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  2. Great Lakes AOCs

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

Dredging equipment doing maintenance dredging in the Navigational Channel (Photo Credit: U.S. Army Corp of Engineers
Dredging equipment doing maintenance dredging in the Navigational Channel (Credit: U.S. Army Corp of Engineers)

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

photo of Dredge material sourced from the East Gate Basin being placed at the 40th Ave. Site. (Photo Credit: Nelson French previous AOC coordinator)
Dredge material sourced from the East Gate Basin being placed at the 40th Ave. Site. (Photo Credit: Nelson French, previous AOC coordinator)
Through a creative partnership between EPA, USACE, MPCA, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and other local agencies, annual harbor maintenance dredge material was beneficially used to restore critical aquatic habitat in the St. Louis River Area of Concern. Following an innovative three-year pilot program to determine that navigational material from the Duluth-Superior harbor was clean and safe enough to recycle back into the water, dredged material was placed over a total of 680 acres between 21st Avenue West and 40th Avenue West.  Approximately one million cubic yards of dredge material has contributed to habitat enhancement through the creation of gradually sloped shorelines, the addition of shoals or islands, and the reduction of acreage exposed to excessive wave energy. Through this partnership and investment in historic industrial sites, both navigation and ecological function will be improved in the largest freshwater port of the Great Lakes. 

Minnesota Slip, Slip 3, and Slip C

photo of The SS William A. Irvin which serves as a museum in the Minnesota Slip is now relocated for sediment remediation
The SS William A. Irvin serves as a museum in the Minnesota Slip was relocated for sediment remediation.

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+
  • Loss of Fish & Wildlife Habitat
  • Restrictions on Dredging Activities
  • Beach Closings
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.)
  • Restrictions on Dredging Activities
  • Restrictions on Fish & Wildlife Consumption
  • Loss of Fish & Wildlife Habitat
  • Beach Closings
  • Degradation of Benthos
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.)
  • Loss of Fish & Wildlife Habitat
Minnesota Slip, Slip 3 and Slip C Remediated 154,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment and 18 acres of habitat were restored 2019
  • Restrictions on Fish & Wildlife Consumption
  • Degradation of Benthos
  • Restrictions on Dredging Activities
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
  • Loss of Fish & Wildlife Habitat
  • Degraded Fish & Wildlife Populations
Spirit Lake Remediation & Restoration Over 100 acres of estuary sediment will be remediated and 30 new acres of sheltered bay will be created.  2023
  • Loss of Fish & Wildlife Habitat
  • Beach Closings
  • Restriction on Fish & Wildlife Consumption
  • Degradation of Benthos
21st Ave. W. and 40th Ave W. Restoration Routine harbor dredge material was beneficially used to enhance 680 acres of in-water habitat.  2022
  • Loss of Fish & Wildlife Habitat
  • Degraded Fish & Wildlife Populations
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
  • Loss of Fish & Wildlife Habitat
  • Degraded Fish & Wildlife Populations
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.)
  • Loss of Fish & Wildlife Habitat
  • Degraded Fish & Wildlife Populations
  • Degradation of Benthos 
Ponds Behind Erie Pier Remediate 45,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment and create habitat for bottom-dwelling bugs and fish 2023 (est.)
  • Loss of Fish and Wildlife Habitats
  • Degradation of Benthos
  • Restrictions on Dredging Activities
Scanlon Reservoir Remediate 55,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment 2022 
  • Restrictions on Dredging Activities
  • Degradation of Benthos
Pickle Pond Remediation & Restoration Sediment remediation and habitat restoration will restore an important fish nursery and stopover site for migratory birds. 2024 (est.)
  • Loss of Fish & Wildlife Habitat
  • Degraded Fish & Wildlife Populations
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
  • Loss of Fish & Wildlife Habitat
  • Degraded Fish & Wildlife Populations
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

Great Lakes AOCs

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Last updated on May 12, 2025
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