Remediation and Restoration Projects for the Grand Calumet River AOC

On this page:

• Site Characterization Project Highlight: Grand Calumet River – Eastern 5 Miles
• Remediation Project Highlights: Lake George Middle and East
• Restoration Project Highlight: Dune, Swale and Shelf Wetlands Restoration
• Table of Remediation and Restoration Projects

More on Grand Calumet River AOC

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Site Characterization Project Highlight: Grand Calumet River – Eastern 5 Miles

U.S. EPA's Great Lakes National Program Office (GLNPO) is partnering with U.S. EPA Region 5’s Land Chemicals and Redevelopment Division (LCRD) and the United States Steel Corporation (USS) to evaluate the nature and extent of sediment contamination within the "Eastern 5 Miles" of the Grand Calumet River Area of Concern (AOC). This project area is in Gary, Indiana and includes the Marquette Park Lagoons. Sediment, surface water, and porewater samples will be collected from the lagoons, river channel, and nearby wetlands. The project is partially funded under the authority of the EPA’s Great Lakes Legacy Act through funding provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

• Fact Sheet: Grand Calumet River (pdf) (739.91 KB)
• Hoja informativa: Río Grand Calumet (pdf) (1.13 MB)

The Eastern 5 Miles of the Grand Calumet River is directly adjacent to USS' Gary Works facility. Gary Works is a nearly 4000-acre, fully integrated steel mill that has been operational since 1908 and the subject of RCRA Corrective Action since 1998. The sediments within the Eastern 5 Miles project area have been impacted by both industrial and municipal source inputs over time and may be contributing to beneficial use impairments (BUI) throughout the AOC. Historical data from this area indicates sediments have been impacted by heavy metals, PAHs, and PCBs. Together, U.S. EPA and USS are planning to collect more environmental samples which will help make cleanup decisions that contribute to removing BUIs, delisting the AOC, and restoring ecosystem health.
 
In November 2023, U.S. EPA and USS signed a Great Lakes Legacy Act project agreement to conduct sampling and a feasibility study of remedial alternatives for Eastern 5 Miles sediment. The first phase of sampling is anticipated to occur in Spring of 2024. These efforts are the first steps in what is envisioned to be a significant environmental cleanup that will leverage funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), as well cost-share contributions from USS.
 
This project will address the following BUIs:

• Restrictions on fish and wildlife consumption
• Degradation of fish and wildlife populations
• Fish tumors or other deformities
• Bird or animal deformities or reproduction problems
• Degradation of benthos (organisms living at the bottom of bodies of water)
• Loss of fish and wildlife habitat

Remediation Project Highlight: Lake George Canal Middle and East

In partnership with the East Chicago Waterway Management District and Atlantic Richfield – British Petroleum, this project will remediate an estimated total of approximately 190,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment by dredging sediment in the East Portion and containing sediment in the Middle Portion of the Lake George Canal. To remediate contaminated sediment in the canal, it will be removed via dredging and contained by capping, with removed sediment being placed in a Confined Disposal Facility (CDF). 

Fact Sheet: Lake George Branch - Middle Section Remediation (pdf) (1.53 MB, 02/2022)

The East Portion of the canal extends from Indianapolis Blvd to the CSX RR bridge in East Chicago, Ind. Much of this area is within a federal navigation channel. So far, a USACE contractor has completed Phase 1 dredging and removed nearly 25,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment, placing it in a CDF. Next, Phase 2 dredging, along the south bank of the Indiana Harbor Ship Canal, will be designed and carried out to remediate an additional 50,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment. The Middle Portion of the canal extends from the CSX bridge to the BP land bridge in Hammond, Ind. Construction for this portion was completed in 2023, addressing 115,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment.  All cleanup work is estimated to be completed in 2025. 

The removal and containment of contaminated sediment will prevent PAHs, PCBs, heavy metals, and other contaminants from entering the food chain and will both help bring back fish populations in the river and lower the risk of exposure to these contaminants for those who eat the fish. Once completed, improvements to habitat along the shoreline will provide better shelter for fish and wildlife.

Restoration Project Highlight: Dune, Swale and Shelf Wetlands Restoration

In partnership with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, the Nature Conservancy, and the Lake County Parks and Recreation Department, the GLRI-funded Dune and Swale Wetlands Restoration project is restoring dune, swale, and shelf wetland habitat — a globally rare habitat. The habitat is home to many important species such as the Karner blue butterfly, Blanding’s turtle, spotted turtle, and various migratory birds. 

The project will restore at least 900 acres of state- and locally- managed habitat throughout 15 sites in the Grand Calumet AOC. Phase 1 began in 2015 and in 2021 transitioned over to the second and final phase. It is anticipated that this work will be completed by 2024. The project’s main objective is to control dense areas of woody and herbaceous (non-woody) nuisance and invasive plant species such as phragmites. Controlling these invasive species will improve the structure and quality of dune, swale, and shelf wetland habitat and benefit native species, leading to increased fish and wildlife populations in the AOC.

This project addresses the below BUIs:

• Degradation of Fish and Wildlife Populations 
• Loss of Fish and Wildlife Habitat 

Table of Remediation and Restoration Projects

Project Title	Project Description	Date Completed	Targeted BUI(s)
Great Lakes Legacy Act – Lake George Canal East and Middle Sections Remedial Action	Phase 1 included dredging the eastern portion of the Lake George Canal and removing nearly 25,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment. Phase 2 is in planning and is estimated to remediate an additional 50,000 cubic yards. Remediation was also completed for 115,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment in the middle portion of the canal, for a total of approximately 190,000 cubic yards.	2025 (est.)	Restrictions on  Fish & Wildlife Consumption Tainting of Fish  & Wildlife Flavor Fish Tumors or  Other Deformities Bird or Animal Deformities or Reproduction Problems Degradation of Benthos Restrictions on Dredging Activities
Pine Station	The project will restore habitat in Pine Station Nature Preserve to ensure its ecological health. This project will control bank erosion and invasive vegetation, install sand caps over toxic fly ash, and construct a wetland planted with emergent and submergent plants.	2025 (est.)	Degradation of Fish & Wildlife Populations  Loss of Fish & Wildlife Habitat
Dune, Swale, and Shelf Wetlands Restoration Phase 1 and 2	The project is restoring globally rare dune and swale habitat and riverine wetlands through the control of woody and herbaceous invasive species.	2024 (est.)	Loss of Fish & Wildlife Habitat  Degradation of Fish & Wildlife Populations
Prescribed Fire Implementation	This project is using prescribed fire as a tool for controlling invasive plant species and promoting the re-establishment of native species on over 700 acres of habitat.	2022	Degradation of Fish & Wildlife Populations  Loss of Fish & Wildlife Habitat
Lake George Wetlands Restoration	Herbicide application and invasive species control improved ~80 acres of wetland habitat surrounding the Lake George branch of the Indiana Harbor Canal and George Lake.	2021	Degradation of Fish & Wildlife Populations Loss of Fish & Wildlife Habitat
Nearshore Bird Management Program at Grand Calumet AOC Beaches	The project mitigated the impacts of nuisance shorebirds and implemented gull management at Lake Michigan beaches within the Grand Calumet River AOC.	2019	Beach Closings
Great Lakes Legacy Act - Stateline Remedial Action	The project remediated 46,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediments and restored habitat near the Indiana/Illinois Stateline.	2016	Restrictions on Fish & Wildlife Consumption Tainting of Fish & Wildlife Flavor Fish Tumors or Other Deformities Bird or Animal Deformities or Reproduction Problems Degradation of Benthos Restrictions on Dredging Activities
Great Lakes Legacy Act - East Branch Remedial Action	This project remediated 1.1 million cubic yards of contaminated sediment and restored habitat between Kennedy and Cline Avenues. Remedial work included deep pool restoration and the revival of shallow marginal wetlands.	2015	Restrictions on Fish & Wildlife Consumption Tainting of Fish & Wildlife Flavor Fish Tumors or Other Deformities Bird or Animal Deformities or Reproduction Problems Degradation of Benthos Restrictions on Dredging Activities
Great Lakes Legacy Act – Roxana Marsh, Reaches 1 and 2 Remedial Action	This project dredged and capped 585,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment in the West Branch of the river and restored 19 acres of migratory bird habitat in Roxana Marsh.	2012	Restrictions on Fish & Wildlife Consumption Tainting of Fish & Wildlife Flavor Fish Tumors or Other Deformities Bird or Animal Deformities or Reproduction Problems Degradation of Benthos Restrictions on Dredging Activities
Great Lakes Legacy Act – West Branch, Reaches 3, 4, and 5 Remedial Action	This project dredged and capped ~148,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment and restored habitat between Hohman and Columbia Avenues.	2011	Restrictions on Fish & Wildlife Consumption Tainting of Fish & Wildlife Flavor Fish Tumors or Other Deformities Bird or Animal Deformities or Reproduction Problems Degradation of Benthos Restrictions on Dredging Activities