EPA Research Partner Support Story: Remediation and restoration of Great Lakes Areas of Concern

Partner: Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA) and the Great Lakes National Program Office (GLNPO)
Challenge: Remediation and restoration of Great Lakes Areas of Concern (AOCs)
Resource: Technical and sampling support in partnership with the Ohio EPA, GLNPO, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Project Period: 2019 – Present

Ohio EPA is implementing several projects in the Maumee AOC in northwest Ohio. The projects are funded by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), which is designed to protect and restore the chemical, physical and biological integrity of the Great Lakes Basin ecosystem. Completion of these projects and demonstration of chemical and biological improvements will contribute to the removal of Beneficial Use Impairments in this AOC. Since 2019, a technical work group focused on characterizing sediments in Swan Creek and the Lower Maumee River to support these projects and collaborate on developing a data gap sampling plan, field sampling, and report writing to support identification and remediation of contaminated sediments. In addition, the ORD-led team of federal partners have provided support for Ottawa River remedy effectiveness studies and Otter Creek remedy and restoration effectiveness studies.

“ORD has provided valuable technical support for several Maumee AOC projects. ORD provided technical, sampling and report writing support in late 2021 for the purpose of collecting and evaluating multiple lines of evidence – chemical, physical, and biological – to define contaminated sediment management areas.” – Ohio EPA Environmental Specialist Lynn Ackerson

EPA ORD scientists have assisted with various studies, such as the Swan Creek and Maumee River final sediment characterization reports and feasibility studies and the Otter Creek remedy effectiveness studies including non-federal sponsor led mussel mitigation. Overall, EPA ORD’s technical and sampling support from site and baseline characterization, remedy and restoration effectiveness studies, and report writing is fundamental to supporting the Maumee AOC in addressing Beneficial Use Impairments.