Remediation and Restoration Projects for St. Louis River AOC
On this page:
- Howard's Bay Sediment Remediation Project
- 21st Avenue West and 40th Avenue West
- Minnesota Slip, Slip 3, and Slip C
- Table of Remediation and Restoration Projects
More on the St. Louis River AOC
Remediation and Restoration Project Highlights
Howards Bay
Howards Bay is an industrialized embayment located in the Superior, Wis., portion of the AOC. This site has been the location of multiple shipyards, commercial shipping activity, and other industry since the early 1800s and continues to be an important workhorse for the city of Superior. Maritime needs in the bay are met by a federal navigation channel and private slips used for loading and unloading ships. Ownership of adjacent lands around Howards Bay is a mix of industrial and city-owned property.
Elevated levels of heavy metals including mercury, lead and PAHs have been detected through a series of sampling programs conducted by EPA and WDNR beginning in 1993 and extending through 2013. They are the primary constituents of concern for this Great Lakes Legacy Act project. The concentrations of the constituents of concern vary within Howards Bay due to dredging history and other activities documented by historical studies.
Following completion of the remedial design, the project includes dredging 100,000 cubic yards of sediment and placement of a sand cover to control lingering dredge material as needed. The dredged material will be reused to repair a closed nearby landfill. The Wisconsin Point Landfill, which is currently not in operation nor open to the public will be turned into a recreational area open to the public upon project completion thanks to the reuse of the dredged materials.
Dredging began in May of 2021 and was completed in November of 2021. Spring of 2022 will begin with additional side cover placement and final gradings of the Wisconsin Point Landfill with an anticipated completion in the Summer of 2022. The EPA is currently working with WDNR, Fraser Shipyards Inc. and the City of Superior to complete the environmental cleanup.
21st Avenue West and 40th Avenue West
Minnesota Slip, Slip 3, and Slip C
Restoration Project Highlight: Celeron Island
Celeron Island is 68 acres of uninhabited forests and wetlands, located at the south end of the Detroit River and is near the end of the Detroit River AOC boundary. The Celeron Island Habitat Restoration project included the construction of off-shore emergent shoals at the south end of the island. These rock shoals enhanced critical fish spawning habitat as well as stopover habitat for waterfowl. The project is part of a larger effort to address erosion issues on the southern end of the island and restore remnant habitat.
The project started in 2018 and finished at the end of 2019. The project created nearly 4,000 linear feet of shoals, incorporating multiple niche habitats including shallow water habitat, a depression of spawning habitat area, barrier beach, rock piles, basking logs and woody debris bundles. This will benefit multiple species including waterfowl, shorebirds, mudpuppies, turtles, and fish. The emergent shoals will provide protection against future erosion events and allow for regeneration of the island’s outer shoreline emergent vegetation. Completion of the project advanced efforts towards the removal of the following BUIs:
Remediation Project Highlight: The Detroit Riverwalk Great Lakes Legacy Act Cleanup
EPA and non-federal sponsor Detroit Riverfront Conservancy addressed contaminated sediments from a 1.2-acre site in the Detroit River upstream of downtown Detroit in 2020. The Detroit Riverwalk project resulted in the remediation of about 13,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment. Remaining sediment was capped in place to isolate contaminants from the water which eliminated exposure to contaminants.
The $2.9 million sediment clean up allows for an expansion of the Detroit Riverwalk which is considered one of the best river walks in the United States.
Completion of the project advanced efforts towards the removal of the following BUIs:
- Restrictions on Dredging Activities
- Fish Tumors and Other Deformities
- Degradation of Benthos
Additional sediment remediation actions are necessary to fully address these BUIs.
Table of Remediation and Restoration Projects
| Project Title | Project Description | Date Completed | Targeted BUI(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crawford Creek Habitat Restoration | Remediate contaminated sediments and restore habitat within stream, wetland, and floodplain. | 2027+ |
|
| C Street Slip | Remediate contaminated sediments | 2026 (est.) | Restrictions on Dredging Activities |
| Mud Lake | Remediate contaminated sediments, establish more vital hydrologic connection and restore wetland habitat including wild rice; establish deep water. | 2025 (est.) | Loss of Fish & Wildlife Habitat |
| Munger Landing | Remediate contaminated sediments. | 2024 (est.) |
|
| Allouez Bay | Vegetation restoration including removal of aquatic invasive species and re-establishment of wild rice. | 2024+ | Loss of Fish & Wildlife Habitat |
| Interstate Island Avian Habitat Restoration | Restore and protect critical nesting habitat for Common Tern and stopover habitat for Piping Plover. | 2021 | Degraded Fish & Wildlife Populations |
| Wild Rice Restoration | The goal of this project is to restore a culturally and ecologically significant species, wild rice, to the AOC. | 2024 (est.) |
|
| Minnesota Slip, Slip 3 and Slip C | Remediated 154,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment and 18 acres of habitat were restored | 2019 |
|
| Little Balsam Creek-Fish Passage Culverts Restoration | Culvert replacement, streambank stabilization, and instream structure enhancements will allow fish passage from Lake Superior, through the estuary, and to the tributary headwaters. | 2024 |
|
| Spirit Lake Remediation & Restoration | Over 100 acres of estuary sediment will be remediated and 30 new acres of sheltered bay will be created. | 2023 |
|
| 21st Ave. W. and 40th Ave W. Restoration | Routine harbor dredge material was beneficially used to enhance 680 acres of in-water habitat. | 2022 |
|
| Howards Bay Remediation | Remove legacy contaminants from the environment by dredging 75,000 cubic yards and placing a sand cover. | 2022 |
Restrictions on Dredging Activities |
| Kingsbury Bay and Grassy Point Restoration | This project will restore 240 acres of degraded fish and wildlife habitats through sediment reuse and habitat feature construction. | 2021 |
|
| Perch Lake Restoration | 21 acres of “critically imperiled” Lake Superior Coastal Marsh habitat will be restored and connectivity to the estuary will be reestablished. | 2024 (est.) |
|
| Ponds Behind Erie Pier | Remediate 45,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment and create habitat for bottom-dwelling bugs and fish | 2023 (est.) |
|
| Scanlon Reservoir | Remediate 55,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment | 2022 |
|
| Pickle Pond Remediation & Restoration | Sediment remediation and habitat restoration will restore an important fish nursery and stopover site for migratory birds. | 2024 (est.) |
|
| Piping Plover Habitat/Beach Nourishment Restoration | Clean dredge material was beneficially used to increase available nesting habitat within an area designated as a critical habitat for piping plover. | 2020 |
|
| Oil Barge Dock Slip | Sediment remediation | 2027 (.est) |
Restrictions on Dredging Activities |
| Tower Avenue Slip | Sediment remediation | 2027 (.est) |
Restrictions on Dredging Activities |
| General Mills Slip | Sediment remediation | 2027 (.est) |
Restrictions on Dredging Activities |
| C. Reiss Coal/ Hallett Dock 8 Slip | Sediment remediation | 2024 (.est) |
Restrictions on Dredging Activities |
| Thomson Reservoir | Sediment remediation | 2025 (.est) |
Restrictions on Dredging Activities |
| Azcon Corp/ Duluth Seaway Port Authority Garfield Slip C | Sediment remediation | 2020 |
Restrictions on Dredging Activities |