportunities.

Project Summary

Federal Great Lakes restoration funds removed an old dam from Euclid Creek, which allowed for the return of fish and other aquatic life to the waterway. The project increased recreational fishing opportunities and improved water quality, helping the creek to meet water quality standards.

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Removing the dam and abutments restored the natural flow to 500 linear feet of Euclid Creek upstream of the dam and allowed fish and other aquatic life in the creek’s main branch to reach waters in the East Branch. This resulted in new habitat for fish and other aquatic life and increased recreational fishing opportunities. The improved water quality also will help Euclid Creek meet Ohio’s water quality standards. Continued Support from Congress, White House Essential

Federal support paved the way for the successful removal of the Euclid Creek dam. Unfortunately, there are countless communities around the region which continue to struggle with drinking water restrictions, beach closings, fish consumption advisories, depressed property values and other impacts from unhealthy lakes. That is why it is essential for the U.S. Congress and the White House to support federal programs like the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. If we cut funding now, it will only cost more later because all of these projects will only get harder and more expensive the longer we wait.


River cleanup attracts fish, wildlife, economic development

Detroit River – Black Lagoon Cleanup Detroit, Michigan BEFORE: Oil, grease and hazardous chemicals pollute the Detroit River’s Black Lagoon.

Description

The Black Lagoon project was the first cleanup completed under the Great Lakes Legacy Act, a federal program established to remove contaminated sediments at toxic hotspots in the Great Lakes. The lagoon lies within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge, which supports numerous species of fish and wildlife. The cleanup removed 115,000 cubic yards of toxic sludge from the bottom of the Black Lagoon, which improved water quality and spurred economic development along the Detroit River shoreline. Subsequent work restored wildlife habitat around the Black Lagoon. In 2007, the city of Trenton, Mich., officially changed the name of the lagoon to Ellias Cove in honor of the successful restoration effort. Project cost

$9 million. Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and Great Lakes Legacy Act funds helped support this project. Resource Challenge Addressed

The Black Lagoon is an inlet in the Detroit River. For decades the oil, grease and hazardous chemicals that industry discharged into the Detroit River settled in the Black Lagoon. The inlet was called the Black Lagoon when the water turned black due to the high concentration of oil and grease in the water and sediments. The lagoon was an ongoing source of pollutants entering the lower Detroit River and western Lake Erie. Key Partners (public and private)

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. The EPA provided 65 percent of the funding for the cleanup; the Michigan DEQ provided the remaining 35 percent. Types of Jobs Created

Dredge operators, truckers, chemists, ecologists, landscape engineers, environmental engineers Results and Accomplishments

AFTER: Removing thousands of pounds of pollutants from the lagoon has improved water quality, attracted fish and birds, and sparked economic development—inspiring city officials to rename the water body Ellias Cove. Project Summary

Federal Great Lakes restoration funds removed contaminants in a lagoon on the Detroit River, improving the water quality and allowing fish and birds to return. The project also sparked economic development along the restored river.

Crews removed 115,000 cubic yards of polluted sludge from the Black Lagoon in 2004 and 2005. The cleanup removed more than 470,000 pounds of contaminants from the lagoon, including 160 pounds of PCBs, 38,000 pounds of lead, 360 pounds of mercury, 300,000 pounds of oil and grease and 140,000 pounds of zinc. The project improved water quality in the lagoon and the lower Detroit River and fish and birds have returned to the lagoon. It also sparked economic development along that stretch of the Detroit River — the city of Trenton plans to develop a marina in the lagoon. Because water in the lagoon is no longer black, the city of Trenton renamed the lagoon Ellias Cove. In 2010, Trenton received $14,286 as part of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. The funds will allow the city to plant aquatic vegetation around the restored Ellias Cove, providing critically needed spawning and nursery habitat for native fish species in the Detroit River. Continued Support from Congress, White House Essential

Federal support paved the way for the successful restoration of Ellias Cove. Unfortunately, there are countless communities around the region which continue to struggle with drinking water restrictions, beach closings, fish consumption advisories, depressed property values and other impacts from unhealthy lakes. That is why it is essential for the U.S. Congress and the White House to support federal programs like the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. If we cut funding now, it will only cost more later because all of these projects will only get harder and more expensive the longer we wait.


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Project helping to restore habitat, clean up Area of Concern

Detroit River Area of Concern Habitat Restoration Ecorse, Michigan

Project Summary

Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funds are helping to restore natural shoreline along the Detroit River to improve coastal habitat, respond to climate change and changing water levels in the Great Lakes and advance efforts to eliminate beneficial use impairments in the Detroit River Area of Concern.

Description

The project will restore 1,100 feet of shoreline, 1.7 acres of emergent wetlands, 750 feet of rock shoal, and create an acre of fish spawning area in the Detroit River Area of Concern. About 4.6 acres of upland habitat also will be restored adjacent to the shoreline in front of U.S. Steel’s Great Lakes Works facility; invasive plants will be removed and replaced with native vegetation. Approximate cost of project

$1.4 million. Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funds helped support this project. Resource challenge addressed

The project will help meet the need for high quality fish and wildlife habitat in the Detroit River. Industrial development along the U.S. side of the Detroit River over the past century hardened much of the natural shoreline and destroyed coastal wetlands. The U.S. Steel project, which was specifically listed as a target in the Detroit River Area of Concern delisting criteria for beneficial use impairments, will transform an unused industrial riverfront site into viable shoreline habitat for fish, amphibians and waterfowl. Key partners (public and private)

U.S. Steel, Wayne County, Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Friends of the Detroit River. Types of jobs created

Landscape architects, excavators, ecologists, biologists and botanists. Results and accomplishments

The project is underway. When complete, it is expected to increase populations of fish, amphibians and waterfowl species that are native to the Detroit River. Web site

www.detroitriver.org/

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Removal of abandoned boats and debris sets stage for further restoration

Fordson Island Oxbow Restoration and Marine Debris Removal Project Rouge River, Michigan

Description

Fordson Island was created in 1917 by the dredging and channeling of the Rouge River to the Ford Rouge Plant. The dredging created a deeper channel, which allowed Ford Motor Co. to transport submarine chasers (Eagle Boats) from the Rouge River to the deeper water of the Detroit River during World War II. Over time, debris from commercial, industrial, and recreational use of the island and surrounding waterway accumulated in the shallow river west of the island. The cleanup project removed 18 abandoned boats and tons of other debris from the shoreline and river. The project will include ecological and habitat surveys, which could lead to the 8.5-acre island becoming a park amid a heavily industrialized area. Approximate cost of project

$150,000. Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funds helped support this project. Resource challenge addressed

The use of Fordson Island as a makeshift dump for boats left an unsightly mess that degraded fish and wildlife habitat on the island. The abandoned boats likely contributed to soil and water contamination in the lower Rouge River. Key partners (public and private)

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Detroit/Wayne County Port Authority, Friends of the Rouge, Southwest Detroit Environmental Vision, Detroit Riverkeeper, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Wayne County, City of Detroit Department of Environmental Affairs, Gateway Community Development Collaborative, Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, Marine Pollution Control, Waste Management, Friends of the Detroit River, University of Michigan–Dearborn and AKT Peerless Environmental Services. Types of jobs created

Backhoe operators, barge operators, truck drivers, environmental scientists, chemists, biologists and zoologists. Project Summary

Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funds are helping to clean up marine debris and abandoned boats to increase recreational opportunities on island.


Crews removed 18 abandoned boats from the island. Studies are planned to determine the biological health of the island and nearshore areas, and what could be done to make the site a more attractive recreational area. Web site

www.therouge.org


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Projects working to improve fish, bird habitat

Belle Isle Habitat Restoration Projects Blue Heron Lagoon, the South Fishing Pier and the northern tip of the island

Description

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency approved a $1,459,649 grant to the Friends of the Detroit River to restore the natural flow of water in Belle Isle’s Blue Heron Lagoon. The 41-acre lagoon discharges to the Detroit River, but fish access to the lagoon is blocked by sheet pile walls, grates and drop structures. The EPA granted another $528,289 to the Friends of the Detroit River for a project known as the Belle Isle South Fishing Pier. That project will create 2.5 acres of protected coastal wetland along the island, immediately downstream of the sturgeon reef that was installed in 2004. The Detroit Zoological Society, the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are working to restore common tern habitat on the north end of Belle Isle. The migratory birds are a threatened species. Combined cost of projects

$2 million. Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funds helped support this project. Resource challenge addressed

Alteration of the natural shoreline on Belle Isle and the loss of fish and wildlife habitat on and around the island. Those changes contributed to decreases in fish and bird populations on and around the island. Key partners (public and private)

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Geological Survey’s Great Lakes Science Center, the Friends of Belle Isle, Friends of the Detroit River, the Detroit Zoological Society and the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department Types of jobs created

The projects will require the service of fish biologists, wildlife biologists, landscape architects, excavators and truck drivers. Blue Heron Lagoon. (Photo by Bob Burns) Results and accomplishments Project Summary

Great Lakes Restoration Initiative projects are helping to restore fish and wildlife habitat on Belle Isle, a cityowned park in the Detroit River. Belle Isle, which spans 985 acres, is the nation’s largest island park.

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Common terns have already returned to nest at the north end of Belle Isle. Work was just beginning in 2011 on the Blue Heron Lagoon and South Fishing Pier projects. The wetland and habitat restoration projects will increase fish and wildlife habitat in the Detroit River and bolster efforts to eliminate beneficial use impairments in the Detroit River Area of Concern. Web site

http//bit.ly/GLRIBelleIsle


Efforts help restore iconic Rouge River

Danvers Pond Dam Removal and Stream Restoration and Trans forming the Rouge River Area of Concern Several sites in and along the Rouge River, which flows through communities located on the south and west sides of Detroit

Description

The Danvers Dam project will remove the Danvers Pond Dam, which is located on Pebble Creek, a tributary of the Rouge River. The project will restore a more natural river channel, which will reduce flooding downstream. Restoration of the stream bank will create habitat for fish and wildlife. The project known as “Transforming the Rouge River Area of Concern” will restore stream banks, wetlands and upland habitat to advance efforts to eliminate beneficial use impairments in the watershed. The project will create 25 acres of native vegetation and restore seven acres of wetlands in the main, upper and lower branches of the Rouge River, which is a major tributary of the Detroit River. Approximate cost of projects

$499,254 for the Danvers Dam project and $648,750 for the Rouge River habitat restoration work. Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funds helped support these projects. Resource challenges addressed

Loss of wetlands and other fish and wildlife habitat, alteration of natural stream flows, excessive storm water runoff and degradation of water quality. Key partners (public and private)

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, Wayne County Water Resources Office, Friends of the Rouge, Alliance of Rouge Communities and several cities along the river. Types of jobs created

Fishing on Rogue River.(Photo by Jeff Alexander)

Biologists, hydrologists, civil engineers, aquatic ecologists, landscape architects, excavators and truck drivers.

Results and accomplishments Rogue River mouth. (Photo by Bob Burns) Project Summary

Two upcoming Great Lakes Restoration Initiative projects in the Rouge River will restore damaged stream banks, restore wetlands, reduce stormwater runoff, decrease flooding and create fish and wildlife habitat.

Initial work is just beginning on the Danvers Dam removal and stream bank restoration projects. But the Rouge River has already improved dramatically since the 1960s, when the lower river was so polluted it caught fire. Over the past three decades, local, state and federal agencies have invested $1.6 billion on a multitude of projects aimed at restoring the Rouge. The projects reduced storm water runoff and sanitary sewer overflows, restored fish and wildlife habitat by removing small dams, stabilized erosionprone stream banks and created new fish spawning sites. The Rouge is far from being a pristine river, but past efforts have allowed several species of fish and wildlife to return to the river. Water quality also has improved to the point that people now fish and kayak in the river. Web site

www.allianceofrougecommunities.com and www.therouge.org G r e at L a k e s R e sto r ation P r oj e cts : P r od u cing R e s u lts fo r P e opl e , C omm u niti e s

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Preserving Humbug Marsh receives global recognition

Humbug Marsh Preservation Gibraltar, Michigan

Description

Humbug Marsh is the centerpiece of the Detroit International Wildlife Refuge, which is North America’s first international wildlife refuge. The marsh—which was to be filled in and developed—was saved when thousands of area residents joined with government agencies and nonprofit organizations to preserve one of the last natural areas on the U.S. side of the Detroit River. The marsh is home to 154 species of birds, 51 species of fish, 90 species of plants, seven species of reptiles and amphibians, and 37 species of dragonflies and damselflies. In 2010, it was designated Michigan’s first Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention. Humbug Marsh is one of just 27 wetlands in the U.S., and 1,886 wetlands worldwide, that have been recognized by the Ramsar Convention. Approximate cost of project

$8.6 million. Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funds helped support this project. Resource challenge addressed

(Photo courtesy of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

Industrial, commercial and residential development along the Detroit River over the past century eliminated 97 percent of coastal wetlands on the U.S. side of the 32-mile long river. Those losses robbed the river of critical fish and wildlife habitat, which contributed to population losses.

Project Summary


Preservation of the Humbug Marsh protected the last mile of natural shoreline on the U.S. side of the Detroit River. The largely pristine, 410-acre marsh is home to numerous fish and wildlife species and stands of old-growth white oaks.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Trust for Public Land and Friends of the Detroit River. Types of jobs created

Biologists, ecologists, landscape architects, excavators, architects, structural engineers, carpenters, plumbers and botanists. Results and accomplishments

The Humbug Marsh project preserved the last mile of natural shoreline along the U.S. side of the Detroit River. It has become the centerpiece of the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge—a destination for people to watch wildlife, to fish and to go boating. More than $2 million has been spent to clean up pollution on land adjoining Humbug Marsh, erect an environmental education shelter and build 1.5 miles of trails around the perimeter of the marsh. Site work began in 2011 on the Refuge Gateway project. When complete, the Refuge Gateway will include a visually stunning visitor’s center, interpretive trails, fishing piers and kayak launch sites. Web site

http //1.usa.gov/humbugmarsh

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Ford Motor Co.’s Green Roof

Ford Rouge Plant Living Roof Dearborn, Michigan

Description

The 10.4-acre living roof was part of a $2 billion makeover that was aimed at making Ford’s Rouge truck manufacturing facility more environmentally friendly. The project demonstrated that corporations could conserve energy and reduce stormwater runoff by installing living roofs on large manufacturing facilities. Approximate cost of project

$18 million Resource challenge addressed

Stormwater runoff, which contributed to pollution of the Rouge River and Detroit River. Rain and snowmelt carries pollutants to the river, where oil, grease and chemicals can harm fish and other aquatic life. Key partners (public and private)

(Photo by Jeff Alexander)

Ford Motor Co., William McDonough & Partners (architect), ARCADIS (environmental consultant), Michigan State University and several companies that provided plants and construction materials.

Project Summary

A vegetated, living roof installed atop Ford Motor Co.’s massive Rouge plant, in suburban Detroit, was the largest project of its kind when completed in 2003. The living roof conserves energy and reduces stormwater runoff, which is a major problem for the nearby Rouge River.


Architects, landscape designers, plant and soil scientists, chemists, biologists and civil engineers. Results and accomplishments

The living roof, which keeps the factory cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter, decreased energy use at Ford’s Rouge plant by 7 percent. The living roof was also a cornerstone of green infrastructure that can filter up to 20 billion gallons of stormwater annually at the manufacturing facility. Web site

http //myfrd.co/oColbR


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Removing toxic mud paves way for healthy fishery

Description

Newburgh Lake Cleanup

The Rouge River was once a vibrant waterway that provided a variety of uses to people, plants, animals, and insects. Newburgh Lake was created in the 1930s as part of Henry Ford’s “Village Industries” on the Rouge River. Over the course of 60 years, contaminated sediments accumulated in the impoundment. During routine fish monitoring in 1988, state officials found high concentrations of PCBs in fish. Those officials identified a polluted stormwater ditch, where an industry discharged wastewater, as the source of the contaminants. The PCBs settled in sediments in Newburgh Lake and polluted the lake’s food chain, making fish unsafe to eat. A cleanup project removed 400,000 cubic yards of sediments, containing 3,400 pounds of PCBs and other toxic compounds, from the lake. That cleanup, coupled with an intentional fish kill that eliminated 28,000 pounds of contaminated fish, brought about a 90 percent reduction in fish contaminants. Crews also restored 10 acres of critical fish habitat in the impoundment, which helped the fishery recover.

Livonia, Michigan


$11.8 million A cleaner Rouge River now attracts kayakers. (Photo by Bob Burns)

Rogue River discharge. (Photo by Bob Burns)

Resource challenge addressed

Toxic lake bottom sediments were contaminating fish, which posed a health threat to people who ate the tainted fish. Key partners (public and private)

Project Summary

A 1998 sediment cleanup in Newburgh Lake, an impoundment in the Rouge River, removed 544,000 tons of toxic mud and restored a healthy fishery.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, Wayne County Water Resource Commissioner’s office, Friends of the Rouge. Types of jobs created

Dredgers, barge operators, truck drivers, chemists and biologists. Results and accomplishments

The project reduced PCB concentrations in fish by 90 percent. Coupled with the restoration of fish habitat, the cleanup resurrected the once-popular fishery in Newburgh Lake, which is located in a heavily populated urban area. The cleanup also contributed to the larger effort to improve water quality and restore fish and wildlife habitat in the Rouge River, which is a Great Lakes Area of Concern. Web site

http //www.therouge.org

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$50 million cleanup to make the Grand Calumet River grand again

Grand Calumet River Cleanup East Chicago, Indiana

Description

The Grand Calumet River is one of 43 Great Lakes Areas of Concern. It flows 13 miles through the heavily industrialized cities of Gary, East Chicago and Hammond, Ind., before flowing into Lake Michigan via the Indiana Harbor and Ship Canal. The river and harbor — which drain an area that is home to 57 severe pollution sites and wastewater treatment plants that still discharge untreated sewage into the river — contain between 5 million and 10 million cubic yards of contaminated sediment. About 150,000 cubic yards of that polluted sediment washes out of the river and into Lake Michigan annually. The river bottom was fouled by a witch’s brew of toxic wastes, including oil and grease, heavy metals and PCBs, according to government records. Approximate cost of project

$50 million. Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and Great Lakes Legacy Act funds helped support this project. Cleaning up the entire Grand Calumet River and Indiana Harbor and Ship Canal will cost more than $100 million. Resource challenges addressed

Grand Calumet River before cleanup

Grand Calumet River after cleanup

Contaminated sediment, some of which washes into Lake Michigan; loss of native fish species and other aquatic life, loss of wetlands and fish and wildlife habitat; and invasive

plant species that clogged the river. Project Summary

A Great Lakes Restoration Initiative cleanup project is removing 232,000 cubic yards of toxic sediment from the west branch of the Grand Calumet and restoring one of the largest wetlands in the river, the 19-acre Roxana Marsh.


The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Great Lakes National Program Office, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Indiana Department of Environmental Management and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. Types of jobs created

Biologists, ecologists, toxicologists, chemists, environmental engineers, dredge operators and truck drivers. Results and accomplishments

Since last year, crews working for the U.S. EPA and Indiana Department of Environmental Management have dredged 232,000 cubic yards of toxic sediment from the west branch of the Grand Calumet and the 19-acre Roxana Marsh. Workers also removed several acres of the invasive reed Phragmites. In February, workers began depositing a layer of clean sand, clay and fabric on the river bottom that will serve as a cap atop 345,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediments that will be left behind. The sand and clay cap will isolate the remaining pollutants from the river and allow the waterway to heal. Web site

http://1.usa.gov/5TCXkS


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Removal of obsolete dam restores coldwater trout stream

Wheeler Creek Dam Removal Near Mesick, Michigan

Description

In 1867, a pioneer named John Wheeler built a dam to power a sawmill near the confluence of the Manistee River and the creek that now bears his name. The Wheeler Creek Dam contributed to Michigan’s timber industry but did so at the expense of a coldwater creek that had a self-sustaining population of brook trout. For nearly 150 years, Wheeler Dam served as an ecological divide between Wheeler Creek and the Manistee River — a major Lake Michigan tributary that is also a state designated Natural River and a federally designated Wild & Scenic River. When the 20-foot-tall dam began to crumble, the Conservation Resource Alliance worked with several partners to remove the dam and restore Wheeler Creek and its natural connection to the Manistee River. Approximate cost of project


Fish passage, thermal pollution, sedimentation of Wheeler Creek, fragmentation of the creek and the loss of fish and wildlife habitat. Key partners (public and private) Before dam removal

Project Summary

Removing an obsolete dam from Wheeler Creek, a tributary of the Manistee River, restored the natural conditions in several miles of a coldwater trout stream and removed a safety hazard.

Conservation Resource Alliance, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. After dam removal Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, Wade Trim, Molon Excavating, and Kanouse Outdoor Restoration. Types of jobs created

Biologists, environmental engineers, ecologists, heavy equipment operators, truck drivers, landscape architects and landscapers. Results and accomplishments

The project restored natural conditions in seven miles of Wheeler Creek; reestablished the creek’s natural connection to the Manistee River; removed 1,446 cubic yards of sediment from the creek; restored the natural movement of sediment and nutrients in the creek; and provided miles of new habitat for the native brook trout population. Web site

www.rivercare.org

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