November 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: Design of the sediment remediation project is complete, with project partners moving forward to begin remedial construction in the spring of 2024. More information HERE.
Scanlon Reservoir: Thanks to the daily support of the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, Minnesota Power, Western Lake Superior Sanitary District, and the Fond du Lac Band, the Great Lakes Legacy Act project at the Scanlon Reservoir is complete! Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, partnered on this one-of-a-kind project to remediate approximately ~55,000 cubic yards of contained sediments. More information HERE.
Munger Landing: Dredging and removal of contaminated sediments is complete, and a new layer of clean sand has been placed over the full 38-acre footprint at the Munger Landing. Additionally, the in-water habitat restoration is underway and on-land site restoration will begin soon. More information HERE.
Pickle Pond: Water and wetland construction is done, including habitat features for fish, turtles, and birds. The staging area is being restored and slope stability monitors will be removed this month. Native plants are coming in 2024. For more information click HERE.
Snively Creek: The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is overseeing the removal of soil contaminated with PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) from Snively Creek this fall. Final restoration of the creek channel and restoring native plants will occur in Spring 2024.
Perch Lake: Highway 23 is being paved above the newly installed culvert sections, as part of Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Perch Lake restoration project. Two-way traffic, with speed restrictions, will be restored through the winter, with continued construction in 2024.
Thomson Reservoir
Aerial View of Thomson Reservoir. Photo Credit: Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
The design of a sediment remediation project for the Thomson Reservoir is complete. Project partners including, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, and PotlatchDeltic are moving forward with plans to begin remedial construction in the spring of 2024.
More information on this project, HERE.
Scanlon Reservoir
Aerial View of Scanlon Reservoir. Photo Credit: Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
Thanks to the daily support of the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, MN Power, Western Lake Superior Sanitary District, and the Fond du Lac Band, the Great Lakes Legacy Act project at the Scanlon Reservoir is complete! The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency partnered on this one-of-a-kind project to remediate ~55,000 cubic yards of dioxins/furans contaminated sediments.
More information on this project, HERE.
Munger Landing
Munger Landing dredging material after completion. Photo Credit: U.S. Army Corp of Engineers
Dredging, and removal of contaminated sediments is complete at Munger Landing. Additionally, a new layer of clean sand has been placed over the full 38-acre footprint. In-water habitat restoration is underway and on-land site restoration will begin soon. Environmental Protection Agency will reopen the site to the public in the spring of 2024.
More information on this project, HERE.
Pickle Pond
Arial photo taken on November 2nd , 2023. Photo credit: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
All in water and wetland construction at Pickle Pond is done, including completed habitat features for fish, turtles, and birds. The staging area is being restored, and slope stability monitors along the Osaugie Trail will be removed this month. Additionally, native plants are coming in 2024.
Snively Creek
Remediation project upstream from Munger Landing, at Snively Creek to remove contaminated sediments. Photo Credit: Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is overseeing the removal of soil contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), from Snively Creek, upstream of Munger Landing. Excavation is nearly complete, with backfilling, and rough grading to follow this fall. Final restoration of the creek channel and restoring native plants will occur in Spring of 2024.
Perch Lake
Perch Lake culvert construction, with further installation planned for Spring 2024. Photo Credit: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Highway 23 is being paved above the newly installed culvert sections for Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Perch Lake restoration project. Two-way traffic, with speed restrictions, will be restored through the winter. The rest of the culvert will be installed in Spring 2024, with trail bridge construction later in 2024.
