June 2023: St. Louis River Area of Concern Updates
The St. Louis River (SLR) was designated as one of the 31 Areas of Concern (AOC) on the Great Lakes. It was designated as an AOC under the U.S. – Canada Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement in 1987 because of significant impacts that occurred before modern environmental laws were in place. Following the SLRAOC Remedial Action Plan, state and federal agencies have been implementing management actions to address the legacy impairments. If you look, you can now see the work in progress throughout the SLRAOC: contractors are busy each construction season, plant and animal populations are rebounding, water is cleaner, and lost habitat is being restored.
Here are some current project updates, continue reading for further details:
Thomson Reservoir: An Environmental Assessment Worksheet that describes the potential effects of the Thomson Reservoir remediation project in MN is available for review & comment until July 6th at HERE. Or mail comments to Pam Foster, MPCA, 525 S Lake Ave, Ste 400, Duluth, MN, 55802.
Pickle Pond: Crews started dredging & have removed 10% of the contaminated sediment at Pickle Pond in WI. Rail removal has started on the north bank. A 3rd barge will be added to the fleet to continue sediment removal & disposal through July. Then the pond will be deepened and wetland restoration work started. More info HERE.
Superior Slips: The team is evaluating the collection of more samples at the Superior Slips sites in WI to further define contamination areas. Organotin & other targeted contaminants will be sampled in the Tower Ave & General Mills slips to refine cost estimates the options to clean up contaminated sediments.
St. Louis River Area of Concern Story Map: Changes made by the software vendor have driven changes in the SLROAC’s story map. On this website, click on the story map button to see the new, six-chapter layout. Chapter 1 gives navigation tips and site locations maps in Ch. 3 and Ch. 4 are linked to detailed information about the mapped projects.
Upcoming events:
Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Action Plan IV Public Input Session: Wednesday, July 12th from 6-8 p.m. at the University of Wisconsin-Superior Yellowjacket Union in Superior, Wisconsin.
2023 Great Lakes Areas of Concern Conference: held in Green Bay on September 13 & 14, with pre-conference sessions and tours on 9/12. It is open to the public. Learn more here.
Thomson Reservoir
An Environmental Assessment Worksheet that describes the potential effects of the Thomson Reservoir remediation project in Minnesota is available for review & comment until July 6th at HERE. Or mail comments to Pam Foster, MPCA, 525 S Lake Ave, Ste 400, Duluth, MN, 55802.
Review and make comments at: www.pca.state.mn.us/public-comments
Pickle Pond
Crews started dredging & have removed 10% of the contaminated sediment at Pickle Pond in WI. Rail removal has started on the north bank. A 3rd barge will be added to the fleet to continue sediment removal & disposal through July. Then the pond will be deepened and wetland restoration work started.
More information can be found at: https://pickle-pond-epa.hub.arcgis.com/
Superior Slips
The team is evaluating the collection of more samples at the Superior Slips sites in WI to further define contamination areas. Organotin & other targeted contaminants will be sampled in the Tower Ave & General Mills slips to refine cost estimates the options to clean up contaminated sediments.
St. Louis River Area of Concern Story Map
Changes made by the software vendor have driven changes in the SLROAC’s story map. On this website, click on the story map button to see the new, six-chapter layout. Chapter 1 gives navigation tips and site locations maps in Chapter 3 and Chapter 4 are linked to detailed information about the mapped projects.
Events
Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Action Plan IV Public Input Session: Wednesday, July 12th from 6-8 p.m. at the University of Wisconsin-Superior Yellowjacket Union in Superior, Wisconsin.
2023 Great Lakes Areas of Concern Conference: held in Green Bay on September 13 & 14, with pre-conference sessions and tours on 9/12. It is open to the public. Learn more here.
