an.appraisal
wafer pollution
. . n the . , .
lake Superior basin
U. S. Department of the Interior
F W P C A
Great Lakes Region
APRIL 1969
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a reappraise I
wafer pollution
i i irvthe . i
lake Superior basin
APRIL 1969
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
FEDERAL WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ADMINISTRATION
GREAT LAKES REGION
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FOREWORD
"Lake Superior is apart from the other Great Lakes - it is the storied
'Shining Big Sea Water,' the symbol, the spirit of an intrinsic part of
the [American3 heritage. To those individuals fortunate enough to have
witnessed the crashing of great seas on age-old rock, or the chilling,
quiet blanket of fog suddenly lifting to the near blinding of a blue-white
summer day; to have seen water so clear that the phantom trout were
visible at 5 fathoms; to have experienced the purity that is the Big
Lake - to them there is no need to justify any conservation effort on
behalf of Lake Superior. "
Adopted from Michigan Water Resources Commission
"Water Resource Uses, Present and Prospective
for Lake Superior and the St. Mary's River,"
June 1967
11
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. INTRODUCTION 1
II. THE BASIN AND ITS FEATURES 3
General Description 3
Population 5
Economy 7
Waterborne Commerce 9
Water Resources 11
Lake Currents 15
Water Uses 17
ffl. THE POLLUTION PROBLEM 21
Chemical Pollution 22
Oxygen Depletion 23
Bacterial Pollution 24
Mining Activities 25
Soil Erosion 29
Wastes from Watercraft 30
Oil Pollution 31
Disposal of Dredged Material 32
Pesticides 33
IV. POLLUTION CONTROL ACTIONS AND PROPOSALS 35
Federal Water Pollution Control Administration Activities 35
Water Quality Standards 35
Great Lakes - Illinois River Basins Project 37
Construction Grants 37
Program Grants 38
Research Development & Demonstration Grants 38
Federal Installations 39
Technical Programs 40
Public Information 40
State Water Pollution Control Programs 41
Michigan 41
Minnesota 41
Wisconsin 42
V. WATER QUALITY CRITERIA 43
VI. SUMMARY and CONCLUSIONS 46
VU. RECOMMENDATIONS 48
BIBLIOGRAPHY 50
APPENDIX A 53
APPENDIX B 81
APPENDDC C 85
iii
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LIST OF FIGURES AND TABLES
Figure Page
1 Lake Superior Basin 2
2 Population Centers 4
3 Industrial Centers 6
4 Commercial Harbors 10
5 Net Surface Circulation of Lake Superior 14
6 Major Interstate Waters 34
7 Construction Grant Projects 36
Table
1 Major United States Tributaries to Lake
Superior 12
2 Active Mineral Operations in Lake
Superior Basin 26
3 Proposed Water Quality Criteria for the Open
Waters of Lake Superior 44
iv
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I. INTRODUCTION
On the basis of reports, surveys and studies indicating that interstate pollution is occurring,
and in accordance with Section 10 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U. S. C. 466 et.
seq.) Secretary of the Interior Stewart L. Udall called a Conference in the Matter of Pollution
of the Waters of Lake Superior and Its Tributary Basin (Michigan-Minnesota-Wisconsin). The
area covered by the conference is shown on Figure 1.
This report was prepared for the information of the conferees and other interested parties,
and for use by the conferees in their consideration of actions needed to preserve the high qual-
ity of waters in the conference area and improve presently degraded waters. The report is
based on studies and investigations by the Federal Water Pollution Control Administration
(FWPCA), investigations made through cooperative agreements by other agencies of the Depart-
ment of the Interior, studies and reports furnished by the three Lake Superior States and in-
formation obtained from other Federal agencies, universities, and others. All data presented
in this report are for the United States portion of the Lake Superior basin, unless otherwise
noted.
The contributions of all who have provided assistance and information is gratefully acknow-
ledged.
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Seal*:!
SO
100 mil..
LAKE SUPERIOR BASIN
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II. THE BASIN AND ITS FEATURES
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The largest body of fresh water on the earth is comprised in the five Great Lakes covering
95,170 square miles water surface area. Lake Superior is the largest of the Great Lakes and
the largest lake in the world - 31,820 square miles in surface area, approximately 350 miles
long, 160 miles wide, 1,333 feet maximum depth, and a volume of approximately 3,000 cubic
miles. Other physical data concerning Lake Superior are shown on the following table.
Canada United
Total (Ontario) States Mich. Minn. Wise.
Drainage Basin (sq. mi.) 80,511 42,570 37,941 23,931 8,354 5,656
Water Surface (sq. mi.) 31,820 10,702 21,118 16,231 2,212 2,675
Land Area (sq. mi.) 48,691 31,868 16,823 7,700 6,142 2,981
Shoreline (miles) 2,976 1,549 1,427 913 189 325
The topography of the basin, in general, is rough and with certain exceptions, the lake is
surrounded by a ridge 400 to 800 feet high. In most areas the highland is either immediately
adjacent to the shoreline or close to it. The Wisconsin-Michigan area along the southern shore
rises less abruptly, but the height of the ridge is about the same as in Minnesota.
The soil has developed from glacial debris and shallow-lying bedrock. It is a mixture of
sand and sandy loam to clay. The low soil fertility and the short growing season are not favor-
able for extensive agricultural activities.
The climate of the basin is continental in the interior, while a modified marine climate is
found near the lake shore and particularly in the peninsular areas. These two distinct types of
climate are reflected in the temperatures, precipitation, and growing seasons. Extreme temp-
eratures range from -47°F. to 106°F., while the basin's average temperatures range from
8°F. to 12°F. for January, and 60°F. to 66°F. for July. The average annual precipitation is
28 to 32 inches with 16 to 19 inches falling during the warm season. Snowfall varies from 55
inches to 276 inches in different portions of the basin, and the growing season, which also re-
flects the wide climate range, varies from 80 to 130 days in the basin.
The principal river of the basin is the St. Louis which has a drainage area of about 3,700
square miles and is an interstate stream that forms part of the Minnesota-Wisconsin boundary.
A portion of the Michigan-Wisconsin boundary is formed by the interstate Montreal River, one
of the smaller streams in the basin draining an area of about 281 square miles. The boundary
between Minnesota and the Province of Ontario, Canada, is formed by the Pigeon River. Other
principal rivers are the Bad River in Wisconsin and the Ontonagon River in Michigan.
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100 m,l.«
POPULATION CENTERS
LEGEND:
• 100,000
• 20,000 - 50,000
A 10,000 - 20,000
A 5,000 - 10,000
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POPULATION
The population density in the United States portion of the basin is low, 30 people per square
mile. Approximately a half-million people live in the basin with Minnesota counties (primarily
St. Louis County) accounting for about half of the total population. Michigan and Wisconsin
counties account for about 34 percent and 16 percent, respectively. The major cities in the
Lake Superior watershed with their 1960 populations are: Minnesota, Duluth - 106,884, Hib-
bing-17,731, and Virginia - 14, 034; Wisconsin, Superior - 33, 563, Ashland - 10,132; Mich-
igan, Marquette - 19,824 and Ironwood - 10,265. Figure 2 shows these population centers.
Even though during the past 20 years there has been a considerable emigration from the Lake
Superior basin, the population is expected to increase by approximately 100, 000 in about two
decades with the municipal portion of the population experiencing most of this increase at the
expense of the rural areas. The areas most likely to show relatively rapid growth are:
Chippewa and Marquette Counties in Michigan, Douglas County in Wisconsin, and St. Louis
County in Minnesota. Carlton and Lake Counties, which border on St. Louis County, will ex-
perience some of the expansion trend of that county.
Duluth, Minnesota at the head of Lake Superior is the largest city in the basin
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ScpU: E
INDUSTRIAL CENTERS
LEGEND:
O Food and kindred products
O Paper and allied products
0 Chemical and allied products
© Petroleum and coal products
© Primary metal industries
© Metal mining
\
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ECONOMY
While the economy of the basin has in the past few decades been uncertain, developments in re-
cent years favor a general uptrend in activity. Continued research activities relating to iron ore
processing, dramatic developments in processing of taconite ores, plus progress in research
concerning the use of timber resources is creating a new confidence in the future.
Industrial activity in the watershed is diversified both in character as well as location. Fig-
ure 3 shows the principal centers of industrial activity. While iron ore mining is the dominant
feature of the watershed, value added by manufacture amounted to approximately $250 million in
1963. Duluth - Superior is the major industrial center, but, significant industrial developments
are located elsewhere, such as Silver Bay, Minnesota; Ashland, Wisconsin; and Houghton-
Hancock, Michigan.
The history of iron ore mining is closely associated with the development of the iron range
area of the basin. With the advent of the taconite process whereby low grade iron ore undergoes
a beneficiation process to produce pellets containing a higher concentration of iron, the iron
mining industry in the basin has economically taken a sharp upturn. As of 1966 pelletized iron
ore was firmly established as the most desired form of blast furnace feed in the United States.
Taconite beneficiation plants have been established at a number of locations in Minnesota, Mich-
igan, with a potential for their establishment in Wisconsin.
Other mining activities, primarily sand and gravel, are widespread throughout the basin.
Copper mining is an important segment of Michigan's economy in the upper peninsula.
Forestry and forest products manufacturing are important in a number of locations in the
Lake Superior basin. Virgin timber stands have been greatly depleted but sustained lumbering,
pulp logging and Christmas tree harvesting continue to be important contributors to the economy.
New technology in processing wood products should enable the area to capitalize to a greater
degree on the extensive forest resources. Considerable expansion of the paper and allied pro-
ducts industry is likely.
Some manufacturing activity occurs in all counties of the watershed although in 1963 St. Louis
and Carlton Counties of Minnesota and Douglas County in Wisconsin accounted for 70 percent of
the total. Manufacturing output is expected to triple in the next 20 to 25 years. Petroleum re-
fining, chemicals, steel rolling and finishing, and food and kindred products are the major cate-
gories having installations within the watershed.
Although agriculture is not a major land use, farms are scattered throughout the basin and
in some limited areas farming is a dominant feature.
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Some of the Nation's most unique and scenic shoreline is a part of the Lake Superior coast line.
The wide sand beaches of Whitefish Bay, the great perched dunes near Grand Marais, the sheer
cliffs of the Pictured Rocks, the remoteness of the Huron Mountains, the Apostle Islands, Split
Rock Lighthouse, Isle Royale National Park and all the many miles of primeval wilderness con-
stitute a most valuable recreation and esthetic resource. Therefore, recreation resources in-
cluding commercial resorts are very important to the economy and are expected to have even
greater significance in the future as a greater number of people from locations outside of the
area seek to utilize its existing and planned recreation facilities. An estimated $50 million was
spent in the basin on tourism in 1964 (44). It can be assumed this is a conservative figure based
upon estimates of growth for the tourism industry.
The use of high quality water extends beyond the bounds
of physical contact with the resource. Here towering
cliffs and spectacular shoreline provide scenic enjoyment.
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WATERBORNE COMMERCE
The economy of the Lake Superior basin is naturally stimulated by the presence of the lake.
The "fourth seacoast" of the United States and Canada became a reality upon completion of the
St. Lawrence Seaway in 1959. There is now a continuous channel from the Great Lakes to the
Atlantic Ocean making an ocean port of every deep draft harbor situated on Lake Superior.
The Soo Locks at Sault Ste. Marie and navigable channels of the St. Mary's River are of
major importance to commercial navigation in Lake Superior. This busy channel passes ap-
proximately 100 million tons of freight annually. With the deep connecting channels and har-
bors and the new lock (1,200 feet long, 105 feet wide) at Sault Ste. Marie, vessels 1,000 feet
in length and 100 feet wide with carrying capacities of 50,000 tons can now be accommodated.
Major commodities shipped include iron ore, coal, grain and stone.
The harbor facilities of Lake Superior are also a major asset to the continuing development
of the natural resources potential of the basin. The Duluth-Superior port is one of the largest
inland shipping ports for waterborne commerce on the Great Lakes. The harbor is the fifth
largest in the United States in tonnage, surpassed only by New York Harbor, New Orleans,
Houston Harbor and Channel, and the Philadelphia Harbor. Total tonnage exceeds 46 million
net tons annually. Annual direct overseas imports and exports total over 3 million tons and
consist of more than one-third of the direct overseas commerce from all Great Lakes ports.
The facilities of the Duluth-Superior harbor, which include the largest ore docks in the world,
handle the majority of the iron ore which is shipped to the steel mills of the lower lakes. Ap-
proximately three-fourths of the total tonnage at the port consists of iron ore. Other major
commodities are grain, coal, limestone, cement, scrap iron, iron and steel products, salt,
petroleum products, and general merchandise.
In addition to the outstanding facilities at Duluth-Superior there are other commercial har-
bors throughout the area, including Two Harbors, Silver Bay, Taconite and Grand Marais in
Minnesota; Ashland in Wisconsin; and Ontonagon, Keweenaw, Presque Isle, Marquette and
Grand Marais in Michigan. Figure 4 depicts the commercial harbors on Lake Superior.
Facilities of the Duluth-Superior Harbor include the largest
ore docks in the world. Above is an ore boat entering the habor.
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Y
COMMERCIAL HARBORS
LEGEND:
• Harbors
10
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WATER RESOURCES
Lake Superior is the largest of the Great Lakes and in terms of surface area is the largest
fresh water lake in the world. In terms of volume of water it is the world's second largest
fresh water lake. The average flow out of Lake Superior is 73,100 cubic feet per second (cfs).
Since 1922 the level of Lake Superior has been regulated by operations of control works in
the St. Mary's River above the rapids at Sault Ste. Marie. (47) These works, including a 16-
gate control structure, powerhouses and canals and locks, were built as a condition of an order
of the International Joint Commission granting a permit to divert water around the rapids for
power generation (to prevent lowering of Lake Superior). The same order also created an
International Lake Superior Board of Control, consisting of an officer of the Corps of Engineers
and an officer appointed by the Canadian government.
It is the function of the Board to determine the amount of water available for power generation
and to maintain as nearly as possible the level of Lake Superior to its low datum of 600 feet.
Since 1957, the level of Lake Superior from extreme low to extreme high has varied only about
one foot.
In addition to precipitation and runoff. Lake Superior receives water by importation via the
Long Lake-Ogoki hydroelectric projects located in Canada. This diversion averages nearly
5,000 cfs of water which formerly flowed north to Hudson's Bay. Because of the regulatory
works at the "Soo" this diversion has not affected the level of Lake Superior.
There are over 100 streams in the three States which outlet to Lake Superior. Discharge in-
formation concerning the major streams is shown on Table 1. By far the largest stream trib-
utary to Lake Superior is the interstate St. Louis River which enters the lake at Duluth-Super-
ior. The lower St. Louis River has been extensively developed for production of hydroelectric
power.
Most of the streams draining the north shore of Lake Superior are approximately 20 miles
in length, characterized by a steep gradient and a high fluctuation in flow level. The one ex-
ception to this is the St. Louis River.
The Lake Superior drainage in the State of Wisconsin consists of a series of small streams
flowing through the escarpment which exists around the south shore. Falls and rapids are
characteristic along the escarpment line with some streams having hydro-power development.
There are six hydroelectric power installations on the tributary streams.
There is a total of 78 streams in Michigan which outlet to the lake. The largest of these
streams is the Ontonagon which has a drainage area of approximately 1,400 square miles.
There are approximately 2,000 lakes having areas of ten acres or more within the watershed.
Most of the lakes occupy depressions in glacial deposits or are in ice block basins formed after
the retreat of the glaciers. Approximately 600 of the lakes are in the north shore watershed
area in Minnesota.
The ground water resources of the area bordering Lake Superior are quite variable. In
many cases the glacial drift is too thin and discontinuous to provide adequate supplies of water.
In portions of the basin, namely the St. Louis River watershed, there are extensive areas of
unconsolidated sand and gravel which, in general, yield large quantities of water. In general,
the quality of ground water is satisfactory for all uses.
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TABLE 1
MAJOR UNITED STATES TRIBUTARIES TO LAKE SUPERIOR*
Name of River
Pigeon
Brule
Baptism
St. Louis
Nemadji
Bois Brule
Bad
Montreal
Black
Presque Isle
Ontonagon
Sturgeon
Dead
Chocolay
Tahquamenon
Waiska
Total
Drainage
Area
(Sq. Mi. )
610
282
146
3,652
446
185
1,016
281
257
359
1,390
729
166
161
820
147
Gaged
Drainage
Area
(Sq. Mi. )
600
0
140
3,430
0
113
611
262
200
261
1,340
705
0
0
790
0
Mean
Discharge
(cfs)
483
-
159
2,202
-
169
605
325
227
264
1,374
795
-
-
849
—
Period of
Record
(WaterYrs.)
1923-67
-
1927-67
1908-67
-
1942-67
1914-22
1948-67
1938-67
1954-67
1945-66
1942-66
1942-66
-
-
1953-66
—
* Counterclockwise from U.S. (Minnesota) - Canadian Border
Data Source: USGS Surface Water Records of Minnesota and Wisconsin, 1967
USGS Surface Water Records of Michigan, 1966
12
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Whitewater rapids and cascading falls are characteristic of Lake Superior's tributary streams.
13
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Y
SO
100 miln
NET SURFACE CIRCULATION OF LAKE SUPERIOR
LEGEND:
-Synthesized current patterns
14
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LAKE CURRENTS
Circulation studies of Lake Superior were begun in October 1966 by the FWPCA to determine
the water circulation pattern of the lake, to establish the cause and effect relationships so as
to be able to predict the movement of pollutants occurring in, and being discharged to the lake,
and to develop a more accurate description and understanding of the physical, biological, and
chemical phenomena of the lake.
To accomplish this, seven current-metering stations were emplaced in Lake Superior in
October 1966. In May 1967 these meters were recovered and replaced and the current-meter-
ing network was expanded to a total of 17 stations. These stations were recovered in October
1967.
The current-meters were Richardson type, self-contained recording instruments, clock-
activated periodically (every 30 minutes), recording directional and speed data for one minute
on 16mm film then shutting off until the start of the next cycle. At each station current-meters
were suspended at depths of 30, 50, 75 and 100 feet and every 100 feet thereafter. Temper-
ature recorders were also installed at these depths.
The data from these stations were analyzed using accepted oceanographic techniques. What
follows is a discussion of the findings.
Waterborne wastes reaching Lake Superior are dispersed into the main water mass by three
means; molecular diffusion, turbulent mixing, and lake currents. Considering the lake as a
whole, currents are the predominant mechanism for the movement and subsequent dispersion
of these wastes into the lake's water mass.
While the inflow and outflow rate from Lake Superior is extremely small in comparison to the
water mass of the lake proper, the lake water is not standing still. It is kept in constant mo-
tion principally by the wind which not only generates the visible surface waves but stirs and
mixes the water throughout the lake.
Both water movements and rate of mixing are materially influenced by the formation of
thermoclines, or zones of temperature transition between two layers of water which differ in
temperature and density. In the summer, Lake Superior water becomes divided into an upper
layer of warm readily circulating water, called the epilimnion, and a lower layer of cold, re-
latively undisturbed water called the hypolimnion. A region between these two layers where
rapid temperature change takes place, is called the thermocline. When the lake water is thus
stratified, the water in the hypolimnion (lower stratum) is essentially physically and chem-
ically isolated from the remaining waters of the lake. In Lake Superior, nearly 95 percent of
the lake's volume is in the hypolimnion. The summer stratification begins to develop in mid-
June, with the epilimnion (upper stratum) reaching its maximum temperature in August. The
thermocline is somewhat transient in Lake Superior in that it will move in and out of an area
of the lake. When there is no thermocline, the water is isothermal (without a thermocline).
In the winter months, the lake can be considered, for all practical purposes, to be isothermal
and water mixing occurs throughout the lake.
15
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Thermal bars, a phenomena resulting from a difference in temperature between adjacent
waters along a vertical plane, occur in the spring and fall in shallow waters parallel to the
shoreline. The fall thermal bar is not as extensive nor as well developed as is the one that
occurs in the spring. A thermal bar inhibits mixing between the shallow waters along the shore
and the deeper lake waters. Wastes discharged into the inshore side of the thermal bar tend
to be held in the inshore area.
Because currents in the lake are motivated principally by the wind, and winds are variable,
horizontal movement of the lake water exhibits an infinite variety and frequent changes in both
direction and speed. A current change in less than six hours after a wind shift is common in
mid-lake. The nearshore response may be even more rapid. However, certain recurring
patterns have been identified, resulting principally from the fact that winds from one direction
predominate.
The net circulation of Lake Superior is counter clockwise, with the possibility of large cy-
clonic eddies occurring in the western arm, or Duluth embayment, between Isle Royale and
the Kewennaw Peninsula, and in the eastern basin. See Figure 5.
Superimposed on the net circulation pattern of the lake are other factors that affect water
movement. The net circulations, while on a long-term basis may be considered the circula-
tion pattern of the lake, exist for only short periods of time. One week would be considered a
long period of time for the total net circulation pattern to exist.
Upwelling occurs in the lake when winds cause horizontal surface movement of water away
from the shore. The surface waters are replaced by colder, deeper waters. Upwelling fre-
quently occurs along the north shore during periods of northwest and west wind. Winds from
the east and south produce upwelling along the south shore.
Other forces that affect water movement are internal waves, caused by storms and/or pres-
sure differences acting on the lake's surface, and inertia currents resulting from decaying
wind stresses.
In summary, while there is a net circulation pattern in the lake, a great many forces are
acting which have a modifying effect upon water movements. These water movements are
such that any persistent pollutant entering directly into Lake Superior or discharged into the
water that feeds the lake, mixes with and becomes an integral part of the lake water as a
whole.
16
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There is a pleasure in the pathless woods,
There is a rapture on the lonely shore.
Lord Byron "Childe Harold"
WATER USES
The waters of Lake Superior are used for municipal and industrial water supply; recreation,
including swimming, boating, fishing and other water oriented sports; commercial fishing;
propagation of fish and aquatic life; commercial navigation; and esthetic enjoyment.
The waters of Lake Superior are of excellent quality for municipal water supply. Twenty-
four municipalities and communities withdraw water from the lake for domestic usage. These
systems serve approximately 184,000 people which use 25 million gallons per day (mgd). Com-
munities in Michigan use approximately 5. 7 mgd; Wisconsin approximately 1. 3 mgd; and
Minnesota approximately 18. 0 mgd. The largest domestic supply is for the city of Duluth,
which uses approximately 16 mgd, more than 60 percent of the total. Eight other communi-
ties in the basin utilize surface sources other than Lake Superior, withdrawing about 1. 8 mgd.
The remaining communities in the basin rely on ground water for their supply.
A twenty-three mile long water line is being constructed from Duluth to Cloquet, Minnesota
to convey Lake Superior water to Cloquet for domestic and industrial water supplies. The
pipe line will also serve the city of Superior, Wisconsin. The ultimate design capacity of the
pipe line is 40 mgd. The initial capacity of the system will be 25 mgd. The scheduled
completion date for the project is March 31, 1969.
An estimated 563 mgd of Lake Superior water is withdrawn for industrial purposes. Of this
total 518 mgd are used by Minnesota industries, 42 mgd by Michigan industries and 3 mgd by
Wisconsin industries. The largest single water user is the Reserve Mining Company taconite
beneficiation plant at Silver Bay, Minnesota, which accounts for more than 90 percent of the
total Lake Superior water used by industry. The use of industrial water on the tributaries of
Lake Superior total approximately 200 mgd of which approximately 70 percent is used by the
iron mining industries on the eastern end of the Mesabi Range in Minnesota.
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Total electric power generation in the Lake Superior basin, including hydroelectric and
steam generation, is estimated at about 850 megawatts. The largest hydro-power development
in the basin is on the St. Louis River in Minnesota with a total installed capacity of 88,860
kilowatts. Steam power generation is estimated at approximately 650 megawatts, of which
more than 60 percent is produced in Minnesota. A total of approximately 500 mgd of Lake
Superior water is used for cooling purposes. Surface water other than Lake Superior used
for cooling purposes totals approximately 130 mgd. There are at present no nuclear genera-
ting plants in the Lake Superior basin.
Records on commercial fish catches in Lake Superior have been kept since 1879. The catch
averaged 7.8 million pounds from 1879 to 1908; 10.5 million pounds from 1913 to 1928; and
15. 6 million pounds from 1929 to 1963. The catch reached a maximum of 22.1 million pounds
in 1941 but since has declined to a 1967 level of 7. 9 million pounds. The decline is related
to biological and economical factors. In 1967 Lake Superior ranked third in commercial fish
catches for the United States portion of the Great Lakes. Lake Michigan, 59. 0 million pounds
and Lake Erie 11.6 million pounds ranked first and second respectively.
There are relatively few fish species that constitute the bulk of the commercial catch in
Lake Superior. Lake trout are undoubtedly the most popular and valuable fish. The maximum
lake trout catch of 5. 6 million pounds occurred in 1903. Between 1903 and 1955 the catch
ranged between two and three million pounds, reaching 3.7 million pounds in 1944. The catch
since 1955 has declined steadily, with the 1961 catch dropping to 323,000 pounds. From 1962
to the present lake trout fishing has been allowed under permit only. The chief cause of the
decline of the lake trout was predation by the parasitic sea lamprey. Only drastic reduction
of the sea lamprey population and intensive stocking by State and Federal agencies prevented
total collapse of the lake trout fishery. A small amount of natural lake trout reproduction
has now been found but the fishery at the present still depends upon stocking from hatchery
raised fry. Indications are the population of lake trout in Lake Superior is increasing.
Drastic changes in the production of lake herring have occurred in the past twenty years. A
maximum production of approximately 18 million pounds occurred in 1941 in United States
waters, and declined to 10. 8 million pounds in 1960. The abundance of herring has dropped
significantly in the 1960's declining to 3. 8 million pounds in 1967. White fish production,
which typically fluctuates between 400,000 to 800,000 pounds, is currently about 500,000
pounds. A maximum catch of 1. 3 million pounds was recorded in 1949. The smelt population,
which at present produces a catch of 1. 5 million pounds, is suspected as a causative factor
in the decline of a number of native fish species. Chubs have been harvested to an increasing
extent beginning in the late 1950's with production reaching 1. 3 million pounds in 1959. The
catch for 1967 was 1. 9 million pounds. This fishery increased only out of economic necessity
arising from the decline of lake trout.
The Lake Superior basin is an area of outstanding natural resources and great recreation
potential. However, at the present only moderate demands are being placed on the basin's
recreation reasouces. The relative inaccessibility of many recreation areas, because of
their considerable distance from large population centers and a lack of better destination
routes, in conjunction with a short tourist season are primary factors creating this situation.
The current annual recreation demand is estimated at nearly 16 million recreation days. By
the year 2000 this amount is expected to nearly double. Approximately 80 percent of the
present demand can be attributed to vacation use.
In 1964 an estimated 1. 4 million vacationists came to the Lake Superior basin for the pri-
mary purpose of outdoor recreation. The vacation sector comprises approximately 80 per-
cent of the basin's total effective population. This approximation does include a few basin
residents but by far the greater number are non-residents.
While the list of recreation activities available in the basin is quite endless, the vast ma-
jority of recreation activities in the basin are centered around or near water. These include
boating, fishing and those activities significantly enhanced by the presence of water such as
hiking, camping, sight-seeing and driving for pleasure.
18
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Pleasure boating is rapidly increasing in the Lake Superior basin.
The United States Bureau of Outdoor Recreation report, "Water Oriented Outdoor Recrea-
tion - Lake Superior Basin" (44), presents a detailed discussion of recreation in the basin
including information on existing facilities, the problems that are developing, and the action
that must be taken to preserve this natural heritage.
Even though it is recognized that recreationists participate in all the other basic activities
in addition to sight-seeing, it is the attraction of this latter activity which draws most
recreationists to the basin. Probably Lake Superior's greatest asset is its scenic shoreline.
Water quality is a most important factor influencing the recreational uses which are made
of the water, as it affects the quality of the outdoor recreation experience. Water oriented
recreational activities may be divided into two categories — one of which involves actual
contact with the water. This category is further broken down into activities involving the
whole body contact such as swimming and water skiing and those involving limited contact
such as pleasure boating and fishing. The other category involves the esthetic enjoyment of
viewing the body of water and its surroundings. This includes such activities as driving and
hiking for pleasure along the shore of the body of the water. An important part of the recrea-
tional value of water is its esthetic aspect. Camping, picnicking, sight-seeing, while not
directly water oriented activities, are considerably enhanced as an experience by esthetically
pleasing water. Some pollution robs the water of its esthetic value for such activities.
The severity of a pollution problem can vary from place to place on a given body of water and
in many instances from time to time depending on weather and other factors. In addition,
people vary widely in their opinions as to the point at which water quality has deteriorated to
the extent that it is no longer suited for a certain recreational activity.
Therefore, it can be seen that water quality per se has a demonstrable effect on recreational
use. Many of the factors which contribute to the degradation of water quality can be measured
readily; for example, rise in water temperature due to thermal pollution and amount of silt
added to a stream as a result of land runoff. However, sociological factors which are very
difficult to measure, play a key role in determining the extent to which quality will influence
recreational use. These latter factors become very personal and differ with the individual
depending upon his education and environmental background.
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Numerous State and Federal lands in the Lake Superior basin
offer recreational opportunities that can be enjoyed by all.
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III. THE POLLUTION PROBLEM
Lakes may be classified according to their level of primary productivity. The productivity
or "fertility" of a lake depends on nutrients received from regional drainage, on the depth,
plus other interrelated factors which affect the metabolism of the lake. A eutrophic lake is at
one end of the classification series and on the other end is an oligotrophic lake. While there
are a number of characteristics associated with oligotropic lakes, in short they are still
"biologically young" and have changed little since the time of their formation.
Lake Superior is an excellent example of an oligotrophic lake having very clear, cold water
and very few living organisms. The lake is an exceedingly young lake in terms of its biologi-
cal aging processes. It is thousands of years behind the other Great Lakes considering only
natural againg. The lake nearly resembles its pristine condition as created eons ago.
Lake Superior has been the least studied of all the Great Lakes. Most of the studies con-
ducted have been in the western portion of the lake. There are very little data for the lake
during the winter season and essentially nothing is known about bottom organisms, bottom
character, and fish species in the deeper portions of the middle of the lake.
Lake Superior is a delicate lake and therefore great caution must be exercised when weigh-
ing the potential dangers to its ecology. Increases normally considered insignificant or ac-
ceptable in most lakes will dramatically alter this lake, because even such small changes will
represent a large percentage of change. For example, an increase in 5 units in turbidity will
result in a reduction of many feet in light penetration and significant loss of fish food organ-
isms. The very cold temperatures keep production of phytoplankton at a very low level. The
growth of algae in the lake can be loosely compared to algal growth that would occur in a
beaker of water placed in a lighted refrigerator.
It is also true that a slight reduction in the food producing capacity of the lake is likely to
evidence itself in lower fish production because food appears to be limiting in the lake. Shallow
shore areas, one of the major fish food producing areas in the lake, are limited and therefore
are extremely important to the survival of the fish species of the lake. These are the same
areas first to be affected by man-made waste discharges. Because algae productivity is low,
the depth to which light penetrates is important for producing sufficient plankton, periphyton
and benthos in the shore areas.
The native fish species in Lake Superior such as lake trout have long egg incubation periods;
some of them reaching two to three months. Conditions must be ideal during this critical
period to enable the eggs to hatch. Because the eggs are deposited on the lake bottom, small
quantities of silt or settleable solids are likely to smother the eggs as they are left unattended
by the adult fish.
The addition of certain kinds of toxic materials into Lake Superior is of prime importance.
The heavy metals (i. e. , copper, iron, zinc, etc.) are highly toxic at low concentrations be-
cause the water is soft, the fish species found in the lake are sensitive to metals and because
the metals are persistent and will remain in the lake for longer periods of time due to the
lake's slow flushing rate. Many of the common metals found in the surface waters could
seriously affect the reproductive potentials of the fish species in Lake Superior at concentra-
tions in the range of 2 to 50 parts per billion.
The quality of Lake Superior water is so high compared to other lakes that the early signs
of damage may go undetected or may be excused as being insignificant. Using standards of
clean water normally considered appropriate in pollution control programs, Lake Superior
could be degraded considerably and changed significantly before water uses would be damaged.
Pollution problems have occurred in the Lake Superior basin. Some of the existing prob-
lems, both in the lake and on the interstate tributaries are discussed in the following sections.
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CHEMICAL POLLUTION
Pollution by dissolved chemicals covers a broad range of substances including heavy metals
such as copper, iron and zinc, phenolic compounds, oil nitrogenous materials, phosphorus,
chlorides, and colored waters. Two general types of effects are produced by such chemicals:
(1) local and immediate effects in the vicinity of the source, and (2) a progressive buildup in
the concentrations of certain persistent chemicals in the lake as a whole. Concerning the
latter effect, great caution must be exercised in order to avoid long-term damage in Lake
Superior as the self-purging rate has been estimated to be well in excess of 500 years (45).
In addition, eddy currents that may occur in the western end of the lake tend to limit the
intermixing of these waters with the rest of the lake.
Lake Superior and Lake Michigan are the headwaters of the Great Lakes as their outflow
passes through Lakes Huron, Erie and Ontario. Constituents dissolved in Lake Superior
waters such as nutrients which tend to accumulate in a lake could therefore add to the ac-
cumulated levels in these downstream lakes. While the effects of these dissolved constituents
may not be felt in Lake Superior due to other limiting factors, conditions may be suitable in
the downstream lakes to result in a degraded water quality.
The heavy metals, as a group, are especially important in Lake Superior for several
reasons. Because there is a low mineral concentration in the lake, metals are more toxic than
they would be in average waters in the United States. In addition, several important species
of fish, especially lake trout, whitefish, and lake herring, are unusually sensitive to such
metals as copper, zinc and chromium. Natural agents are lacking in the lake to bind such
metals and render them inactive.
An industrial waste discharge to a tributary stream in Wisconsin causes a discoloration of Lake Superior waters.
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Heavy metals are reaching Lake Superior through natural erosion of the mineral laden rock
in the drainage basin and as a result of mining activities. Amplification of aspects related to
mining activities is found in another section of this report.
Very important chemical constituents in a lake are the levels of nitrogen and phosphorus.
Aquatic vegetation including algae are capable, through photosynthesis, of utilizing inorganic
elements in support of growth -- including nitrogen and phosphorus. These nutrients have
been given the most attention because following carbon, they are required in the greatest
amounts for the production of green plants. Bodies of water receive these nutrients from
many sources such as natural runoff from agricultural and urban land, ground water, pre-
cipitation and sewage and industrial waste effluents.
Information available shows that in Lake Superior, overgrowth of algae is not a problem.
The low temperature of the water is very likely a limiting factor in the lake's productivity.
The harbor areas and inshore lake water near the harbors are most susceptible to nuisance
aquatic vegetation growths because they are more easily affected by man's activities and be-
cause other conditions, such as higher water temperatures and phosphorus concentrations
necessary for nuisance conditions, more frequently occur.
The three States in the basin have included statements on phosphorus removal in their in-
terstate water quality standards. In addition, the Michigan Water Resources Commission
adopted a resolution in October 1967, which calls for the removal by June 1, 1977 of phos-
phorus compounds from wastes discharged to the waters of the State, Minnesota has adopted
statewide effluent standards which require the removal phosphorus from waste discharges to
certain lakes and reservoirs. The cities of Duluth, Two Harbors, and Grand Marais have
been required to install phosphorus removal facilities by 1971; Silver Bay by 1972.
OXYGEN DEPLETION
Dissolved oxygen (oxygenheld in solution in water) provides the basic respiratory supply for
most living organisms, including not only fish but also the bacteria which consume organic
matter. Therefore, dissolved oxygen is a most important ingredient necessary for a healthy,
balanced aquatic life environment. Decomposable organic matter can cause an excessive
reduction of the dissolved oxygen concentrations in the water because oxygen is consumed by
the respiration processes of some living organisms. The oxygen is replenished by absorption
from the atmosphere and through the photo synthetic processes of aquatic plants provided a
well balanced environment exists. Organic pollution alters the environmental balance. The
bacteria in the water or introduced with the waste, utilize the organic matter as food, multiply
rapidly and reduce the dissolved oxygen. The resulting oxygen deficiency may be great enough
to inhibit or destroy fish and other desirable organisms, and result in taste and odor prob-
lems. Excessive depletion of the dissolved oxygen results in the generation of many nuisance
conditions.
At the present time the main body of Lake Superior has not shown any signs of oxygen defi-
ciency. (13, 22, 31, 32, 35) This coincides with the characteristic of an oligotrophic lake in
that there is ample oxygen at all water levels within the lake. In this case, the oxygen levels
are at or near the saturation point at all depths.
Oxygen depletion is occurring in some of the tributaries draining into Lake Superior. In the
Minnesota drainage, reaches of the lower St. Louis River from Cloquet to the Duluth -
Superior harbor have on numerous occasions been excessively depleted of oxygen. (38, 55)
Inadequately treated sewage effluent and inadequately treated industrial wastes discharged into
this reach have been the source of the problem. The condition is aggravated by the operation
of the hydroelectric plants on the river which cause wide fluctuations in river flow.
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Industrial waste discharges to the lower St. Louis River have caused serious pollution problems.
Sources of waste in the Duluth - Superior harbor have also created localized areas of sub-
stantial oxygen depletion. Sources of pollution include inadequately treated municipal wastes
plus inadequately treated industrial wastes from various points.
The interstate Montreal River downstream from Hurley, Wisconsin and Ironwood, Michigan
has experienced oxygen depletion problems. (12) The proportion of the oxygen depletion
caused by the waste discharges from each of these two cities has not been determined.
Under the provisions of interstate water quality standards, the State regulatory agencies
have initiated actions to eliminate the oxygen depletion problems occurring on the tributary
streams.
BACTERIAL POLLUTION
The presence of coliform organisms in water is considered an indicator of degraded water
quality and a possible indicator of a health hazard. Coliform organisms are significant be-
cause they occur in the fecal matter of all warm-blooded animals, including man. Conse-
quently, the presence of these bacteria in a body of water is considered evidence of fecal con-
tamination. Since such contamination is one avenue of transmission of certain waterborne
disease, the presence of coliforms is also an indication of a health hazard from accompanying
pathogenic bacteria and viruses.
The largest coliform concentrations in water are usually produced by human contamination,
but elevated counts will also occur after rainfalls due to land runoff and/or storm and com-
bined sewer overflows. Pathogenic bacteria from human sources can be adequately controlled
by proper treatment and disinfection of waste discharges.
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The bacterial quality of the main body of Lake Superior is excellent. The problems of bac-
terial contamination that have occurred were found along certain tributaries and some harbor
or inshore areas around the lake. Instances of impairment of water use in the basin by bac-
terial pollution have been documented by the Bureau of Outdoor Recreation. (44) Some of the
areas that have experienced bacterial pollution are portions of the St. Louis River and Duluth
Harbor area in Minnesota; and Superior Harbor area, Ashland inshore area and reaches of the
Montreal River in Wisconsin.
Some cities in the basin are served by combined sewer systems so that quantities of a mix-
ture of storm water and sewage are discharged without treatment during and after every heavy
rain. This has resulted in bacterial pollution of some reaches of rivers in the basin. Bac-
terial pollution in most cases is amenable to correction. This is the case wherever the waste
can be put through a treatment plant followed by disinfection.
The State regulatory agencies have taken actions to eliminate existing bacterial pollution
problems and to prevent future undesirable conditions. The States of Michigan and Wisconsin
require year around disinfection of waste treatment plant effluent. Minnesota requires year
around disinfection at all waste treatment plants in proximity to water supply intakes and
seasonal disinfection of effluents discharged to waters used for recreation. In addition, all
three States have required separation of combined sewers or other remedial action to pre-
vent pollution from this source.
MINING ACTIVITIES
There are 151 active mineral operations within the Lake Superior basin. Table 2 shows the
distribution by State and mineral commodity of these operations. Not all of these operations
are "wet" industries, i.e., utilize quantities of water in their processes. The waste disposal
practices followed by the "wet" operations are shown in Appendix A.
There have been water quality problems associated with mining operations in the basin.
Wastewater originates from open pit iron ore mining as a result of the entrance of rainwater
and seepage into the mines. The water must be pumped out to maintain a dry area for mining
operations. The quantity of water may range from almost nothing to several thousand gallons
per minute. This water may be highly colored and very turbid or may be crystal clear, de-
pending upon the type of ore body and manner of collection.
Ordinarily pit water which is pumped from the bottom of an open iron ore pit is extremely
turbid, has a bright red color, and may have a very high suspended solids content. The term
"red-water" is frequently applied to this and similar wastes for obvious reasons. The occur-
rence of red-water resulting from natural drainage is also quite common in the streams near
ore dumps.
The discharge of water or drainage containing large quantities of suspended material into
surface waters may create unfavorable conditions for fish and wildlife. It also may affect the
use of recreational areas, and stream shore property. If large amounts of suspended mate-
rials settle out in shallow areas, fish spawning beds may be covered and the penetration of
light so reduced as to have an adverse effect on the growth of aquatic plant and animal life.
The red color of the material in the water from mining areas emphasizes the presence of
suspended material which tags the waters in the area.
Although periodic problems do arise as a. result of red-water, control measures by the State
regulatory agencies have proved to be effective in combating this problem.
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TABLE 2
ACTIVE MINERAL OPERATIONS IN LAKE SUPERIOR BASIN
MINERAL COMMODITY
Iron Ore
Copper
Sand & Gravel
Iron & Steel
Cement
Clay
Granite
Lime
MICHIGAN
9
7
32
MINNESOTA
27
50
1
1
1
WISCONSIN
10
Reserve Mining Company's E.W. Davis taconite beneficiation plant at Silver Bay. Light areas are tailings being
carried by a stream of water a few inches deep over the solid delta beach to the lake.
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Active underground mines must continually be drained and previously abandoned shafts that
are being reopened to development must be drained to allow full operation. This water is
characteristically quite high in total dissolved solids such as chlorides and sulphates. Depend-
ing upon the nature of the underground strata, heavy metals such as copper, iron and zinc will
be leached from the soil and be contained in this discharge water. As stated previously in
this report, the discharge of heavy metals to the waters of Lake Superior is of concern due to
the extreme sensitivity of aquatic life in the lake to these metals and due to the long-term
buildup of these metals in the lake. A quantification of the past practices of draining mines is
not available. Care should be exercised in the future to prevent the adverse effects on aquatic
life in the receiving streams and also to Lake Superior from such drainage practices.
With the development of the taconite beneficiation process, vast new areas were opened up
to the mining of taconite ore. As can be seen by Table 2, there are 36 mineral operations
related to taconite processing in the basin including 15 concentrator plants. As shown in
Appendix A, 14 of these utilize a closed system whereby their wastewater is allowed to settle
in a lagoon and the waters recirculated for use. One of these concentrator plants, Reserve
Mining Company, E. W. Davis Works, discharges its wastes directly to Lake Superior. The
operations of this plant are discussed below.
Reserve Mining Company, E.W. Davis Works
In response to a request from the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers for comments on revalida-
tion of the Corps' permit to Reserve Mining Company, several agencies of the U. S. Depart-
ment of the Interior and other units of government reported continuing concern over the de-
position of taconite tailings into Lake Superior. In response to these concerns an Interior
study group was formed to investigate the effects of the taconite tailings on Lake Superior.
Participating Department of the Interior agencies in the Taconite Study Group were Regional
Coordinator, Office of the Secretary, Chairman; Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife;
Bureau of Commercial Fisheries; Bureau of Mines; Geological Survey; and FWPCA. The U. S.
Army Corps of Engineers, Minnesota Department of Conservation, Minnesota Pollution Con-
trol Agency, and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources provided information to the
study group and acted as observers in the group's activities.
Based on data gathered by the individual agencies comprising the Taconite Study Group (49,
(50, 51, 52, 53) and other State reports (54), the following conclusions were reached:
1. Approximately 45 percent of the tailings waste discharged between 1956 and 1967 were
deposited on the delta off shore from the plant. The remaining 55 percent, or approx-
imately 95 million tons, traveled down the face of the delta into the lake. Tailings are
are deposited on the lake bottom at least 10 miles off shore and 15 miles southwest of
the plant.
2. Approximately 60,000 long tons of taconite waste are discharged daily from the plant.
Fifty-four hundred long tons per day of the waste solids discharged to Lake Superior
are less than 4 microns (1 micron equals 1/25, 400th of an inch) in diameter. Part-
icles of this diameter are capable of remaining suspended in water for a considerable
time after discharge.
3. Current measurements in the vicinity of Silver Bay show that the prevailing current is
to the southwest and of sufficient velocity to transport particles of 4 microns or less
more than nine miles per day.
4. As the tailings meet Lake Superior water, "billowy gray clouds" of waste were visible
leaving the density current, both at and under the water surface near the shore line.
Extending off shore as far as 300 feet, these clouds were observed and photographed at
at a depth of 35 feet. It appeared that "green water" was formed as gray tailings clouds
diffused (became less concentrated) and more daylight penetrated among the particles.
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5. The occurrence of tailings was evident in "green water" masses. In one instance the
"green water" containing tailings was visibly present 18 miles southwest from the
plant. "Green water" was observed along the Wisconsin shore line and did not contain
tailings.
6. "Green water" containing tailings has a measurably increased turbidity and contains at
least two to three times more suspended solids than does water that appears clear to
the eye.
7. The State of Minnesota report (54) reported a reduction in the abundance of fish food
organisms associated with the deposition of taconite tailings on the bottom of Lake
Superior. It was estimated the reduction in fish food organisms could be expected to
result in a reduction of the total annual fish catch (commercial and estimated sport
fishing) of 5 percent or less for the area having tailings on the bottom.
8. The study area selected (nine miles by five miles) for sampling was too small to define
the full extent of the area adversely affected. Analysis of data by the Study Group in-
dicates that the area affected extended beyond the furthest sampling point.
9. High concentrations (10 percent and 25 percent) of taconite wastes caused mortalities
among sac fry of rainbow trout in 4-day exposure. The wastes were not acutely toxic
to fingerling sized coho salmon, rainbow trout, white suckers, black bullheads, blue
gills, and yellow perch in 96-hour, static bioassays.
10. Chemical analysis projected to the probable daily discharge shows the following dis-
charge, measured in pounds of certain parameters: copper, 4,100; nickel, 2,500;
zinc, 2,500; lead, 6,100; chromium, 6,200; phosphorus, 51,500; and maganese,
629,000. Other elements in the discharge include silica, arsenic, and substantial
quantities of iron. The chemical state of these metals was not assessed and it would
be presumptious to say at this time what portion of the elements enter into solution.
11. A distinguishing characteristic of tailings discharged by the Reserve Mining Company
is the presence of large quantities of the amphibole cummingtonite.
Data gathered by the FWPCA since April 1, 1969 has shown the presence of taconite tailings,
(utilizing cummingtonite as a tracer) in the municipal water systems of Beaver Bay, Two
Harbors, and Duluth, Minnesota. There has not been sufficient time to determine what
effects, if any, the presence of the tailings has on the quality of the water supply or the users
thereof.
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A large portion of the south shore of Lake Superior is discolored by the sediment contained in discharges from
streams draining the red clay area of northwestern Wisconsin.
SOIL EROSION
Tributary streams to Lake Superior discharge many tons of sediment annually to the lake.
The sediment is derived from the natural processes of weathering and erosion of the rock and
soil and by the activities of man in the basin, and is transported to the lake by the surface
streams. The sediment yield is low when compared to the yields in other areas of the country.
The estimated average annual yield of north shore streams tributary to Lake Superior is 10
tons per square mile. The low yield is due to the geology, soil types, vegetation and land
uses in the basin.
An exception to the generally low sediment yields of Lake Superior tributaries are the
streams along the south shore of the lake in the northwestern red clay area of Wisconsin.
This area, containing 880,000 acres of land in Ashland, Bayfield, Douglas and Iron Counties
is the most severely eroded and high sediment producing area in the basin. Limited data on
the Bad River near Odanah indicates a long term average sediment yield of 278 tons per
square mile.
Damage to valuable trout and recreational streams by sediment resulting from erosion of
the red clay area has occurred. A large portion of the south shore of Lake Superior is dis-
colored by the sediment contained in the discharges from these streams. This adversely
affects the aquatic life in the lake by reducing the depth of light penetration and in settling on the
lake bottom.
These problems have been recognized by interested Federal, State, and local agencies and
are currently under investigation. The Red Clay Interagency Committee, comprised of
Federal, State, and local representatives, issued a report in 1967 which identified the
sources and causes of erosion and sedimentation and proposed an action plan for corrective
measures. (28)
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WASTES FROM WATERCRAFT
Commercial, recreational, and Federal vessels ply the waters of Lake Superior and are
contributors of both untreated and inadequately treated wastes in the open lake and in the
harbor areas. A study conducted by the Minnesota Water Pollution Control Commission
(predecessor of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency) in 1965 of the Port of Duluth con-
cluded that raw and partially treated sewage and significant quantities of solid refuse and
grease are discharged into Duluth harbor from both foreign and domestic vessels. They also
concluded that facilities for collection and disposal of garbage, dunnage and similar refuse
from foreign vessels exists at the port but are too small to serve all the shipping entering the
port. As a result, domestic vessels and possibly a few foreign vessels dump this accumu-
lated material overboard while out on Lake Superior and the other Great Lakes. The report
recommended a vigorous program to control the disposal of all types of wastes from water-
craft in the port. The report also recommended that the facilities for collecting the wastes
be expanded and collection and disposal of solid refuse from all vessels both domestic and
foreign be required.
Certain aspects of water pollution from watercraft have been documented, in the report
"Wastes from Watercraft" (48). This report principally considered pollution caused by the
discharge of sewage, bilge and ballast waters, compartment washings, and litter. The report
points out that the problem of pollution from watercraft is both widespread and varied; wide-
spread because vessels and boats frequent all navigable water areas of the Nation and may
trigger local pollution at any point along their path; varied because of the assortment of mate-
rials which may be spilled or discharged from vessels. A proposed program for the control
of pollution from vessels set forth in the report covers four major waste categories: (1) sew-
age; (2) bilge and ballast waters; (3) litter and related solids; and (4) oil.
Item 10 of the Summary of Findings contained in the "Wastes from Watercraft" report states:
"Federal laws and regulations prohibiting the dumping of litter, sewage, and wastewaters in
specific locations are intended primarily to prevent impairment of navigation and the spread of
communicable disease, animal diseases and plant pests. They are not now wholly effective in
preventing water pollution." Bills have been introduced into the 91st Congress to control
wastes from watercraft.
The States of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan have laws dealing with the vessel pollution
problem. Minnesota's law is applicable to pleasure craft registered in the State and permits
the use of marine toilets equipped with a suitable treatment device approved by the Minnesota
Pollution Control Agency. Registration is contingent upon certification that watercraft with
marine toilets are equipped with an acceptable device. Types of devices accepted include
macerater/chlorinators, holding tanks and incinerators. The State prohibits the discharge of
other wastes and the abandonment of containers holding sewage or other wastes which may
create a nuisance, health hazard, or water pollution. All waters of the State are included in
the law.
The Wisconsin law applies to the inland waters of the State and, therefore, by definition does
not apply to Lake Superior. On applicable waters the law requires the use of a holding tank on any
boat which is equipped with a toilet that is not sealed. Chemical type toilets and incinerator
type toilets may also be used provided the material cannot be disposed of into the water and
that the toilet is of sufficient capacity to handle the passenger load. Wisconsin has prepared a
similar bill for introduction into the current session of the Legislature that would apply to all
waters within the jurisdiction of the State, which would include Lake Superior.
Michigan laws are specific in prohibiting garbage, oil, and refuse dumping from watercraft
25 feet or more in length. Also, the disposal of such wastes from smalller watercraft and the
disposal of wastes from marine toilets could be prosecuted under the State's general health
laws. The Michigan Water Resources Commission in January 1968 adopted a rule to control
pollution from marine toilets on watercraft. The rule does not allow the macerator/chlorin-
ator and does authorize the use of holding tanks or incinerators. The rule becomes effective
January 1, 1970.
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OIL POLLUTION
People throughout the world became aware of the destructive characteristics of oil spilled
in the water environment, and the inadequacy of current measures for dealing with a major
spill when the Torrey Canyon ran aground and broke up off the coast of England in March 1967.
On May 26, 1967 the President of the United States directed the Secretaries of the Interior and
Transportation to undertake a joint study to determine how the resources of the Nation could
best be mobilized to counteract the pollutional effects of spills of oil and other hazardous
materials in our waterways. One of the major needs disclosed by the study was for the
development of a contingency plan to deal with emergencies involving Federal, State, and local
agencies with due regard for each agency's statutory responsibility and capability. On June 7, 1968 the
President directed the Secretaries of the Interior, Defense, and Transportation and the
Director of the Office of Science and Technology to assume special responsibilities in
strengthening our preparedness to act in the event of a major oil spill. The Secretary of the
Interior was directed to assume primary responsibility for completing by July 31, 1968, a
draft of a national multi-agency contingency plan for responding to major pollutional spills.
The National Plan was approved by the President on November 13, 1968. The National Plan
provides guidelines for the establishment of regional contingency plans. Regional Offices of
the Federal Water Pollution Control Administration have developed framework regional con-
tingency plans and are now expanding these plans in accordance with provisions of the
National Plan.
Although oil pollution is presently not a significant problem in Lake Superior, steps have
been taken to insure that a coordinated response of effort among Federal, State, and local
agencies will occur in the event of a major spill. A Contingency Plan for Lake Superior has
been developed in accordance with provisions of the National Plan by the Great Lakes Region
of the FWPCA. The purpose of this Plan is to present guidelines to minimize the pollutional
effects of a major spill of oil, or other hazardous materials in Lake Superior. The objectives
of this plan are to develop effective systems for discovering and reporting the existence of a
pollution incident, promptly instituting measures to restrict the further spread of the pol-
lutant, application of techniques to clean up and dispose of the collected pollutants, and in-
stitution of action to recover cleanup costs and effect enforcement of existing statutes.
Major legal capabilities available to the United States to control oil pollution include the
Federal Water Pollution Control Act as amended, the Oil Pollution Act of 1924 as amended,
and the River and Harbor Act of 1899.
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DISPOSAL OF DREDGED MATERIAL
Responsibility for the improvement and maintenance of the waterways of the United States in
the interest of navigation has been delegated by acts of Congress to the U. S. Army Corps of
Engineers. In carrying out this responsibility, the Corps dredges approximately 10 million
cubic yards annually from Great Lakes harbors and in calendar year 1968 dredged about one
million cubic yards from harbors on Lake Superior. Two-thirds of this total represented
deepening of a portion of Duluth - Superior harbor. The normal annual maintenance dredg-
ing program in Lake Superior is around 300, 000 cubic yards. This is conducted in some of
the commercial harbors shown in Figure 4, and in small boat harbors maintained by the U. S.
Army Corps of Engineers.
The Corps has followed the practice of disposing of most dredged material in authorized
dumping grounds in the open waters of the Great Lakes. Dredging of areas outside the author-
ized navigation channels, in the vicinity of the docks, loading facilities, marinas, etc., is
accomplished by private interests under permit from the Corps. The dredged material ranges
from clean lake sand to river sediments which may be seriously polluted by industrial and
municipal wastes. The dredgings may contain oil and grease, dissolved solids, nutrients and
toxic materials.
Attention has been directed to the problem of the disposal of polluted dredged materials by
the Great Lakes Region, FWPCA. The FWPCA is concerned about the long-term cumulative
effect on incremental additions of these pollutants to the Great Lakes.
During the past two years the Corps of Engineers and Federal Water Pollution Control
Administration have been carrying out a joint study of the water quality problems associated
with dredging. A report of findings is now available for perusal at the Corps District Offices
and various other locations. In the meanwhile, the Corps has provided alternate disposal of
materials dredged from several of the most polluted harbors on the Great Lakes. No harbors
in the Lake Superior are included in this pilot program.
Results of sediment analysis by the FWPCA in Lake Superior harbors indicate the presence
of polluted materials in certain areas of Duluth - Superior, and Ashland harbors. The
analysis showed the sediment contained unacceptable levels of oil and grease, phosphorus and
chemical oxygen demand. The FWPCA will continue to assist the Corps of Engineers by
classifying harbor sediments as to their suitability for open lake disposal. The Corps should
continue their program of developing alternate disposal areas for polluted sediments.
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PESTICIDES
In general, the problems associated with pesticides are problems involving biological mag-
nification of the pesticides in food chains or human food. Furthermore, there is not enough
information at this time to understand or even estimate the importance of a given concentration
of an insecticide such as DDT in the water or the bottom sediments. Based on these reasons,
the concentration of insecticides in fish tissues is one of the best ways of monitoring the con-
tamination of pesticides in a lake.
The word insecticide will be used henceforth in this report because no information is avail-
able to suggest that any significant amount of pesticides, other than insecticides has been
detected in Lake Superior.
Information necessary to determine the kinds and quantities of insecticides used in the Lake
Superior basin was not available. Some data on the concentration in fish were found. Con-
centrations of insecticides are lower in the fishes of Lake Superior than in the fishes of any
other of the Great Lakes according to data furnished by the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries.
Compared to similar species from Lake Michigan these fishes have from four to seven times
less DDT and two to seven times less dieldrin. The absence of a Dutch Elm disease problem,
very little industry, and little farming, probably account for the low values reported. The
persistent insecticides, such as the chlorinated hydrocarbons must be kept from entering
Lake Superior. If they do accumulate there, damage will be apparent for a long period of time
due to the slow flow-through time of the lake. Since the harvested organisms, fish, comprise
a larger percentage of the lake's biomass than in the other Great Lakes, less insecticide
need be added before unacceptable amounts will occur in the important fishes. This is
especially important since the most important species, lake trout, it a long-lived, predatory
species and therefore is an efficient accumulator of insecticides. The low organic matter
content of the water and sediment will also favor accumulation of insecticides in fishes.
Studies made by the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries indicate that dieldrin presently poses
no problem in Lake Superior. Dieldrin levels are little above usual detection limits. One
important reason may be that little or no corn is grown in the basin and so the commonly used
insecticide for corn, aldrin (that converts to dieldrin) in not extensively used.
DDT (including DDT, ODD and DDE) is also much lower in Lake Superior than in the other
Great Lakes but in several species, chubs, lake herring, and larger lake trout, the concentra-
tions are approaching 1. 0 microgram per gram, or above, of wet weight of fish.
As part of the Lake Michigan enforcement conference, a Technical Committee on Pesticides
was established to evaluate the pesticide problem in Lake Michigan and to recommend to the
conferees a program of monitoring and control. The Committee determined that controls
should be instituted to insure that the concentration of various insecticides did not increase
above existing levels in Lake Superior as there are no indications of problems in Lake
Superior fish resulting from these levels. The recommended levels by that Committee there-
fore were that the concentration of DDT in fish not exceed 1. 0 microgram per gram; DDD not
exceed 0. 5 microgram per gram; dieldrin not exceed O."l microgram per gram and all other
chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticides, singly or combined, should not exceed 0. 1 micorgram
per gram. Limits apply to both muscle and whole body and are expressed on the basis of wet
weight of tissue (56).
The Food and Drug Administration officially informed that same Committee that concentra-
tions of 0. 3 parts per million of several insecticides, including dieldrin, in the edible portion
of a fish would be considered sufficient to warrant legal actions.
Indications are that uses of pesticides in the Lake Superior basin are at relatively low
levels. Even with a low usage, insecticides are being concentrated in fish and underline the
importance of caution and surveillance to avoid a future problem.
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Scale!
100 mile>
MAJOR INTERSTATE WATERS
LEGEND:
iiimiiiiimiiMmii [ nTGPSTS I© W3T6PS
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IV. POLLUTION CONTROL ACTIONS AND PROPOSALS
The necessary pollution control actions needed to prevent, control, and abate water pollution
depend upon close cooperation with Federal, State, and local units of government. By working
together and applying their respective capabilities the needed pollution control actions come in-
to fruition. While the Federal role in water pollution control has become a very significant
one, the basic Federal law recognizes the primary right and responsibility of the State agencies
for the necessary pollution control actions in any State. Some of the actions taken by the State
to abate pollution have been discussed in previous sections of this report. This section pre-
sents the Federal Water Pollution Control Administration program plus additional aspects of
the State programs.
FEDERAL WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ADMINISTRATION ACTIVITIES
The responsibilities of the Federal Water Pollution Control Administration were set forth by
the Congress in the Federal Water Pollution Control Act passed in 1956 and subsequently
amended in 1961, 1965 and 1966. The FWPCA, through the Great Lakes Regional Office, is
pursuing a vigorous water pollution control program in the Great Lakes basin through close
cooperation with the States and local agencies. The following is a brief description of some of
the activities being taken in carrying out the agency's responsibilities. Particular reference
is made to those activities relevant to Lake Superior and its drainage basin.
Water Quality Standards
The Federal Water Pollution Control Act as amended by the Water Quality Act of 1965
authorizes the State and the Federal Governments to establish water quality standards for in-
terstate waters. The water quality standards submitted by the States are subject to review by
the Department of the Interior and if found consistent with the intent of the Act, are approved
also as Federal standards by the Secretary of the Interior. Water quality standards include
water use classifications, criteria necessary to support these uses and a plan for implementa-
tion and enforcement.
As part of the adoption procedure, public hearings are held to elicit citizens' views on pro-
posed standards and to ascertain popular wishes as to the use of specific areas of lakes and
streams. This action precedes formal State adoption of the standards.
Water quality standards have been adopted by the Lake Superior basin States under provi-
sions of the Water Quality Act of 1965 and have been approved by the Secretary of the Interior.
Michigan's temperature criteria as well as portions of Minnesota's standards have been ex-
cepted from approval. Figure 6 shows the major interstate waters of the Lake Superior basin,
and Appendix B lists the criteria adopted by the States of Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin
for the open waters of Lake Superior. A copy of the complete set of each State's standards is
available from the appropriate State agency.
In addition to interstate standards, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin have also adopted
statewide intrastate water quality standards.
Lake Superior and many of the tributary waters have long been noted for excellent water
quality and the resultant beneficial uses. Commitments to the preservation of existing high
quality waters will play an important role in the preservation of the waters in the Lake Superior basin.
The Lake Superior states have adopted policy statements establishing their intent to protect the
present high quality of the interstate waters.
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Scale t
100 m.ln
CONSTRUCTION GRANT PROJECTS
LEGEND:
• Completed Projects
36
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Great Lakes - Illinois River Basins Project
The Great Lakes - Illinois River Basins (GLIRB) Project was established in 1960 as a
special task force in what is now the Federal Water Pollution Control Administration. With
headquarters in Chicago, the project was charged with developing comprehensive programs
for eliminating or reducing the pollution of interstate waters and tributaries thereof in the
Great Lakes, the Illinois River, and their tributaries.
The major objectives of the comprehensive program developed by the GLIRB Project in
cooperation with other Federal agencies, with State water pollution control agencies and in-
terstate agencies, and with the municipalities and industries involved were:
- Identification of the causes of water pollution and the effects of such pollution on the qual-
ity of water resources and on beneficial uses.
- The development of agreements on the desired beneficial uses and the water quality re-
required to accommodate those uses.
- The development of water quality control measures to achieve the desired objectives, in-
cluding the establishment of a timetable for their accomplishment.
- Provision of the mechanism for carrying out program objectives, including continuing
surveillance for the purpose of updating the programs to accommodate changing technology
and changing water quality needs.
Through reorganization of the FWPCA, the fulfilling of the major objectives of GLIRB
ceased being the mission of a specific project. The objectives are being fulfilled under the
total FWPCA program.
The established timetable of the GLIRB Project was such that only limited emphasis was
placed upon the Lake Superior basin prior to the reorganization. The major accomplishment
of the project with respect to the Lake Superior basin was the lake current study which is
described in another section.
Construction Grants
With the enactment of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1956, the Federal Govern-
ment established a Federal sewage treatment works construction grants program to help fi-
nance the building of municipal sewage treatment plants. The Federal Government recognized
that wastes discharged from municipal sewers are one of the major causes of water pollution.
The growth of population and industry, coupled with the backlog of needed treatment works,
resulted in a situation that called for increased treatment plant construction at the local level.
Since the 1956 Act, a total of 26 Federal grants have been made to communities in the Lake
Superior basin to help build required sewage treatment facilities. Figure 7 locates these
grants. Grant funds involved in these projects have totaled over $2. 9 million in support of
total project expenditures in excess of $8. 8 million. All the Federally-assisted grant projects
have been completed and placed in operation.
The Construction Grants Section of the Federal Act has been amended three times since its
initial 1956 passage. The trend of financial assistance has been upward with each amendment.
Today's legislation enables municipalities to qualify for consideration for a basic Federal
grant of 30 percent of the eligible cose of a project. A grant of 40 percent can be made in
those States which agree to match the basic 30 percent Federal grant. The Federal grant may
be increased to 50 percent if the State agrees to pay at least 25 percent of the project cost and
enforceable water quality standards have been established for the waters into which the project
discharges. A grant may be increased by 10 percent, to 33, 44 or 55 percent, as appropriate,
37
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if the project is certified by a metropolitan or regional planning agency as conforming with a
comprehensive metropolitan area plan.
All three States in the Lake Superior basin either have legislation to qualify their municipal-
ities for consideration for the higher grant percentages or have introduced enabling legislation
into their State Legislatures. In November 1968, Michigan electors, by a three to one margin,
authorized the sale of $335 million worth of bonds for purposes of assisting communities in
improving existing and constructing new waste treatment plants; $50 million of this total bond
program is to be used for sewer construction assistance for communities without sewers which
are contributing to an existing pollution problem and have low property valuation. A draft copy
of a State law to implement the State grant bond issue which will spell out the details of admin-
istrating and funding specific projects has been completed. Passage of this legislation is ex-
pected in the near future.
Wisconsin provides financial assistance of not less than 25 percent or more than 30 percent
of the cose of construction of waste treatment facilities. Wisconsin statutes authorize a sum
sufficient appropriation up to $6 million per year.
In addition to this program Governor Knowles of Wisconsin has proposed an Outdoor Resources
Action Plan - 200. This plan would establish a $200 million bonding program, of which $144
million would be used for construction of sewage treatment facilities. The plan was approved
by the citizens of Wisconsin in an advisory referendum. Implementation details are currently
in progress.
In Minnesota, a $20 million statewide bonding program to aid local communities with 30 per-
cent of construction costs has been proposed by Governor LeVander. The State fund would be a
grant to municipalities unless or until the Federal Government appropriates sufficient money to
fully fund the presently authorized Federal program. At that time Federal funds going to a
municipality would reimburse the State. A bill to implement this $20 million bonding program
has been introduced into the 1969 session of the Minnesota State Legislature. A second bill has
been introduced into the Legislature that would provide for a $6 million per year appropriation
for State aid to municipalities. Under this proposal the local communities would be eligible to
receive full financial benefit from the Federal program.
Program Grants
Section 7 of the Water Pollution Control Act authorizes an appropriation of $10 million an-
nually for Fiscal Years 1968-71 for grants to State and interstate agencies to assist them in
meeting the costs of establishing and maintaining adequate pollution control programs. Each
State is allotted $12,000, and the remainder of the funds are distributed on the basis of popula-
tion, financial need, and the extent of the water pollution problems facing the State. Since pro-
gram grants were first authorized in Fiscal Year 1957, a total of $4,433,930 in Federal funds
has been allocated to the Lake Superior States for their pollution control programs. By June
1969, Michigan will have received approximately $2,158,273; Minnesota, $1,013,585; and
Wisconsin, $1,262,072. During the current fiscal year Michigan is allocated $338,500;
Minnesota, $148,000; and Wisconsin, $185,500.
Research, Development and Demonstration Grants
The Research, Development and Demonstration Program is mission oriented, employing the
use of grants and contracts for investigations and demonstrations relating to the solution of
problems confronting the attainment or retention of clean water. The program deals with the
full range of water quality problems — from pollution definition and control to water resources
management and planning.
The Federal Water Pollution Control Act specifically authorizes projects concerned with (a)
storm and combined sewers; (b) advanced waste treatment and joint treatment systems for mu-
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nicipal and industrial wastes; and (c) methods for prevention of pollution by industry, including
treatment of industrial wastes.
In addition, research, training, demonstration, and research fellowship grants are available
for the intended purpose to encourage and assist appropriate agencies, institutions, and indi-
viduals in the conduct of studies and training which will achieve clean water.
The information being gathered through the above programs will have a wide range of ap-
plicability and therefore will be of use in pollution control actions in the Lake Superior basin.
An intramural research program of the FWPCA is carried out in eight ongoing laboratories
located across the country. Within the Great Lakes basin, the Administration has established
the National Water Quality Laboratory at Duluth, Minnesota. The mission of this laboratory
is to determine permissible limits of water quality for any water use and the impairment that
can be expected if these limits are exceeded.
In addition to the above, the Federal Water Pollution Control Act specifically authorizes the
Federal Water Pollution Control Administration to conduct research and technical development
work, and make studies with respect to the quality of the waters of the Great Lakes.
Federal Installations
The Federal Government has not overlooked the pollution hazards created by its own activ-
ities. By Executive Order 11288, President Johnson directed the heads of the departments,
agencies, and establishments of the Executive Branch of the Government to provide leadership
in the nationwide effort to improve water quality.
Federal installations in the Lake Superior basin have initiated pollution abatement programs
in accordance with the Order. Excluding those facilities that discharge to municipal systems
there are approximately 124 installations within the basin. These are distributed as follows:
Michigan 73, Minnesota 37, and Wisconsin 14. The size of the installations vary from camp
and picnic grounds at Federal parks to major military installations such as Air Force Bases.
These installations discharge waste after varying degrees of treatment to ground or surface
waters of the basin. Some of the smaller installations provide no treatment at present. Tab-
ulated in Appendix A of this report is an inventory of these installations showing the waste
treatment provided and the status of pollution abatement.
The more significant Federal vessels which frequent the waters and the harbors of Lake
Superior are also listed in the Appendix. The U. S. Coast Guard, Navy, and Army Corps of
Engineers are all acutely aware of the problems associated with vessel pollution. They are
actively pursuing abatement and research and development programs in an effort to obtain
waste treatment devices suitable for shipboard use.
All Corps of Engineers vessels and floating plants (tugs, dredges, derricks, etc.) operating
in Lake Superior have been fitted with macerator/chlorinator units. Efforts are being made to
insure that these devices will be replaced with upgraded disposal units such as holding tanks at
the earliest possible date.
Federal water resources projects and facilities and operations supported by Federal loans,
grants, or contracts are also included in Executive Order 11288. Water resource projects
must be designed, constructed, and operated in a manner which will reduce pollution from such
activities to the lowest practicable level.
The head of each Federal department, agency and establishment has been directed to con-
duct a review of the loan, grant, and contract practices of his own organization to determine
to what extent water pollution control requirements set forth in the Order should be adhered
to by borrowers, grantees, or contractors. This review has resulted in practices designed to
39
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reduce water pollution in various programs. Urban renewal projects now require the con-
struction of separate storm and sanitary systems rather than combined sewers. The nation-
wide highway construction program financed with Federal funds and administered by the Bureau
of Public Roads, is now being conducted in accordance with practices aimed at preventing
water pollution, either during construction or in operation and maintenance. The various
agencies have consulted with the Federal Water Pollution Control Administration in an effort to
insure maximum consideration of water quality in their activities.
This Order represents a major step forward in the battle to preserve and enhance quality of
our Nation's waters. It has sparked a keen awareness on the part of Government officials of
the need for corrective action and vigorous abatement programs. The effort being shown by
these various Federal agencies provides leadership in the nationwide quality improvement pro-
gram.
Technical Programs
The Regional Technical Program provides technical assistance in solving pollution problems
to Federal, State, and local agencies, and to industry. Current technical assistance projects
affecting Lake Superior include:
1. Participation with the Corps of Engineers in a joint study of the water pollution prob-
lems associated with dredging. This includes collection and analysis of samples of
bottom sediments from Lake Superior harbors.
2. Participation in the International Joint Commission study of the feasibility of further
regulation of the levels of the Great Lakes, including Lake Superior. The object of
such further regulation would be to reduce damages resulting from excessively high or
low lake levels.
3. Participation in the Department of the Interior study concerning the effects on water
quality by the discharge of taconite tailings.
The Technical Program also has responsibility for surveillance of water quality throughout
the Region for purposes of water quality standards compliance, basic planning, and long-term
water quality trends. A Regionwide surveillance plan is being developed in cooperation with
the State water pollution control agencies which will include the streams of the basin and the
lake itself.
Basin planning for water pollution control and water quality management is also a responsi-
bility of Technical Programs. This includes inhouse planning studies, participation in the
Great Lakes Basin Commission Type I, or framework study, and the administration of the
planning grants program authorized by the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended.
Public Information
The Public Information Program of the Federal Water Pollution Control Administration is
designed to present facts about water pollution control to the news media, interested groups
and organizations, and the public, generally. The program serves the public's right to know
what FWPCA is doing and trying to accomplish. It also serves those who need particular in-
formation in order to participate effectively in water pollution control programs.
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STATE WATER POLLUTION CONTROL PROGRAMS
Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin each have water pollution control programs which pro-
vide for surveillance and enforcement, surveys and special studies and long range water
quality management planning activities. Their programs also include review of municipal
and industrial waste treatment plant plans and specifications for conformity with Federal,
State and local pollution control regulations, review of treatment plant maintenance and
operation procedures and plant efficiencies and technical assistance in waste treatment prob-
lems to both municipalities and industries. Each State has a program for the certification of
waste treatment plant operators and a commensurate program for the training of operators to
meet certification requirements, and each State conducts a public information program for
the dissemination of water pollution control news to the general public as well as special in-
formation to those professionally interested.
Michigan
The Michigan Water Resources Commission planned in Fiscal Year 1969 to continue to
emphasize the enforcement of pollution abatement with subsequent water quality improvement
and prevention of water quality degradation. The Commission is charged with control over
the pollution of any waters of the State and the Great Lakes and to protect and conserve the
water resources of the State. Michigan's plans call for expanded action in many elements of
water pollution control. The program of establishing intrastate water quality standards is to
be completed in Fiscal Year 1969, and with the passage of a $335 million bond issue, the
State is now able to provide 25 percent grants to municipalities for the construction of waste
treatment facilities.
The State's water quality surveillance program is accelerating with plans for automated
sampling analysis and data processing. Commission rule concerning watercraft pollution will
go into effect January 1, 1970, and new statutory requirements for certifying industrial and
commercial waste treatment operators will require a new agency program for training and
certification of those operators. The Michigan Water Resources Commission chairs an in-
terdepartmental committee on water and related land use planning.
Michigan's current fiscal year water pollution control budget is $995,000 and approximately
74 man-years are assigned to that effort. Increases are proposed in Fiscal Year 1970 which
will contribute further to the Commission's ability to assure protection of the State's waters.
In addition to the above, the Michigan Department of Public Health through its Waste Water
Control Section, expends $130,000 and approximately 12 man years on pollution control.
Minnesota
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has planned a program of expansion and special
contracts in Fiscal Year 1969. The Agency has overall responsibility, at the State level, for
managing the quality of the waters of Minnesota by controlling the sources of pollution which
may adversely affect water quality. Minnesota's program includes several specific activities
to improve the water pollution control effort. Effluent standards have been adopted for all
waters of the State and more waters are to be monitored on a more frequent basis throughout
the State. A systematic program of adopting water use classifications and establishing
water quality standards is underway for intrastate waters. The State's criteria for determin-
ing priorities for Federal grants for the construction of municipal waste facilities enables
better distribution of funds to areas where pollution problems are greatest. The important
aspect of efficient plant operation will be improved with the planned use of regional operator
training schools, although certification is not mandatory in Minnesota. A bill has been in-
troduced into the current session of the legislature that would require mandatory certifica-
tion. The Agency's plans to expand its staff and activity in all elements of the water pollution
control program is a significant expression of the State's concern.
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Currently Minnesota's annual water pollution control budget is $717,476 and approximately
46 man-years are assigned to that effort. The Fiscal Year 1969 budget and the proposed
Fiscal Year 1970 budget are significantly higher than previous years, and an increase over
present levels of about 12 man-years is projected for Fiscal Year 1970.
Wisconsin
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources serves as the central unit of State govern-
ment to protect, maintain and improve the quality and management of the waters of the State
and to organize a comprehensive program for that purpose. Wisconsin's Fiscal Year 1969
program includes many activities which are an expansion of the State's effort. Intrastate
water quality standards have been adopted and a system of effluent charges for the control of
water pollution is being studied. Plans call for at least annual inspection of all municipal,
industrial and State operated sewage treatment plants. The mandatory certification of waste
treatment plant operators recently went into effect; and in keeping with that program, the
operator training program is being significantly upgraded and expanded. As a step in a pro-
gram of flood plain and shoreland management, the State is currently overseeing local
administration of ordinances and development of flood plain information. The water resources
planning activity is also scheduled for expansion to provide plans for each of the State's re-
gions.
In Fiscal Year 1969 Wisconsin's water pollution control budget is $1,879,800 and 68 man-
years are assigned to that effort. Projections for Fiscal Year 1970 call for increases which
will further expand the State's water pollution control effort.
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V. WATER QUALITY CRITERIA
The quality of water in Lake Superior surpasses that of virtually all other major lakes of
the United States. The extremely low dissolved and suspended solids, the very cold tempera-
tures, the extreme clarity, and the high oxygen concentration of the water coupled with the
size of the lake, makes a unique natural resource that has no equal in the world.
Most of the lake is uniform in nature, including such indices that normally vary seasonally;
as for example, temperature and oxygen. For the most part, the dissolved materials present
in the water are those that are contributed by natural causes. Present discharges from tribu-
tary streams and man-made outfalls are few in number and mostly small in size, therefore as
a general rule only limited areas are adversely affected by them. Except for minimal pest-
icide contamination, the lake is essentially free of synthetic organic chemicals that cause so
many problems in other waters. This existing exceptionally high water quality must be pre-
served.
Water quality standards have been adopted for Lake Superior by the Lake Superior States
and approved by the Department of the Interior. The States assigned their highest use
categories to Lake Superior (i.e., public water supply, whole body contact recreation, and
cold water fishery). The water quality criteria adopted to protect these designated uses were
established using the best available knowledge at that time. Hence, the water quality stand-
ards for Lake Superior are the most restrictive adopted by the States of Michigan, Minnesota,
and Wisconsin, and are among the most stringent standards nationally.
Additional data concerning water quality criteria specific to Lake Superior waters are now
available as a result of recently completed research at the FWPCA's National Water Quality
Laboratory at Duluth, Minnesota. The National Technical Advisory Committee on Water
Quality Criteria (46) issued a report on April 1, 1968 that provides additional information on
water quality criteria. These data can be used as a guide to amend the existing water quality
standards on Lake Superior. In accordance with the provisions of the Water Quality Act of
1965, it was anticipated that after the initial setting of standards periodic review and revision
would be required to take into account changing technology and advances in knowledge of water
quality requirements developed through research.
While data on the existing quality of Lake Superior is not abundant, there have been con-
tinuous monitoring stations operated at the Duluth water intake and on the St. Mary's River
by the FWPCA's water quality monitoring system. From these activities a reasonable
picture is available as to the elemental composition of the water for many of the major con-
stituents .
On the basis of the above, water quality criteria can be developed on the open waters of
Lake Superior to reflect more appropriately the uniqueness of the lake. These criteria are
presented in Table 3. The rationale for these criteria are presented in Appendix C.
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TABLE 3
PROPOSED WATER QUALITY CRITERIA FOR THE OPEN WATERS OF LAKE SUPERIOR1
(Mg/1 unless otherwise specified)
2 3
Parameter 90% Value Maximum Value
Dissolved Oxygen >10.0 9.0
Turbidity 4 0.5 JTU 5.0JTU
Color - Wavelength A,- 0. 01 absorbance units 0. 05 absorbance units
Wavelength B 0.05 absorbance units 0.25 absorbance units
Total Dissolved Solids 65.0
Total Coliform Bacteria 10 per 100 ml 1,000 per 100 ml
Fecal Coliform Bacteria 10 per 100 ml 200 per 100 ml
Detergents (MBAS) 0.1 0.4
Phenol - 0.001
Ammonia Nitrogen 0.05 0.1
Phosphorus - 0.01
Iron 0.03 0.1
Cadmium 0.002 0.005
Chromium 0.02 0.05
Copper 0.008 0.012
Lead 0.03 0.05
Nickel 0.015 0.03
Zinc 0.01 0.015
Cyanide 0.002 0.004
Hydrogen Sulfide (as total sulfide measured 0.002 0.02
at bottom-water interface)
Taste and Odor - Chloroform Extracts 0. 03 0. 05
Threshold Odor 1.0 3.0
Mean Value Maximum Value
Temperature (Surface in top raptor)
January, February, March 2°C 5°C
April, May, June 10°C 18°C
July, August, September 18°C 21°C
October, November, Decembei 8°C 15° C
Depths greater than 120 feet: ^e- 3r over 6°C
pH — Should remain between 6. 8 to 8. fl units
Radioactivity — Recommendations for proposed radiological criteria will be deferred pending
development of model criteria by Federal Water Pollution Control Adminis-
tration, Atomic Energy Commission, and U. S. Public Health Service.
General: For nonpersistent wastes discharged directly to Lake Superior, and for other indi-
vidual chemicals, the 90% value is 1/20 of the 96-hour TLm value and the maximum
value is 1/10 of the 96-hour TLm value. For persistent complex wastes and other
individual materials, the 90% value is 1/100 of the 96-hour TLm value and the max-
imum value is 1/20 of the 96-hour TLm value.
Zones of tributary influence and mixing zones should not exceed a linear distance equal in
feet to the cube root of the discharge in mgd x 500. In these zones other standards may be
applicable but in no case can the 96-hour TLm value be exceeded.
2
90% of the values obtained at one location must not exceed this value. (For dissolved-oxygen
the stated value is a minimum.)
o
Maximum value not to be exceeded. (For dissolved-oxygen the stated value is a minimum.)
Wavelength A: 3500-8000 angstroms, 10 centimeters light path.
c
Wavelength B: 2400-3500 angstroms, 10 centimeters light path.
44
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The solitude, peace and quiet beauty found in many areas around
Lake Superior refreshes the spirit of those who seek it.
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VI. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
1. Lake Superior is a priceless natural heritage which the present generation holds in trust
for posterity, with an obligation to pass it on in the best possible condition.
2. The esthetic value of Lake Superior is of major importance. The lake's deep blue appear-
ance it a significant tourist attraction.
X Because of the low mineral content of Lake Superior's waters, increases in the range of 2
to 50 parts per billion of heavy metals such as copper, chromium, zinc, and cadmium will
have lasting deleterious effects upon the lake.
4. The extreme clarity and cold temperature of the waters of Lake Superior are a necessity
to support its present ecology. A reduction in light penetration will significantly alter the
types of life therein. The clarity of the lake is extremely susceptible to being reduced by
pollutants.
5. The portion of Lake Superior shallow enough to provide suitable fish spawning areas is
limited to a small band around the shoreline. This area is most susceptible to the influence of
natural and man-made sediments. Deposition on the bottom of fine particles discharged to
Lake Superior is a threat to the inshore food producing area and to the incubation of important
fish species.
6. Water quality criteria can be established to protect the esthetic value, recreational uses
and the unique aquatic life of the lake and yet such that reasonable allowance is made for future
municipal and industrial expansion.
7. Lake Superior is an oligotrophic lake. Nutrient values in some area of the lake have been
reported at levels approaching those commonly associated with nuisance algal growths. How-
ever, other factors, such as temperature, are limiting.
8. Outflow from Lake Superior passes through Lakes Huron, Erie and Ontario. Dissolved
chemicals in this outflow contribute to the levels found in these downstream lakes.
9. The discharge of taconite tailings to Lake Superior from the Reserve Mining Company,
E. W. Davis Works, has a deleterious effect on the ecology of a portion of the lake by reducing
organisms necessary to support fish life.
10. The quantitiy of oxygen normally dissolved in water is one of the more important ingredi-
ents necessary for a healthy balanced aquatic life. The discharge of treated and untreated
municipal and industrial wastes with high concentrations of biochemical oxygen demand has
caused oxygen depletion in the St. Louis River, Duluth - Superior harbor, and Montreal River.
11. Watercraft plying the waters of Lake Superior are contributors of both untreated and in-
adequately treated wastes in local harbors and in the open lake, and intensify local pollution
problems.
12. Oil discharges from industrial plants, commercial ships and careless loading and un-
loading of cargoes despoil beaches and other recreational areas, coat and hulls of boats and
are deleterious to fish and aquatic life.
13. Evidence of bacterial pollution has been reported in the St. Louis River, and Duluth Har-
bor area in Minnesota; and Superior Harbor area, Ashland inshore area and reaches of the
Montreal River in Wisconsin.
14. The maintenance of waterways for commercial and recreational use is a necessary activ-
ity. The deposition of polluted dredgings contributes to the degradation in quality of Lake
Superior.
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15. Adverse effects upon water quality and water uses of streams in the red clay area of
northwestern Wisconsin is occurring as a result of land runoff from poor land management
practices. The sediment contained in the discharges from streams in this area has an adverse
effect on Lake Superior.
16. A persistent pollutant entering directly into the waters of Lake Superior or dissolved in
the water that feeds the lake mixes with and becomes an integral part of a significent portion
of the lake water.
17. Discharges of wastes originating in Michigan and Wisconsin cause pollution of the inter-
state Montreal River. Discharges of wastes originating in Minnesota and Wisconsin cause
pollution in the interstate St. Louis River and Duluth - Superior harbor. These discharges
endanger the health or welfare of persons in States other than those in which such discharges
originate. This pollution is subject to abatement under the provisions of the Federal Water
Pollution Control Act, as amended (33 U. S. C. 466 et. seq.).
We conserve so that our own and future generations
will be able to enjoy...
Congressman Wayne N. Aspinall
Colorado
47
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VII. RECOMMENDATIONS
It is recommended that:
1. Water quality criteria as shown in Table 3 (page 44) be included as part of the inter-
state water quality standards on Lake Superior to reflect more appropriately the
uniqueness of the lake.
2. The FWPCA and the States keep the discharge of taconite tailings to Lake Superior
from the Reserve Mining Company, E.W. Davis Works, under continuing surveillance
and report to the conferees at six month intervals on any findings that interstate pol-
lution is occurring or is likely to occur, and the State of Minnesota is urged to take
such regulatory actions as necessary to control the intrastate pollution resulting from
these discharges, if any.
3. The FWPCA and the States adjust or modify water quality surveillance plants for the
Lake Superior basin to insure that plans are sufficiently sensitive to monitor changes
in water quality. The FWPCA and States are requested to report to the conferees
within six months concerning their program.
4. Secondary biological waste treatment be provided by all municipalities in the Lake
Superior basin. This action is to be accomplished by Janury 1973 or earlier if re-
quired by Federal-State water quality standards.
5. Continuous disinfection be provided throughout the year for all municipal waste treat-
ment plant effluents. This action should be accomplished as soon as possible and not
later than May 1970.
6. Continuous disinfection be provided for industrial effluents containing pathogenic
organisms which indicate the presence of such pathogens. This action should be ac-
complished as soon as possible and not later than May 1970.
7. Waste treatment be provided by municipalities to achieve at least 80 percent reduction
of total phosphorus from each State. This action is to be accomplished by January
1973, or earlier if required by Federal-State water quality standards.
8. Industries not connected to municipal sewer systems provide treatment equivalent to
that of municipalities so as not to cause the degradation of Lake Superior water quality.
This action is to be accomplished by January 1973 or earlier if required by Federal-
State water quality standards.
9. Each State water pollution control agency make necessary corrections to the list in
Appendix A of municipal and industrial waste discharges to the Lake Superior basin.
In addition, information should be provided on each source to indicate whether it dis-
charges pollutants, including nutrients, that have a deleterious effect on Lake Superior
water quality. Detailed action plans for treatment of all wastes having deleterious
effects should be developed, where not already completed. Such plans shall identify
the principal characteristics of the waste material now being discharged, the quan-
tities, the proposed program for construction or modification of remedial facilities
and a timetable for accomplishment, giving target dates in detail. This list shall be
presented to the conferees within six months.
10. Unified collection systems serving contiguous urban areas be encouraged.
11. Each of the State's water pollution control agencies accelerate programs to provide for
the maximum use of area-wide sewage facilities to discourage the proliferation of
small treatment plants in contiguous urbanized areas and foster the replacement of
septic tanks with adequate collection and treatment.
48
-------
12. Each State water pollution control agency list the municipalities or communities having
combined sewers. The listing should include a proposed plan for minimizing bypassing
so as to utilize to the fullest extent possible the capacity of interceptor sewers for con-
veying combined flow to treatment facilities. Construction of separate sewers or other
remedial action to prevent pollution from this source is to be completed by October
1977.
13. Existing combined sewers be separated in coordination with all urban reconstruction
projects except where other techniques can be applied to control pollution from com-
bined sewer overflows. Combined sewers should be prohibited in all new developments.
14. Discharge of treatable industrial wastes to municipal sewer systems be encouraged.
15. The States institute necessary controls to ensure that the concentration of DDT in fish
not exceed 1. 0 micrograms per gram; DDD not exceed 0. 5 micrograms per gram;
Dieldrin not exceed 0. 1 micrograms per gram and all other chlorinated hydrocarbon
insecticides, singly or combined, should not exceed 0.1 micrograms per gram. Lim-
its apply to both muscle and whole body and are expressed on the basis of wet weight
of tissue.
16. Uniform State rules and regulations for controlling wastes from watercraft should be
adopted. These rules and regulations should generally conform with the rules and reg-
ulations approved by the conferees to the Lake Michigan - Four State Enforcement
Conference. Commensurate interstate requirements controlling the discharge of
wastes from commerical vessels should be the responsibility of the Federal Govern-
ment.
17. The dumping of polluted dredged material into Lake Superior be prohibited.
18. Programs be developed by appropriate State and Federal agencies to control soil
erosion in the basin. The action plan developed by the Red Clay Interagency Commit-
tee should become an integral part of the programs conducted by all appropriate
agencies, groups and private individuals.
19. The discharge of visible oil from any source be eliminated.
20. The recommendations of this enforcement conference be adopted as part of the States'
enforceable water quality standards.
49
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. Classified Directory of Wisconsin Manufacturers, Wisconsin Manufacturers Associa-
tion, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 1968.
2. Commercial Fish Production in the Great Lakes, 1867-1960. Technical Report No. 3,
Great Lakes Fisheries Commission. Authors: N. Baldwin and R. Saalseld.
3. A Comprehensive Program for Water Pollution Control for the Lake Superior Drainage
Basin, U. S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Public Health Service,
1954.
4. Great Lakes Commission Annual Report, 1968.
5. Industrial Waste Inventory Lake Superior Basin, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan,
State agencies of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan, 1968.
6. Inventory of Municipal Waste Facilities for Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan, 1968.
Figures on Waterborne Commerce in Lake Superior Area, by Department of the Army,
St. Paul District Corps of Engineers, May 1, 1968.
7. The Lake Superior Watershed Unit, State of Minnesota, Department of Conservation,
Division of Waters, Bulletin 24, February 1966.
8. Minnesota Directory of Manufacturers, Minnesota Department of Business Development,
1964.
9. Municipal Sewage Treatment Plant Census Date, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency,
1968.
10. Ragotzkie, R. A. , The Keweenaw Current, A Regular Feature of the Summer Circula-
tion of Lake Superior, University of Wisconsin, Technical Report 29, 1966.
11. Recreation in Wisconsin, State of Wisconsin Department of Resource Development,
1962.
12. Report on an Investigation of the Pollution in the Lake Superior Drainage Basin, made
during 1965 and early 1966, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, August 28,
1966.
13. Report on the Water Quality Survey in Wisconsin Waters of Lake Superior, made during
July 1968, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Division of Environmental
Protection, October 23, 1968.
14. Rodgers, G. K. , The Thermal Bar in the Laurentian Great Lakes, Great Lakes
Research Division, University of Michigan, Publication 13, pages 358-363, 1965.
15. Ruschmeyer, O. R. and Olson, T. A. , Water Movements and Temperatures of West-
ern Lake Superior, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, for Minnesota
Water Pollution Control Commission, November 1958.
16. The St. Louis River Watershed Unit, State of Minnesota Department of Conservation,
Division of Waters, Bulletin 22, November 1964.
17. Shoreline Recreation Resources of the United States, Report to the Outdoor Recreation
Resources Review Commission, by the George Washington University, 1962.
18. State of Wisconsin Water Quality Standards for Interstate Waters with Report on Imple-
mentation and Enforcement, State of Wisconsin Department of Resource Development,
Madison, Wisconsin, June 1967.
19. State Water Pollution Control Plan, (State program grant application from Michigan,)
Michigan Water Resources Commission, July 1968.
50
-------
20. Water Resources Data for Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan, Surface Water
Records, U.S. Department of the Interior, Geological Survey, 1966.
21. The Water Resources of the Upper Peninsula Drainage Area, State of Michigan, Water
Resources Commission, Department of Natural Resources, October 1968.
22. Water Resource Uses - Present and Prospective for Lake Superior and the St. Mary's
River and Water Quality Standards and Plan of Implementation, State of Michigan,
Water Resources Commission, Department of Conservation, revised June 1967.
23. Water Quality Standards for the Interstate Waters of Minnesota by the Minnesota Water
Pollution Control Commission, June 1967.
24. Wisconsin Census Data, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, 1966.
25. Wisconsin's Economy, State of Wisconsin Department of Resource Development, 1962.
26. United States Census of Population for Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan, U. S.
Department of Commerce, Bureau of Census, 1960.
27. Municipal Water Facilities Inventory for Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, U. S.
Department of Health, Education and Welfare, Public Health Service, 1963.
28. Erosion and Sedimentation Control on the Red Clay Soils of Northwestern Wisconsin,
Red Clay Interagency Committee, 1967.
29. Report on Surface Drainage, Lake Superior Watersheds, Prepared by Working Group
of Water Subcommittee, Natural Resources Council of State Agencies, September 1967.
30. Water Quality Sampling Program, Minnesota Lakes and Streams, Volume Five, 1964-
1965, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Division of Water Qualtiy, Section of
Standards and Surveys.
31. Lake Superior Limnological Data, 1951-57, Special Scientific Report - Fisheries No.
297, United States Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, April 1959.
32. Putnam, H. D. and Olson, T. A,, Studies on the Productivity and Plankton of Lake
Superior, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, for Minnesota Water
Pollution Control Commission, June 1961.
33. Ruschmeyer, O. R., Olson, T.A. and Bosch, H.M. , Lake Superior Study - 1956,
School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, for Minnesota Water Pollution Con-
trol Commission, June 1957.
34. Putnam, H. D. and Olson, T. A., An Investigation of Nutrients in Western Lake
Superior, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, for Minnesota Water Pol-
lution Control Commission, June 1960.
35. Beeton, Alfred M. , Indices of Great Lakes Eutrophication, Great Lakes Research
Division, the University of Michigan, Publication No. 15, 1966.
36. Beeton, Alfred M. , Eutrophication of the St. Lawrence Great Lakes, Limnology and
Oceanography, Vo. 10, No. 2, April 1965.
37. Powers, Charles F. and Robertson, Andrea, The Aging Great Lakes, Scientific
American, Vol. 215, November 1966.
38. Report on Investigation of Pollution of the St. Louis River, St. Louis Bay and Superior
Bay, June-August 1961, Minnesota Department of Health for the Water Pollution Con-
trol Commission, the Wisconsin State Board of Health, and Committee on Water Pol-
lution.
51
-------
39. Quality of Waters, Minnesota, A Compilation, 1955-62, State of Minnesota, Depart-
ment of Conservation, Division of Waters, Bulletin 21, June 1963.
40. Putnam, H. D. and Olson, T.A., A Preliminary Investigation of Nutrients in Western
Lake Superior 1958 - 1959, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, for
Minnesota Water Pollution Control Commission, June 1959.
41. Planning Status Report, Water Resource Appraisals for Hydroelectric Licensing,
W'estern Great Lakes Tributaries, Federal Power Commission, Bureau of Power, 1966.
42. Planning Status Report, Water Resource Appraisals for Hydroelectric Licensing, St.
Louis River Basin, Federal Power Commission, Bureau of Power, 1965.
43. Excessive Water Fertilization, Report to the Water Subcommittee, Natural Resources
Committee of (Wisconsin) State Agencies, January 31, 1967.
44. Water Oriented Outdoor Recreation - Lake Superior Basin, U. S. Department of the
Interior, Bureau of Outdoor Recreation, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1969. (In press.)
45. Rainey, R.H., Natural Displacement of Pollution from the Great Lakes, Science, Vol.
155, March 10, 1967.
46. Water Quality Criteria, Report of the National Technical Advisory Committee to the
Secretary of the Interior, Federal Water Pollution Control Administration, U. S.
Department of the Interior, April 1, 1968.
47. Interim Report on the Regulation of Great Lakes Levels, International Joint Commis-
sion, Canada and United States, July 1968.
48. Wastes From Watercraft, Department of the Interior, Federal Water Pollution Control
Administration, August 7, 1967.
49. Investigation of the Distribution of Taconite"Tailings in Lake Superior, U.S. Depart-
ment of the Interior, Federal Water Pollution Control Administration, Great Lakes
Region, September-October 1968.
50. Effects of Dumping Taconite Tailings in Lake Superior on Commercial Fisheries, U. S.
Department of the Interior, Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, August 14, 1968.
51. Report on Tailings Disposal at Reserve Mining Company's Plant, Silver Bay,
Minnesota, U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Mines, Twin Cities Office of
Mineral Resources. 1968.
52. Bioassays of Taconite Wastes Against Fish and Other Aquatic Organisms, U.S.
Department of the Interior, Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife, October 1968.
53. Preliminary Report on Streamflow Conditions and Sedimentation in the Vicinity of
Silver Bay, Minnesota, U.S. Department of the Interior, Geological Survey, November
1968.
54. Bottom Fauna of the Minnesota North Shore of Lake Superior as Related to Deposition
of Taconite Tailings and Fish Production, State of Minnesota, Department of Con-
servation, Division of Game and Fish and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency,
October 10, 1968.
55. Minnesota Department of Health Report on Investigations of Fish Kill in the St. Louis
River near Fond du Lac, Carlton, and St. Louis Counties, May 21-22, for Minnesota
Water Pollution Control Commission, 1958.
56. Report on Insecticides in Lake Michigan, Prepared by Pesticides Committee of The
Lake Michigan Enforcement Conference, November 1968.
52
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APPENDIX A
53
-------
Information contained in the following tables of waste dis-
charges are as currently known to the Federal Water Pol-
lution Control Administration. No interpretation of the
adequacy or inadequacy of the existing treatment or the
abatement schedule is made.
54
-------
COMMUNITY OR
DISTRICT
Ahmeek
Allouez Twp.
Baltic
Baraga
Be r gland
Bessemer
Big Bay
Bruce Crossing
Calumet
Chatham
Copper City
Erwin Twp.
Ewen
Florida
Gay
Houghton - Hancock
Hubbell
Ironwood
Ironwood Twp.
Ishpeming
Ishpeming Twp. A.
Ishpeming Twp. B.
Lake Linden
L'Anse
Laurium
Marenisco
Marquette
Mass-Greenland
Mohawk
Munising
Negaunee
Newberry
Ontonagon
Painesdale
Portage Twp.
Ramsay
Rockland
South Range
Trout Creek
Wakefield
Watersmeet
TYPE OF
TREATMENT
(EXISTING)
None
None
Primary
Primary
None
Secondary
Primary
None
Secondary
None
Primary
Secondary
None
None
Primary
Secondary
None
Secondary
Secondary
Primary
Primary
Primary
None
Secondary
Primary
None
Primary
None
None
Primary
Secondary
Primary
Primary
None
None
None
None
Primary
None
Secondary
Primary
White Pine
STATUS OF MUNICIPAL WASTE DISCHARGES
(As of March 1, 1969)
MICHIGAN
WHERE DISCHARGED
Hills Creek
Hills Creek
Br. of Pilgrim River
Lake Superior
Lake Gogebic
Kallander Creek
Lake Independence
Clear Creek
Ground waters
Slapneck Creek
Trap Rock River
Ground waters
So. Br. of
Ontonagon River
Hammell Creek
Tobacco River
Portage Lake
Torch Lake
Montreal River
Welch Creek
Carp River
Carp River
Carp River
Torch Lake
Linden Creek
Hammell Creek
Presque Isle
River
Carp River
Flintsteel River
Hills Creek
Anna River
Ditch
Tahquamenon River
Ontonagon River
Ditches
Huron Creek
Black River
Rockland Creek
Br. of Pilgrim River
Trout Creek
Planter Creek
Middle Branch of
Ontonagon River
Mineral River
ABATEMENT
SCHEDULE
Secondary
55
-------
INDUSTRY AND
LOCATION
Bancroft Dairy
Marquette
Royal Oak Charcoal
Marquette
Bosch Brewing
Houghton
Kimberly Clark
Munising
Calumet and Hecla
Osceola Mine
Calumet
Cleveland Cliffs Iron
Eagle Mills
White Pine Copper
White Pine
STATUS OF INDUSTRIAL WASTE DISCHARGES
(As of March 1, 1969)
MICHIGAN
Hoerner-Waldorf, Inc.
Huss-Ontonagon Mill
Division
Ontonagon
TYPE OF
TREATMENT
(EXISTING)
Septic tank
Oil and tar
separator
San. - city sewers
Hops removed
Label screen on
bottle washer
San. - septic tanks
and tile field
Chem. precip. &
settling.
San. - city sewers
None
Seepage Lagoon
San. sewage
from Tolfrey Shaft
Chem. precip.
and lagoon
San. sewage
Sec. treat. & CL2
Save-all,
San. - city sewer
WHERE DISCHARGED
Dead River via
Unnamed Creek
Lake Superior
Portage Lake
Lake Superior
Hammel Creek to
Torch Lake
Argentine and Tolfrey Cr.
Native Cr. and Mineral
River - Lake Superior
Mineral River - Lake
Superior
Ontonagon River
ABATEMENT
SCHEDULE1
E
B
B
B
B
A
A
E
56
-------
STATUS OF INDUSTRIAL WASTE DISCHARGES
(As of March 1, 1969)
MICHIGAN
(CONTINUED)
INDUSTRY AND
LOCATION
Ontonagon Valley Coop.
Creamery
Bruce Crossing
Celotex Corporation
L'Anse
Superior Packing
Ironwood
Somer's Slaughterhouse
Newberry
Board of Power and
Light
Marquette
U. P. Generating Co.
Marquette
U. P. Power Co.
L'Anse
TYPE OF
TREATMENT
(EXISTING)
Haul whey
Spray irrigation
Cooling water
None
Ash disposal -
Lagoon
Cooling water
None
Ash disposal -
Lagoon
Cooling water
None
Lake Superior Engineer- Seepage Lagoon
ing Company
Winona
Northern Automatic
Elec. Foundry
Ishpeming
Cooling and
settling ponds
WHERE DISCHARGED
Clear Creek and
Baltimore River
Ground water
Ground water
Ground water
Lake Superior
Lake Superior
Lake Superior
Dead River
Falls River and
Lake Superior
Carp River
ABATEMENT
SCHEDULE1
B
B
B
B
B
A - Control adequate
B - Control provided - adequacy not established
C - No control - need not established
D - Control provided - protection unreliable
E - Control inadequate
57
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COMMUNITY OR
DISTRICT
Aurora
Babbitt
Biwabik
Buhl
Carlton
Chlsholm
Cloquet
Duluth - Main Plant
Duluth - Fairmont Park
Duluth - Gary -New Duluth
Duluth - Smithville
Eveleth
Floodwood
Franklin
Fraser
Gilbert
Grand Marais
Ribbing
Hoyt Lakes
Iron Junction
Kelly Lake
St. Louis County
Kinney
TYPE OF
TREATMENT
(EXISTING)
Secondary
Secondary
Secondary
Secondary
Primary
Secondary
Primary
Primary
Primary
Primary
Primary
Secondary
None
Primary
Secondary
Secondary
Primary
Secondary
Secondary
Primary
Secondary
Primary
Leonidas
McKinley
Meadowlands
Mountain Iron
Nichols Twp.
St. Louis County
Proctor
Scalon
Silver Bay
Taconite Harbor
Cook County
Thompson Twp. - Esko
Corner Carlton County
Two Harbors
Virginia
Wrenshall
Nopeming Sanatorium
Duluth, Minnesota
STATUS OF MUNICIPAL WASTE DISCHARGES
(As of March 1, 1969)
MINNESOTA
WHERE DISCHARGED
Creek to St. Louis River
Embarrass River
Embarrass Lake
Buhl Creek to East
Swan River
St. Louis River
Chisholm Creek to
East Swan River
St. Louis River
St. Louis Bay
St. Louis River
St. Louis River
St. Louis River
Creek to Elbow Lake
Floodwood River
Mine Cave
Creek to Six Mile Lake
Ditch to Horseshoe
Lake to Embarrass River
Lake Superior
Hibbing Creek to
East Swan River
Lower Partridge Lake
Creek to St. Louis River
West Swan River
Creek to McQuade
Lake to W. Two Rivers
Creek to St. Louis River
McKinley Lake and Cr.
to Embarrass River
Cr. to Whiteface River
Cr. to West Two Rivers
Creek to Mashkenode Lake
system, Fairmont Park Plant
St. Louis River
Lake Superior
Lake Superior
Midway River
Agate Bay - Lake Superior
East Two Rivers to
Three Mile Lake
Ravine to Silver Brook
to St. Louis River
Ditch to Mission Creek
Primary
Primary
Secondary
Secondary
Secondary
Duluth sewer
Primary
Secondary
Secondary
Secondary
Primary
Secondary
Secondary
Secondary
ABATEMENT
SCHEDULE
12-18-71
11-12-73
6-18-71
6-18-71
6-18-71
6-18-71
12-18-71
12-18-71
12-18-71
6-18-72
12-18-71
58
-------
STATUS OF INDUSTRIAL WASTE DISCHARGES
(As of March 1, 1969)
MINNESOTA
INDUSTRY AND
LOCATION
Minnesota Power
and Light Co.
Duluth
Superwood Co.
Duluth
U. S. Steel Co.,
Duluth Works
Duluth
Arrowhead Blacktopping
Duluth
R.J. Reynolds
Foods, Inc.
Duluth
Arrowhead Sand
and Gravel Co.
Duluth
Two Harbors Power Plant
Two Harbors
Reserve Mining Co.
E.W. Davis Works
Silver Bay
Erie Mining -
Taconite Harbor
Power Plant
Taconite Harbor
U. S. Customs and
Immigration
Pigeon River
Continental Oil Co.
Wrenshall
TYPE OF
TREATMENT
(EXISTING)
Pneumatic ash
system
Settling pond
Oil and solids
removal pond, spent
acid disposal pit
Oil trap
Process waste - Mun.
Cooling and retort
waste - none
Tailings basin
None
Pneumatic ash
system
Secondary
Northwest Paper Co.
Cloquet
A.P.I, oil separator,
oil removal pond,
seepage pond, steam
strippers, spent
caustic recovery
aeration ponds
Screens and flota-
tion save-all, lime
sludge ponds, clari-
fier, sulfite liquor
for road binder
WHERE DISCHARGED
St. Louis Bay
Superior Bay
St. Louis Bay
Sargent Creek to
St. Louis Bay
Swamp to St. Louis
Bay
Sullivan Creek
Lake Superior
Lake Superior
Lake Superior
Pigeon River-
Silver Creek to
St. Louis River
St. Louis River
ABATCMENT
SCHEDULE
12-18-71
12-18-711
12-18-71
11-12-73
^Final date for suspended solids, oil and turbidity reduction. An additional year may be
granted for other construction needed.
59
-------
STATUS OF INDUSTRIAL WASTE DISCHARGES
(As of March 1, 1969)
MINNESOTA
(CONTINUED)
INDUSTRY AND
LOCATION
Conwed Corporation
Cloquet
Oglebay Norton Co.
Fairlane Plant
Forbes
The Hanna Mining Co.
Agnew,
Hibbing
The Hanna Mining Co.
Natl. Steel Pellet
Project,
Kewatin
The Hanna Mining Co.
Pierce Group
Hibbing
Jones and Laughlin
Steel Corp. - McKinley
McKinley
Jones and Laughlin
Steel Corporation -
Schley Group
Gilbert
Coons Pacific Co.
Coons Pacific Plant
Eveleth
Pickands Mather and Co.
Erie Commercial
Hoyt Lakes
Pickands Mather and Co.
Mahoning
Hibbing
Rhude and Fryberger
Gross - Nelson
Eveleth
Rhude and Fryberger
Hull - Rust
Hibbing
U. S. Steel Corp.
Minntac
Mountain Iron
U. S. Steel Corp.
Rochleau Group
Virginia
U. S. Steel Corp.
Sherman Group
Chisholm
TYPE OF
TREATMENT
(EXISTING)
Fine screens, hot
pond settling basin
Closed tailings
basin system
Sanitary-secondary
Closed tailings
basin system
Closed tailings
basin system
Closed tailings
basin system
Closed tailings
basin system
Closed tailings
basin system
Closed tailings
basin system
Closed tailings
basin system
Closed tailings
basin system
Closed tailings
basin system
Closed tailings
basin system
Closed tailings
basin system
Closed tailings
basin system
Closed tailings
basin system
WHERE DISCHARGED
St. Louis River
Emergency discharge
only to St. Louis River
Swamp to St. Louis River
ABATEMENT
SCHEDULE
11-12-73
60
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STATUS OF MUNICIPAL WASTE DISCHARGES
(As of March 1, 1969)
WISCONSIN
COMMUNITY OR
DISTRICT
Ashland
Bay fie Id
Hurley
Knight, Tn. of
Iron River
Mellen
Montreal
Pence
Port Wing, Tn. of
Saxon
Superior
Superior Village
Washburn
Ondassagon School
TYPE OF
TREATMENT
(EXISTING)
Primary
Primary
Primary
Primary
Primary
Primary
Primary
Primary
Lagoon
None
Primary
Secondary
Primary
WHERE DISCHARGED
Lake Superior
Lake Superior
Montreal River
Iron Belt Trib.
Iron River
Bad River
West Fk. Montreal River
Pence Tributary
Tributary of Flag River
Swamp of Vaughn Cr.
Lake Superior
Pokegama River
Lake Superior
Whittlesey Creek
ABATEMENT
SCHEDULE
10-1-70
10-1-70
10-1-70
10-31-69
10-31-69
10-1-70
10-1-70
10-31-69
10-31-69
10-1-70
10-1-70
9-1-69
Ashland, Wisconsin
Pureair Sanatorium
Bayfield, Wisconsin
Drainage Course
10-31-68
61
-------
STATUS OF INDUSTRIAL WASTE DISCHARGES
(As of March 1, 1969)
INDUSTRY AND
LOCATION
Twin Ports Dairy
Benoit
Martens Dairy
Cornucopia
Fuhrman South Shore
Dairy
Iron River
Great Northern Allouez
Superior
Koppers
Superior
Murphy Oil
Superior
Soo Line Railroad
Superior
Great Northern Railroad
Superior
Union Tank Car
Superior
Superior Fiber Products
Superior
Mason Milk Products
Mason
Andersonville Coop
Ashland
American Can
Ashland
WISCONSIN
(CONTINUED)
TYPE OF
TREATMENT
(EXISTING) WHERE DISCHARGED
None
None
Septic tank,
hauling
Separator
Lagoon
Separator &
lagoons
None
Separator &
lagoons
Septic tanks
Chemical and
screening
Septic tank
and lagoon
None
Chemical treatment
& Clarification
South Fork Fish Creek
Siskiwit River
No discharge
Bluff Creek to
Lake Superior
No discharge
Newton Creek
Soo Line Drainage
to Lake Superior
Great Northern Drainage
to Lake Superior
No discharge
Lake Superior
No discharge
Little Beartrap
Creek
Lake Superior
ABATEMENT
SCHEDULE
10-31-68
10-31-68
10-31-68
10-31-68
10-31-70
10-31-68
10-31-68
10-1-70
10-31-68
10-1-70
Lake Superior District None
Power Company
Ashland
Moquah Cheese Hauling
Moquah
Bodin Fisheries Sanitary to
Bayfield Bayfield
E.I. duPont de Nemours Irrigation
Barksdale
Lake Superior
Moquah Cheese
Factory tributary
Lake Superior
Boyd Creek to
Lake Superior
10-31-68
9-1-70
62
-------
STATUS OF WASTE WATER DISPOSAL AT FEDERAL INSTALLATIONS
LAKE SUPERIOR DRAINAGE BASIN
(As of March 26, 1969)
(This inventory does not include installations connected to municipal sewer systems.)
LEGEND: S - Sanitary Wastes; I - Industrial Wastes; G - Ground or Subsurface Discharge;
P- Persons
Treatment Provided: ST - Septic Tank; DF - Drain Field; Sec. - Secondary Treatment;
Pri. - Primary Treatment; C\2 ~ Chlorination (effluent)
Ratings: A- Adequate treatment; B - Inadequate treatment, abatement program
progressing; C - Inadequate treatment, no action taken; D - Adequacy uncertain
* Pit or vault toilets
** Schedule unmanning and automation data
*** Estimated maximum
Installation
(Name & Location)
MICHIGAN
U. S. Coast Guard
Grand Marais Station
Grand Marais (Alger Co.)
Whitefish Point Light Station
Whitefish Point (Chippewa Co.)
Keweenaw Lower Entrance
Light Station
(Houghton Co.)
Portage Station
Hancock (Houghton Co.)
Manitou Island Light Station
(Keweenaw Co.)
Passage Island Light Station
(Keweenaw Co.)
Rock of Ages Light Station
(Keweenaw Co.)
Eagle Harbor Light Station
Eagle Harbor (Keweenaw Co.)
Huron Island Light Station
West Huron Island
(Marquette Co.)
Volume & Type
of Wastes
(1,OOOGPD)
.70S
11 P - S
11 P - S
32 P - S
5 P - S
5 P - S
5 P - S
7 P - S
5 P -S
Receiving
Waters
Drainage Basin
G
G
Lake Superior
G
G
Lake Superior
Lake Superior
Lake Superior
Lake Superior
Treatment
Provided
ST, DF
ST, DF
Sec, C12
ST, DF
ST, DF
ST
None
Sec, C12
Sec, Cl2
Rat-
ing
A
A
A
A
A
B
B
A
A
Remarks
Treatment facilities
installed in 1964
New treatment fac-
ilities installed 1967
New drain field in-
stalled in 1964
** 1976
** 1972 The Coast
Guard has submit-
ted FY 70 project
for installing incin-
eration type toilet
as an interim meas-
ure pending unman-
ning and automation.
(Est. Cost -$1,000)
Treatment facilities
installed in June 1964
Treatment facilities
installed in June 1964
63
-------
STATUS OF WASTE WATER DISPOSAL AT FEDERAL INSTALLATIONS
LAKE SUPERIOR DRAINAGE BASIN
(As of March 26, 1969)
(This inventory does not include installations connected to municipal sewer systems.'.
Installation
(Name & Location)
MICHIGAN
Department of Agriculture -
Forest Service -
Hiawatha National Forest
(C - Campgrounds)
(P - Picnic Sites)
AuTrain Lake Picnic Area
(Alger Co.) (10 P)
Bay Furnace Campground
(Alger Co.) (24 C)
Bay View Campground
(Chippewa Co.) (24 C)
Big Pine Picnic Area
(Chippewa Co.) (14 P)
Monacle Lake Camp, Picnic
Ground (Chippewa Co.)
(59 C, 12 P)
Three Lakes Camp, Picnic
Ground (Chippewa Co.)
(48 C, 6 P)
Raco Ranger Dwelling and
Office
Raco (Chippewa Co.)
Upper Michigan Experimental
Forest, Dukes (Marquette Co.)
Dukes Warehouse One,
Dukes (Marquette Co.)
Ottawa National Forest
Sturgeon River Campground
(Baraga Co.) (9 C)
Bobcat Lake Camp, Picnic
Ground (Gogebic Co.)
(12 C, 11 P)
Burned Dam Campground
(Gogebic Co.) (6 C)
Volume & Type
of Wastes
(1,OOOGPD)
50 P - S
120 P - S
120 P - S
***
70 P - S
355 P - S
270 P - S
0. 3 S
0. 3 S
0.03 S
45 P - S
115 P - S
30 P - S
Receiving
Waters
Drainage Basin
G
G
G
G
G
G
G
G
G
G
G
G
Treatment
Provided
None
None
None
None
None
None
ST, DF
ST, DF
ST, DF
None
None
None
Rat-
ing
A
A
A
Remarks
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
64
-------
STATUS OF WASTE WATER DISPOSAL AT FEDERAL INSTALLATIONS
LAKE SUPERIOR DRAINAGE BASIN
(As of March 26, 1969)
(This inventory does not include installations connected to municipal sewer systems.)
Installation
(Name & Location)
MICHIGAN
Department of Agriculture -
Forest Service -
Ottawa National Forest, Cont'd.
Clark-Helen Day Use Area -
Sylvania Campground and
Recreation Area
(Gogebic Co.)
Ojibway Job Corps Center
Marenisco (Gogebic Co.)
Taylor Lake Campground
(Gogebic Co.)
Marion Lake Campground
(Gogebic Co.)
Henry Lake Campground
(Gogebic Co.) (11 C)
Imp Lake Camp, Picnic
Ground (Gogebic Co.)
(22 C, 8 P)
Langford Lake Camp, Picnic
Ground (Gogebic Co.)
(11 C, 6 P)
Matchwood Tower Campground
(Gogebic Co.) (5 C)
Moosehead Lake Campground
(Gogebic Co.) (13 C)
Pomeroy Lake East Picnic
Ground (Gogebic Co.) (3 P)
Volume & Type
of Wastes
(1,OOOGPD)
150 P - S
24.0 - S
(future)
15.0 - S
105 P - S
220 P - S
55 P - S
150 P - S
85 P - S
25 P - S
65 P -S
15 P - S
Receiving
Waters
Drainage Basin
G
G
Wellington Cr.
(Presquelsle R.)
G
G
G
G
G
G
G
G
Treatment
Provided
None
Sec. , Pol-
ishing
Lagoon,
C12
(91%
BOD
removal)
None
None
None
None
None
None
None
None
Rat-
ing
A
Remarks
* Plans call for
construction of sew-
er system, sewage
lagoon and spray
irrigation system
concurrent with
site development
2 - 17,000 gpd ex-
tended aeration
package sewage
treatment plants;
60 to 90-day lagoon.
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
65
-------
STATUS OF WASTE WATER DISPOSAL AT FEDERAL INSTALLATIONS
LAKE SUPERIOR DRAINAGE BASIN
(As of March 26, 1969)
(This inventory does not include installations connected to municipal sewer systems.,
Installation
(Name & Location)
MICHIGAN
Department of Agriculture -
Forest Service -
Ottawa National Forest, Cont'd.
Pomery Lake North
Campground
(Gogebic Co.) (19 C)
Pomeroy Lake, West Picnic
Ground (Gogebic Co.) (2 P)
Potawatomi and Gorge Falls
Picnic Ground
(Gogebic Co.) (8P)
Bob Lake Camp, Picnic
Ground
(Houghton Co.) (17 C, 9P)
Lower Dam Campground
(Houghton Co.) (7 C)
Sparrow Rapid Campground
(Houghton Co.) (6 C)
Kenton Dwelling Nos. 1, 2&3
(Houghton Co.)
Kenton Ranger Station
(Houghton Co.)
Volume & Type
of Wastes
(1,OOOGPD)
95 P - S
10 P - S
40 P - S
IS1; P - s
35 P - S
30 P - S
1.2 S
.8 S
Receiving
Waters
Drainage Basin
G
G
G
G
G
G
G
Ontonagon Riv.
(Lake
Superior)
Treatment
Provided
None
None
None
None
None
None
ST, DF
Sec. , sand
filter, C12
Rat-
ing
B
Remarks
*
*
*
*
*
*
The Forest Serv-
ice has developed
preliminary plans
to connect the
dwellings sanitary
wastes to the Ken-
ton Ranger Station
sewage treatment
facilities. These
plans have been
reviewed and ap-
proved by FWPCA
and State of Mich,
(Est. Cost -
$20,000.)
2, 000 gpd package
treatment plant,
sand filter trench,
chlorine contact
tank, & chlorina-
tion facilities in-
stalled in 1966
66
-------
STATUS OF WASTE WATER DISPOSAL AT FEDERAL INSTALLATIONS
LAKE SUPERIOR DRAINAGE BASIN
(As of March 26, 1969)
(This inventory does not include installations connected to municipal sewer systems. ]
Installation
(Name & Location)
MICHIGAN
Department of Agriculture -
Forest Service -
Ottawa National Forest, Cont'd.
Lake Ste. Kathryn Camp &
Picnic Ground (Iron Co.)
(35 C, 2P)
Norway Lake Camp, Picnic
Ground (Iron Co.)
(28 C, 15 P)
Perch Lake Campground
(Iron Co.) (20 C)
Perch River Picnic Ground
(Iron Co.) (4 P)
Tepee Lake Camp, Picnic
Ground (Iron Co.)
(17 C, 10 P)
Courtney Lake Camp, Picnic
Ground (Ontonagon Co.)
(16 C, 15 P)
Steusser Lake Picnic Ground
(Ontonagon Co.)
Paulding Pond Camp, Picnic
Ground (Ontonagon Co.)
(4 C, 2 P)
Robins Pond Campground
(Ontonagon Co.) (4 C)
Black River Campground
(Ontonagon Co.) (55 P)
(Boat docking facilities)
Volume & Type
of Wastes
(1,OOOGPD)
185 P - S
215 P - S
100 P - S
20 P - S
135 P - S
155 P - S
55 P - S
30 P - S
20 P - S
12.0 S
Receiving
Waters
Drainage Basin
G
G
G
G
G
G
G
G
G
G
Treatment
Provided
None
None
None
None
None
None
None
None
None
ST
Rat-
ing
B
Remarks
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
The Forest Serv-
ice has submitted
FY 71 project for
replacing sepiic
tank with aerated
lagoon and spray
irrigation system.
FWPCA and State
have approved en-
gineering report
and preliminary
plans. Est. Cost
$280, 000
67
-------
STATUS OF WASTE WATER DISPOSAL AT FEDERAL INSTALLATIONS
LAKE SUPERIOR DRAINAGE BASIN
(As of March 26, 1969)
(This inventory does not include installations connected to municipal sewer systems. ]
Installation
(Name & Location)
MICHIGAN
Department of Agriculture -
Forest Service -
Ottawa National Forest, Cont'd.
Bergland Dwelling No. 1
Bergland (Ontonagon Co.)
Bergland Dwelling No. 2
Bergland (Ontonagon Co.)
Bergland Ranger Station
Office
Bergland (Ontonagon Co.)
Volume & Type
of Wastes
(1,OOOGPD)
.24 S
.20 S
.20 S
Receiving
Waters
Drainage Basin
G
G
G
Treatment
Provided
ST, DF
ST, DF
ST
Rat-
ing
A
A
B
Remarks
The Forest Serv-
ice has submitted
FY 71 project for
replacing existing
septic tank and
installing tile
field (Est. Cost
$1,000); con-
struction
to start in spring
1969. Est. com-
pletion date June
30, 1969
68
-------
STATUS OF WASTE WATER DISPOSAL AT FEDERAL INSTALLATIONS
LAKE SUPERIOR DRAINAGE BASIN
(As of March 26, 1969)
(This inventory does not include installations connected to municipal sewer system.)
Installation
(Name & Location)
MICHIGAN
U.S. Army
Lucas Camp Target Range,
Raco (Chippewa Co.)
U. S. Air Force
Calumet Air Force Station
Ahmeek (Keweenaw Co.)
K. I. Sawyer Air Force Base
Republic (Marquette Co.)
Volume & Type
of Wastes
(1,OOOGPD)
25 P - S
32. OS
668.0 S
Receiving
Waters
Drainage Basin
G
Ditch to Creek
to Lake
Superior
Silver Lead
Creek (Trib.
to L. Sup. )
Treatment
Provided
None
Sec, C12
Sec. -
Effluent:
BOD -
84 mg/1
64% re-
moval
S. S. -
47 mg/1
73% re-
moval
Rat-
ing
B
Remarks
*
Contact stabiliza-
tion package sew-
age treatment
plant (30, 000 gpd)
being installed to
supplement the
exist, overload
6,000 gpd plant.
The State will re-
quire nutrient re-
duction by 1972.
Const, comple-
tion - May 1969.
The existing
treatment plant is
hydraulically
overloaded and
has been cited by
Michigan Dept. of
Health and Mich-
igan Water Re-
sources Comis-
sion as contribu-
ting to the pollu-
tion of Silver Lead
Creek, which
waters the State
has designated as
a trout stream.
The Air Force, in
1965 developed a
preliminary set of
plans for the re-
medial measures
necessary (Cont'd
on page 70)
69
-------
STATUS OF WASTE WATER DISPOSAL AT FEDERAL INSTALLATIONS
LAKE SUPERIOR DRAINAGE BASIN
(As of March 26, 1969)
(This inventory does not include installations connected to municipal sewer systems.)
Installation
(Name & Location)
MICHIGAN
U. S. Air Force - Cont'd.
K. I. Sawyer Air Force Base
Republic (Marquette Co.)
Volume & Type
of Wastes
(1,OOOGPD)
Receiving
Waters
Drainage Basin
Treatment
Provided
Rat-
ing
Remarks
to meet the State
requirements.
However, due to
budget limitations
and the more re-
strictive effluent
standards imposed
by the State (Min.
80% phosphate re-
moval and 5 -day
BOD, Max. 65
Ibs. /day), the Air
Force is making
revisions to the
original design to
provide the neces-
sary facilities.
The State's com-
pliance date for
the above work is
1972. Contract
was let on Oct.
21, 1968 for lim-
ited modification
and improvements
to existing pri-
mary & second-
ary treatment
units (sludge
handling and di-
gestion improve-
ments, weir re-
placement, new
laboratory, oil
skimmer , chlorine
bldg. chlorine con-
tact, new filter
media). Cost
$233,000. Est.
completion date-
Nov. 1969. Ter-
tiary treatment
project has not
yet been program-
med.
70
-------
STATUS OF WASTE WATER DISPOSAL AT FEDERAL INSTALLATIONS
LAKE SUPERIOR DRAINAGE BASIN
(as of March 26, 1969)
(This inventory does not include installations connected to municipal sewer systems.)
Installation
(Name & Location)
MICHIGAN
U. S. Air Force - Cont'd.
K. I. Sawyer Air Force Base,
Cont'd. Republic (Marquette
Co.)
Dept. of the Interior -
Bur. of Sports Fisheries &
Wildlife
Pendills Creek National Fish
Hatchery, Brimley
(Chippewa Co.)
Hiawatha Forest Fish
Hatchery
Raco (Chippewa Co.)
Dept. of the Interior -
National Park Service -
Isle Royale National Park
Rock Harbor Lodge
(Keweenaw Co.)
Mott Island Headquarters
(Keweenaw Co.)
W'indigo Lodge
(Keweenaw Co.)
CP Siskiwit Campground
(Keweenaw Co.)
Volume & Type
of Wastes
(1,OOOGPD)
.5 S
.11 I
5,7501
0. 7 S
4,2201
0. 15 S
1.8 S
0.8 S
1.0 S
1 P - S
Receiving
Waters
Drainage Basin
G
G
Pendills Creek
to Lake
Superior
G
Sullivans
Creek to
Lake
Superior
G
G
G
G
G
Treatment
Provided
ST, DF
Holding
and set-
tling
tanks
with oil
skim-
ming
devices
and
lagoon
None
ST, DF
None
ST, DF
ST, DF
ST, DF
ST, DF
None
Rat-
ing
A
B
D
A
D
A
A
A
A
Remarks
The Air Force
has submitted FY
70 project for
connecting the in-
dustrial waste
discharge to the
Base sanitary
sewer system.
This work cannot
be accomplished,
however, until
the implementa-
tion of the above
plans. Est. Cost
$59,000.
Fish hatchery
effluent from fish
rearing tanks.
Fish hatchery
effluent from fish
rearing tanks.
*
71
-------
STATUS OF WASTE WATER DISPOSAL AT FEDERAL INSTALLATIONS
LAKE SUPERIOR DRAINAGE BASIN
(As of March 26, 1969)
(This inventory does not include installations connected to municipal sewer systems.)
Installation
(Name & Location)
MICHIGAN
Dept. of the Interior -
National Park Service -
Isle Royale National Park
Cont'd
Beaver Island
(Keweenaw Co.)
Belle Island Campground
(Keweenaw Co.)
Birch Island (Keweenaw Co.)
Washington Creek Campground
(Keweenaw Co.)
Todd Harbor Campground
(Keweenaw Co.)
Tobin Harbor Campground
(Keweenaw Co.)
Moskey Basin Campground
(Keweenaw Co.)
Rock Harbor Campground
(Keweenaw Co.)
Merritt's Lane Campground
(Keweenaw Co.)
Malone Bay Campground
(Keweenaw Co.)
Me Cargo Cove Campground
(Keweenaw Co.)
Grace Island Campground
(Keweenaw Co.)
Duncan Narrows Campground
(Keweenaw Co.)
Duncan Bay Campground
(Keweenaw Co.)
Daisy Farm Campground
(Keweenaw Co.)
Chippewa Harbor Campground
(Keweenaw County)
Caribou Island (Keweenaw Co.)
Volume & Type
of Wastes
(1,OOOGPD)
1 P - S
1 P - S
1 P - S
3 P - S
1 P - S
3 P - S
2 P - S
1 P - S
1 P - S
3 P - S
2 P - S
1 P - S
1 P - S
1 P - S
4 P - 3
2 P - S
1 P - S
Receiving
Waters
Drainage Basin
G
G
G
G
G
G
G
G
G
G
G
G
G
G
G
G
G
Treatment
Provided
None
None
None
None
None
None
None
None
None
None
None
None
None
None
None
None
None
Rat-
ing
Remarks
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
72
-------
STATUS OF WASTE WATER DISPOSAL AT FEDERAL INSTALLATIONS
LAKE SUPERIOR DRAINAGE BASIN
(As of March 26, 1969)
(This inventory does not include installations connected to municipal sewer systems.]
Installation
(Name & Location)
MINNESOTA
U. S. Coast Guard
North Superior Station
Grand Marais (Cook Co.)
Split Rock Light Station
(Lake Co.)
Duluth Light Station
Duluth (St. Louis Co.)
Department of Agriculture -
Forest Service
Superior National Forest
Sawbill Lake Camp, Picnic
Ground (Cook Co.)
(50 C, 2 P)
Temperance River Camp
Ground (Cook Co.) (8 C)
Ox -Bow Campground
(Cook Co.) (3 C)
Baker Lake Campground
(Cook Co.) (4 C)
Crescent Lake Campground
(Cook Co.) (43 C)
Bouder Lake Picnic Ground
(CooK Co.) (2 P)
Lichen Lake Picnic Ground
(Cook Co.) (1 P)
Volume & Type
of Wastes
(1,OOOGPD)
9 P - S
8 P - S
4 P - S
260 P - S
40 P - S
15 P - S
20 P - S
215 P - S
10 P - S
5 P - S
Receiving
Waters
Drainage Basin
G
G
Lake Superior
G
G
G
G
G
G
G
Treatment
Provided
ST, DF
3T, DF
None
None
None
None
None
None
None
None
Rat-
ing
A
A
B
Remarks
** 1977. The
Coast Guard has
submitted FY 70
project for in-
stalling incinera-
tion type toilets
as an interim
measure prior to
to unmanning
automation. (Est.
Cost $1,500.)
*
*
*
*
*
* The Forest
Service has re-
quested that this
picnic ground be
discontinued.
* The Forest
Service has re-
quested that this
picnic ground be
discontinued.
73
-------
STATUS OF WASTE vVATER DISPOSAL AT FEDERAL INSTALLATIONS
LAKE SUPERIOR DRAINAGE BASIN
(As of March 26, 1969)
(This inventory does not include installations connected to municipal sewer systems.)
Installation
(Name & Location)
MINNESOTA
Department of Agriculture -
Forest Service -
Superior National Forest,
Cont'd.
Upper Poplar River Camp
Ground (Cook Co.) (4 C)
Pike Lake Picnic Ground
(Cook Co.) (5 P)
Upper Cascade River Picnic
Ground (Cook Co.) (2 P)
Two Island Lake Campground
(Cook Co.) (39 C)
Devil Track Lake Campground
(Cook Co.) (18 C)
East Bearskin Campground
(Cook Co.) (47 C)
Flour Lake Campground
(Cook Co.) (44 C)
Kimball Lake Campground
(Cook Co.) (7 C)
Tofte Administrative Site
(Cook Co.)
Knife River Administra-
tion, Two Harbors
(Lake Co.)
Knife River Nursery Dwelling,
Two Harbors (Lake Co.)
Volume & Type
of W astes
(1,OOOGPD)
20 P - S
25 P - S
10 P - S
195 P - S
90 P - S
235 P - S
220 P - S
35 P - S
17 P - S
(75 P in
future)
-
5 P - S G
Receiving
Waters
Drainage Basin
G
G
G
G
G
G
G
G
G
G
G
1
Treatment
Provided
None
None
None
None
None
None
None
None
ST, DF
ST, DF
ST, DF
Rat-
ing
B
A
A
Remarks
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
The Forest Serv-
has awarded a
contract for the
construction of
secondary treat-
ment plus sand
filtration and
chlorination fac-
ilities. Contract
awarded Jan. 1969.
Est. completion
date - Aug. 1969.
Cost - $45,000.
The Forest Serv-
ice no longer
utilizes these fac-
ilities for other
than storage.
i
74
-------
STATUS OF WASTE WATER DISPOSAL AT FEDERAL INSTALLATIONS
LAKE SUPERIOR DRAINAGE BASIN
(As of March 26, 1969)
(This inventory does not include installations connected to municipal sewer systems.)
Installation
(Name & Location)
MINNESOTA
Department of Agriculture -
Forest Service -
Superior National Forest,
Cont'd.
White Pine Picnic Ground
(Lake Co.) (3 P)
Nine Mile Lake Campground
(Laxe Co.) (19 C)
Norway Point Picnic Ground
(St. Louis Co.) (6 P)
White Face Reservoir Camp,
Picnic Ground
(St. Louis Co.) (59 C, 30 P)
Bird Lake Picnic Ground
(St. Louis Co.) (3 P)
Cadotte Lake Picnic Ground
(St. Louis Co.) (27 P)
Salo Lake Picnic Ground
(St. Louis Co.) (3 P)
Mesaba Dwelling
(St. Louis Co.)
Eveleth Nursery Administra-
tion and Nursery
fiveleth (St. Louis Co.)
U.S. Army (Corps of Engineers)
U.S. Vessel Yard
Duluth (St. Louis Co.)
Volume & Type
of Wastes
(1,OOOGPD)
15 P - S
95 P - S
30 P - S
445 P - S
(10,000gpd)
(future)
15 P - S
135 P - S
15 P - S
3 P - S
.8 S
.2 S
Receiving
Waters
Drainage Basin
G
G
G
G
G
G
G
G
G
G
Treatment
Provided
None
None
None
None
None
None
None
None
Sec.
ST, DF
Rat-
ing
B
A
A
Remarks
*
*
*
* Plans call for
the construction
of a sewer sys-
tem, aerated la-
goon and spray
irrigation systems
with disinfection
during FY 72.
Est. Cost
$72,000.
*
*
*
*
Package extended
aeration plant and
tile drain field
Future plans call
for connections to
the municipal
sewer system by
FY 1970. Est.
Cost - $500.
75
-------
STATUS OF WASTE WATER DISPOSAL AT FEDERAL INSTALLATIONS
LAKE SUPERIOR DRAINAGE BASIN
(As of March 26, 1969)
(This inventory does not include installations connected to municipal sewer systems.)
Installation
(Name & Location)
MINNESOTA
U. S. Air Force
Finland Air Force Station
Finland (Lake Co.)
Duluth Air Force Missile
Site
Duluth (St. Louis Co.)
Duluth Air National Guard
Duluth (St. Louis Co.)
Department of the Interior -
National Park Service
Grand Portage Stockade
Grand Portage (Cook Co.)
Department of the Interior -
Bureau of Indian Affairs
MA Grand Portage
Grand Portage (Cook Co.)
Volume & Type
of Wastes
(1,OOOGPD)
35.0 S
10.0 S
12.0 S
3.0 S
0. 40 S
Receiving
Waters
Drainage Basin
Surface drain-
age to Trib. of
Baptism R.
thence Lake
Superior
Roadside ditch
Miller's Creek
G
G
Treatment
Provided
ST, sand
filter
Sec.
ST, DF
ST, DF
ST, DF
Rat-
ing
B
C
B
D
A
Remarks
40,000 gpd con-
tact stabilization
package sewage
treatment plant
with chlorination
under construc-
tion; 30% com-
pleted; est. com-
pletion date May
1969
Extended aeration
package plant
The Air Force
has submitted a
FY 69 project to
connect their
sewage disposal
facilities to the
Duluth Municipal
sewer system.
(Est. Cost
$170,000)
76
-------
STATUS OF WASTE WATER DISPOSAL AT FEDERAL INSTALLATIONS
LAKE SUPERIOR DRAINAGE BASIN
(As of March 26, 1969)
(This inventory does not include installations connected to municipal sewer systems.)
Installation
(Name & Location)
MINNESOTA
Department of Justice
Immigration and Naturalization
Service
Border Patrol Station
Grand Marais (Cook Co.)
WISCONSIN
U. S. Coast Guard
Bayfield Station
Bay field (Bayfield Co.)
Devils Island Light Station
(Bayfield Co.)
Superior Entry South
Breakwater Light Station,
Superior (Douglas Co.)
Department of Agriculture -
Forest Service
Chequamegon National Forest
(C - Campgrounds; P - Picnic
Sites)
Bad River Picnic Ground
(Ashland Co.) (3 P)
Volume & Type
of Wastes
(1,OOOGPD)
2.0 S
11 P - S
5 P - S
11 P - S
15 P - S
Receiving
Waters
Drainage Basin
Ground and
Pigeon River
None
G
Allouez Bay
G
Treatment
Provided
ST, Built
up sand
filter
Incinera-
ator type
toilet
ST, DF
ST, DF
None
Rat-
ing
A
A
A
A
Remarks
Recently com-
pleted the instal-
lation of new lift
station, septic
tanks and sand
gravel filter, the
effluent from
which, if any, is
chlorinated and
discharged to the
Pigeon River.
New facilities to
be constructed
with discharge to
the Bayfield Mun-
icipal Sewer Sys-
tem. Scheduled
completion date
1971. Est. Cost
$4,000.
** 1973
*
77
-------
STATUS OF WASTE WATER DISPOSAL AT FEDERAL INSTALLATIONS
LAKE SUPERIOR DRAINAGE BASIN
(As of March 26, 1969)
(This inventory does not include installations connected to municipal sewer systems.)
Installation
(Name & Location)
WISCONSIN
Department of Agriculture -
Forest Service
Chequamegon National Forest
(C - Camprgounds; P - Picnic
Sites)
Beaver Lake Campground
(Ashland Co.) (11 C)
Lake Three Campground
(Ashland Co.) (8 C)
Potter Lake Picnic Ground
(Ashland Co.) (2 P)
Pigeon Lake Campground
(Bayfield Co.)
Two Lakes Campground
(Bayfield Co.) (98 C)
Drummond Lake Picnic Ground
(Bayfield Co.) (6 P)
Lake Owen Picnic Ground
(Bayfield Co.) (18 P)
Lake Owen Outlet Picnic
Ground
(Bayfield Co.) (4 P)
Wanoka Lake Campground
(Bayfield Co.) (20 C)
Long Lake Picnic Ground
(Bayfield Co.) (21 P)
Volume & Type
of Wastes
(1,OOOGPD)
55 P - S
40 P - S
10 P - S
2.0 S
13.0 S
30 P - S
90 P - S
20 P - S
100 P - S
105 P - S
Receiving
Waters
Drainage Basin
G
G
G
G
G
G
G
G
G
G
Treatment
Provided
None
None
None
None
None
None
None
None
None
None
Rat-
ing
B
Remarks
*
*
*
*
A project has
been submitted to
provide a water-
borne system with
aerated lagoon,
irrigation and
disinfection.
Cost estimate:
FY 71 - $20,000
design
FY 72 - $240,000
construction
(Prelim, plans
completed)
*
*
*
*
*
78
-------
STATUS OF WASTE TREATMENT AT FEDERAL INSTALLATIONS
LOCATED IN THE LAKE SUPERIOR DRAINAGE BASIN
Installation
Name & Location (Berth)
Vessels
U.S. Coast Guard
USCGC Woodrush
National Park Service
M.V. Ranger III (165')
Tug J. E. Colombe
(45 ft. )
M.V. Conrad L. (26 ft.)
M.V. Demray (26 ft.)
M. V. Louis J. (26 ft.)
M.V. C.M. Gothe
(26 ft.)
U. S. Army (Corps of
Engineers)
Derrick Boat DK 20
Derrick Boat - Coleman
Dredge - Gaillard
Tow Boat - Marquette
Tow Boat - Superior
Tow Boat - Duluth
Compliment
47
138
2
2
2
2
2
5
11
27
8
9
3
Area of
Operation
Lake Superior
Lake Superior
Lake Superior
Lake Superior
Lake Superior
Lake Superior
Lake Superior
Lake Superior
Lake Superior
Lake Superior
Lake Superior
Lake Superior
Lake Superior
Treatment
Provided
None
Holding Tank
Holding Tank
Holding Tank
Holding Tank
Holding Tank
Holding Tank
Macerator
Chlorinator
n
IT
tt
ft
TT
Rating
D
A
A
A
A
A
A
B
B
B
B
B
B
Remarks
Installation of ade-
quate waste treat-
ment facility is
contingent upon
development of
suitable shipboard
operational plant
by the Coast Guard
Discharges into the
Houghton-Hancock
Municipal Sanitary
Sewer System. De-
pending on fund ap-
proval, eventual
plans call for un-
loading into marine
facilities at Isle
Royale.
ft
"
tt
"
"
Study is being con-
ducted by Corps of
Engineers to de-
velop a suitable
package aeration
unit for this type
of vessel.
tt
tt
it
tt
TT
79
-------
APPENDIX B
81
-------
LAKE SUPERIOR OPEN WATERS*
WATER QUALITY CRITERIA AND DESIGNATED USES
MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, WISCONSIN
STATE DESIGNATED USES
MICHIGAN Domestic Water Supply
Industrial Water Supply
Recreation:
- Whole Body Contact
- Partial Body Contact
Fish, Wildlife and
Other Aquatic Life:
- Intolerant Fish
Cold Water Species
- Intolerant Fish
Warm Water Species
Agricultural
Commercial
COLIFORM GROUP
The average of any
series of 10 consec-
utive samples shall
not exceed 1000 or-
ganisms per 100 ml
nor shall 20% of
samples exceed 5000/
100ml
Fecal coliforms for
the samples } 100/
100 ml
DISSOLVED OXYGEN
Cold Water Intolerant
Species {6 mg/1 at
any time
Warm Water Intolerant
Species
Avg. Daily Value
<5 mg/1
Any Single Value
< 4 mg/1
SUSPENDED,
COLLOIDAL
AND SETTLEABLE
MATERIALS
No objectionable un-
natural turbidity, col-
or, or deposits in
quantities sufficient
to interfere with de-
signated use
FLOATING MATERIAL,
RESIDUES, DEBRIS
AND MATERIAL OF
UNNATURAL ORIGIN
No evidence of such
material except of
natural origin
No visible film of oil
or globules of grease
TOXIC AND DE LETERIOUS
SUBSTANCES
Conform to current USPHS
Drinking Water Standards,
except
Cyanide.
} 0. 2 mg/1
Chromium •
> 0. 05 mg/1
Phenols'
Mo. Avg.
> 0.002 mg/1
Single Value
^ 0. 005 mg/1
Not to exceed 1/10 of the
96-hour TLm obtained
from continuous flow bio-
assays where the dilution
water and toxicant are con-
tinuously renewed except
that other application fac-
tors may be used in spe-
cific cases when justified
on the basis of available
evidence and approved by
the appropriate agency
MINNESOTA
Domestic Consumption
(IB)
Fisheries and Recrea-
tion (2A)
Industrial Consumption
(3A)
)> 50 MPN/100 ml
Oct-May < 7.0 mg/1
Jun-Sep < 5. 0 mg/1
Turbidity
> 5. 0 units
No discharge from un-
natural sources so as
to cause any nuisance
conditions
Oil } Trace
No discharge from
unnatural sources so
as to cause any nui-
sance conditions
Arsenic
Barium
Cadmium
CCE
Chromium
Copper
Cyanide
Fluorides
Lead
Manganese
Nitrates
Selenium
Silver
Zinc
[> - mg/:
0.01
1.0
0.01
0.2
Trace
Trace
Trace
1.5
0.05
0.05
45.0
0.01
0.05
5.0
WISCONSIN Public Water Supply
Industrial and Cooling
Water
Commercial Shipping
Recreation:
- Whole Body Contact
Beach areas
Fish and Aquatic Life
Trout
Waste Assimilation
Anth. Avg.
> 1000/100 ml
Max. ) 2500/100 ml
during recreation
season
{ 80% Saturation nor Substances that will
C 5 mg/1 at any time cause objectionable de-
posits in the bed or on
J 1 mg/1 change the shore of a body of
water shall not be pres-
ent in such amounts as
to create a nuisance
Floating or submerged
debris, oil, scum or
other material shall not
be present in such
amounts as to create
a nuisance
Substances in concentra-
tions or combinations
which are toxic or harm-
ful to humans shall not be
present in amounts found
to be of public health sig-
nificance, nor shall sub-
stances be present in
amounts, which by bioassay
and other appropriate tests,
indicate acute or chronic
levels harmful to animal,
plant or aquatic life
* Criteria and Uses as of March 1, 1969
> Greater Than } Not Greater Than
< Less Than <(Not Less Than
Where designated uses have different criteria
the most stringent criteria are listed.
82
-------
TOTAL
DISSOLVED SOLIDS
Total Dissolved Solids:
> 200 mg/1
Chlorides:
Mo. Avg. } 50 mg/1
NUTRIENTS
Nutrients originating from
industrial, Municipal or
domestic animal sources
shall be limited to the ex-
tent necessary to prevent
adverse effects on water
treatment processes or
the stimulation of growth
of algae, weeds and
shines which are or may
become injurious to the
designated use
TASTE AND
ODOR PRODUCING
SUBSTANCES
Concentrations of sub-
stances of unnatural
origin shall be less than
those which are or may
become injurious to the
designated use
Phenols:
Mo. Avg.
> 0. 002 mg/3
Max. Concentration
for a Single Value
} 0. 005 mg/1
TEMPERATURE
Intolerant Fish
Cold Water Species
70°F Maximum
£ 10° F Increase
Intolerant Fish
Warm Water Species
85 °F Maximum
> 15°F Increase
when ambient temper-
ature is less than 35°F
Tf 10° F Increase
when ambient temper-
ature ranges from
36°F to natural max-
imum
PH
Range of 6.5-8. 8
} 0. 5 unit change within
range
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
> 1000 pc/1 of gross beta
activity in absence of Sr-90
and alpha emitters
If this limit is exceeded the
specific radionuchdes pres-
ent must be identified by
complete analysis in order
to establish the fact that the
concentration of nuclides will
not produce exposure above
recommended limits estab-
lished by the Federal Radi-
ation Council
See Footnote Below
Total Dissolved Solids:
> 500 mg/1-
Chlorides: )• 50 mg/1
Sulfates: > 250 mg/1
Hardness: } 50 mg/1
No discharge from un-
natural sources so as to
cause any nuisance condi-
tions
Threshold Odor-
Number > 3
Phenols:
> 0. 001 mg/1
No Material Increase
Within range of 6. 5 - 8. 5
Gross beta concentration not
to exceed 1000 pc/1 in known
absence of alpha emitters and
Sr-90
Also: Not to exceed the lowest
concentrations permitted to be
discharged to an uncontrolled
environment as prescribed by
the appropriate authority hav-
ing control over their use
Mo. Avg.
> 500 mg/1
Max. } 750 mg/1 at any
time
Materials producing color,
odor, taste or unsightli-
ness shall not be present
in such amounts as to
create a nuisance
Materials producing color,
odor, taste or unsightli-
ness shall not be present
in such amounts as to
create a nuisance
84° F Max. Change from
natural unpolluted back-
ground )> 5°F Rate of
Change > 2°F/hour
Within range of 6. 0 - 9. 0
> 0. 5 unit change if nat-
ural values are above 8. 5
or below 6. 5
Intake water supply will be
such that by appropriate
treatment and adequate safe-
guards it will meet PHS
Drinking Water Standards,
1962
AFor the Great Lakes and connecting waters no heat load in sufficient quantity to create
conditions which are or may become injurious to the public health, safety, or welfare;
or which are or may become injurious to domestic, commercial, industrial, agricul-
tural, recreational or other uses which are being or may be made of such waters, or
which are or may become injurious to the value or utility of riparian lands, or which
are or may become injurious to livestock, wild animals, birds, fish or aquatic life or
the growth or propagation thereof.
83
-------
APPENDIX C
85
-------
INDEX TO APPENDIX C
Page
Dissolved Oxygen 87
Turbidity and Color 88
Total Dissolved Solids 89
Bacteria 89
Detergents (MBAS) 90
Phenols and Phenolic Compounds 91
Ammonia 92
Phosphorus 93
Iron „ 94
Cadmium 95
Chromium 96
Copper 97
Lead 98
Nickel 99
Zinc 100
Cyanide 101
Hydrogen Sulfide 102
Taste and Odor 102
Temperature 103
pH 105
Radioactivity 106
All Other Pollutants 107
86
-------
DISSOLVED OXYGEN
I. BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS. A continuous supply of oxygen is required for the normal metabolism of fish and
most of their food organisms. Oxygen is used also in the respiration of plants and by bacteria. Oxygen enters
the water chiefly by diffusion from the air and by the photosynthetic activity of plants. In general a balance is
maintained between addition and removal, but because oxygen is not very soluble the water's capacity is small,
so that any interference with the influx from the air or production by plants or any sudden increase in utilization
(as, for example, in the bacterial oxidation of sewage wastes, etc.) soon lowers it to critical levels.
The oxygen concentration needed for maintenance varies widely with species, and there is evidence that
highly desirable fish species in Lake Superior (coregonids, salmonids) require relatively high concentrations.
There are indications, also, that several of the important food organisms (gammarids and shrimp) are even
less tolerant of oxygen deficiencies. Within any one species the requirement varies with temperature, and
especially with life-history stage, the eggs and early fry being more sensitive than the adults to oxygen lack.
For such cold-water fish as salmonids a minimum of 6 mg/1 has been recommended for good growth and gen-
eral well-being of adults and their associated food organisms, and of 7 mg/1 for eggs and fry.
II. SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS. In addition to providing for growth, activity, reproduction and the like, the
oxygen concentration must be high enough to protect against adverse conditions that may be encountered. For
example, toxicants that enter through the gills become more toxic as the oxygen concentration is decreased, be-
cause the fish must pass more water over the gills to get enough oxygen, and this brings more toxicant against
the gill surface. Because the low salt content of Lake Superior water permits such agents as heavy metals to be
more toxic than they would be in harder waters, it is especially important that the oxygen concentration be
maintained high enough to counteract this hazard.
Little is known about the requirements of the adult stages of the important species of fish and food organisms
under the environmental conditions of the bulk of Lake Superior, and even less about those of the more sensitive
developmental stages. Further, little seems to be known about the oxygen concentration in various parts of the
lake, especially at the bottom where the eggs and early stages of many species must live. Evidently the lake
oxygen concentrations that have entered into maintaining the recorded levels at Duluth and Sault Ste. Marie so
far have been high enough to maintain the aquatic population, and these should serve as guidelines until we have
more information.
It is important to recognize that a reduction in oxygen from existing concentrations would serve as a warning
of organic decomposition with subsequent release of poisonous materials such as hydrogen sulfide and ammonia.
in. EXISTING CONDITIONS. The gross range of dissolved oxygen concentrations over the period 1958-1968
was between 9. 4 and 14. 6 mg/1 at Duluth, and 8. 4 and 16. 4 mg/1 at Sault Ste. Marie, with means of 12. 6 and
12. 2 mg/1, respectively.
IV. RECOMMENDED CRITERIA FOR LAKE SUPERIOR. The dissolved oxygen concentration of the open water
of the lake shall not be less than 9 mg/1, at any time or any place in that habitat and 90% of the values should be
greater than 10 mg/1. For habitats occupied primarily by warmer water fish (e. g., perch and walleye in the
shallower bays) the criteria shall be not less than 5 mg/1 at any time or place in that habitat.
V. REFERENCES.
1. Brinley, F.J. 1944. House Document 266, 78th Congress,
1st Session. Part n, Supplement F, Biological Studies,
pp. 1275-1353.
2. Doudoroff, P. and C. E. Warren, 1962. Biological Problems in
Water Pollution. Public Health Service; Third Seminar:
pp. 145-155. Dissolved Oxygen Requirements of Fishes.
3. Ellis, M. M. 1937. Bulletin U. S. Bureau of Fisheries,
Volume 48:365-437. Detection and Measurement of
Stream Pollution.
4. Smith, L. L. et al, 1956. Sewage & Industrial Wastes 28:678-690.
Aquatic Life Water Quality Criteria: Second Progress Report.
5. Water Quality Criteria, Report of the National Technical Advisory
Committee to the Secretary of the Interior, Federal Water
Pollution Control Administration, Washington, D. C., April 1968.
87
-------
TURBIDITY AND COLOR
I, BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS. Ecologically, the quality of the light, the intensity and the duration impinging on a
given surface area controls the ecosystem through its influence on primary production. Light is the ultimate
source of energy, without which life could not exist. Many structural and behavorial characteristics of organ-
isms are directly influenced by light, therefore making it a vital factor as well as a limiting one at both the
maximum and minimum levels.
Reduction of light presents a more serious problem in the aquatic environment than in the terrestrial. Light
diminishes rapidly even in clear water, and changes in spectral composition and in other respects. Any extra-
neous material which is introduced to water, whether it be dissolved or suspended, will diminish the light in-
tensity and possibly change the light quality. In short, suspended or dissolved solids absorb light energy, and
this absorption will decrease that light energy available for primary production.
Production takes place in the water at a depth to which light penetrates so that in deep water lakes the light-
penetrated "surface water" provides the major source of production for the entire depth. Effects of turbidity
on desirable fish in Lake Superior would first appears as indirect ones on food supply.
TJ. CHEMICAL EFFECTS. Increases in turbidity require an increase in the available chlorine necessary for
chlorination. 1 Further, an increase in turbidity makes phosphate and radioactivity removal harder to accom-
plish.2 Turbidity produces in Lake Superior "colored water" which is not esthetically pleasing.3
HI. SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS. Since Lake Superior is deep (average depth about 600 feet) and cold (average
temperature •(42° F) primary production is already hindered. If light energy is removed because of turbidity or
color, further stress would be placed on the lake's primary production. A combination of all these adverse
conditions (extreme depth, low temperature, and light absorption) could render the lake practically sterile.
Since the lake's depth cannot be controlled, and the cold temperature is required for the natural fish, it is most
imperative that turbidity and color be removed from effluents being discharged into the lake.
IV. EXISTING CONDITIONS. Twenty-year averages of turbidity measurements taken daily at the Duluth Water
Treatment Plant (Lakewood Pumping Station) show the mean turbidity of Lake Superior at this station to be
about 0. 3 JTU.
V. RECOMMENDED CRITERIA FOR LAKE SUPERIOR.
Turbidity: Less than 0. 5 JTU (measured by dilution of standard solutions for JTU) for 90% of the time.
Not to exceed 5. 0 JTU as a maximum.
Color: Less than 0. 010 absorbance units (10 cm path length) over wave length range 3500-8000 A°, and
less than 0. 050 absorbance units (10 cm path length) over the wave length range 2400-3500 A°
for 90% of the time. Not to exceed five times these values as a maximum.
VI. REFERENCES.
1. Felsen, D. and Taras, M. J. Journal American Water Works Association,
42, 455 (1950).
2. Eliassen, R. et al. Journal American Water Works Association, 43
621 (1951).
3. Odum, E.P. Fundamentals of Ecology, p. 106. W0 B. Saunders and Co.,
Philadelphia, 1959.
4. Clarke, G. L. Elements of Ecology, p. 185, John Wiley and Sons,
Inc., New York. 1954.
88
-------
TOTAL DISSOLVED SOLIDS
I. GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS. The quantity of dissolved solids by itself is not especially important in
assessing water quality. More important are the kinds of dissolved solids that are present, and in some cases,
the ratio of one to another. Only when the total exceeds many times the existing values in the lake, would there
be any direct impairment.
Dissolved solids measurements do, however, provide a good index of the aging rate of the lake. Such cor-
relations have been established in Lake Erie, as an example. For this reason, dissolved solids should be kept
close to the present level to avoid undesirable aging effects.
II. EXISTING CONDITIONS. No data is available for St. Mary's River, but rarely is 60 mg/1 reached at
Duluth.
HI. RECOMMENDED CRITERIA FOR LAKE SUPERIOR. Ninety percent of the values should not exceed 65
mg/1.
IV. REFERENCES.
1. A Plan for Water Pollution Control - Lake Erie Report. U. S.
Department of the Interior, Federal Water Pollution Control
Administration. August 1968.
BACTERIA
I. GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS. The presence of bacteria in water was recognized early as an indicator of
degraded water quality. The coliform bacterial count has been most widely used as an index of sewage contam-
ination and possible accompanying hazard of human pathogens. Some waters have a high count even though there
is little or no sewage contamination as coliform bacteria enter waterways from sources other than man, such
as land runoff from agricultural lands.
The cold temperature, extreme water clarity (permitting deep penetration of sunlight) and sparsely populated
watershed result in very low counts. The average total coliform value at Duluth is 3. 68/100 ml and 7. 81/100
ml at the St. Mary's River.
II. RECOMMENDED CRITERIA FOR LAKE SUPERIOR. The maximum total coliform count should not exceed
1000/100 ml and 90% of the counts should be less than 10/100 ml at any location. The maximum fecal coliform
count should not exceed 200/100 ml and 90% of the counts should be less than 10/100 ml at any location.
HI. REFERENCES.
1. Water Quality Criteria, Report of the National Technical Advisory
Committee to the Secretary of the Interior, Federal Water
Pollution Control Administration, Washington, D. C., April 1968.
2. Sanitary Significance of Fecal Coliforms in the Environment.
U.S. Department of the Interior, Federal Water Pollution
Control Administration, Publication WP-20-3.
3. The Bacteria, Volume II. Gunsalus and Stanier, Academic Press.
1961.
4. Pollutional Effects of Pulp and Paper Mill Wastes in Puget Sound.
U. S. Department of the Interior, Federal Water Pollution
Control Administration, March 1967.
5. Proceeding-Eleventh Conference on Great Lakes Research - 1968.
International Association for Great Lakes Research.
6. Microbiology for Sanitary Engineers. McKinney, Rose E.
McGraw-Hill, 1962, pp. 152.
89
-------
DETERGENTS (MBAS)
I. BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS. Detergents, because of their ubiquitous usage, are wisespread in waterways. In
1965, the United States detergent manufacturers changed over from the "hard" tetrapropylene alkyl benzene
surfactants. With present detergent formulations, the LAS surfactant is the primary toxic component and has
been demonstrated to be two to four times more toxic than the old ABS compound. However, the removal of
LAS by biodegradation is accompanied by a reduction in toxicity without the accumulation of toxic inter-
mediates.
Most of the published detergent toxicity data for fish and other aquatic life is for old ABS formulations, while
LAS toxicity information exists primarily for fish. Short-term studies by a number of investigators with LAS
have shown that the lethal concentrations (96 hour TLm values) for certain fish species range from 0. 6 to 6. 4
mg/1. A long-term study with fathead minnows indicated that the maximum acceptable concentration of LAS is
0. 6 mg/1. Unpublished experiments of one to three months duration at the National Water Quality Laboratory
have shown that the 30 day lethal value for smallmouth bass and northern pike fry is between 0. 5 to 0. 6 mg/1,
and the threshold concentration of LAS for an amphipod and operculate snail is approximately 1. 0 to 1.7 mg/1,
and for a pulmonate snail greater than 2. 0 mg/1.
H. SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS. The methylene blue method is used for quantitatively measuring surfactants,
but doen not differentiate between the now existing levels of ABS and LAS occurring in natural waters or certain
natural substances. Therefore, it has been proposed and generally accepted that these anionic substances be
reported as methylene blue active substances (MBAS).
The Public Health Service Drinking Water Standards, 1962, limits ABS in drinking water to 0. 5 mg/1 since
higher concentrations may cause undesirable tastes and foaming. A similar LAS standard has not yet been
adopted. An important secondary effect related to a detergent standard is that polyphosphates comprise a large
percentage of powdered detergent formulations and furnish nutrients to receiving waters, and may promote
nuisance conditions (e.g. algal blooms).
m. EXISTING CONDITIONS. Available information on surfactant concentrations in Lake Superior indicates a
range from 0. 01 - 0. 05 mg/1.
IV. RECOMMENDED CRITERIA FOR LAKE SUPERIOR. The maximum concentration for Lake Superior should
be 0.4 mg/1 MBAS and 90% of the measurements less than 0.1 mg/1 MBAS at any single location.
V. REFERENCES.
1. Thatcher, Thomas O., and Joseph F. Santner, 1966. Acute Toxicity
of LAS to Various Fish Species. Proceedings 21st Purdue
Industrial Waste Conference, Engineering Extension Series
No. 121., 50(2): 996-1002.
2. Pickering, Quentin H. 1966. Acute Toxicity of Alkyl Benzene
Sulfonate to the Eggs of the Fathead Minnow, Pimephales
promelas. Air and Water Pollution Journal, 10: 385-391.
3. Pickering, Quentin H. and Thomas O. Thatcher. 1968. The Chronic
Toxicity of Linear Alkylate Sulfonates to the Fathead
Minnow (Pimephales promelas, Raf.). Submitted to Journal
Water Pollution Control Federation for publication.
4. Swisher, R. D., J. T. O'Rourke, and H. D. Tomlinson. 1964
Fish Bioassays of Linear Alkylate Sulfonates (LAS) and
Intermediate Biodegradation Products. Journal of
American Oil Chemical Society, 41: 746-752.
5. Marchetti, R. 1965. Critical Review of the Effects of Synthetic
Detergents on Aquatic Life. Stud. Rev. Gen. Fish. Coun.
Medit., No. 26, 32 pp.
90
-------
PHENOLS AND PHENOLIC COMPOUNDS
I. BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS. Phenols and substituted phenols are toxic to trout and other fish at concentrations
of 0.1 to 10 mg/1. Studies of long term effects at lower concentrations have not been made.
Phenolic compounds, particularly the chlorophenols, cause unpleasant odors and flavors in fish from waters
containing as little as 0. 0001 mg/1. Most phenols are biodegradable, but at concentrations of a few mg/1 or
less cause nuisance slime and mold growths on rocks, etc.
II. SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS. Phenols in drinking water are detectable by disagreeable taste and odor at
concentrations of 0. 001 to 0. 01 mg/1, thus the U. S. Public Health Service Drinking Water Standard has been
set at 0. 001 mg/1. Current waste treatment practices (tertiary treatment) are highly efficient at removal of
phenols; however, post-chlorination of the waste increases the proportion of taste and odor causing chloro-
phenols.
HI. EXISTING CONDITIONS. Phenol as such is not routinely measured in Lake Superior. However, data
from Duluth and the St. Mary's River indicate that total aromatics (including phenols) average less than
0.001 mg/1.
IV. RECOMMENDED CRITERIA FOR LAKE SUPERIOR. Based on the potential for causing taste and odor
problems in drinking water and in commercial fish, the recommended criteria for phenols in Lake Superior
is a maximum concentration of 0.001 mg/1.
V. REFERENCES.
1. Brown, V.M., Jordan, D. H. M., and Tiller, B. A., 1967. The Effect
of Temperature on the Toxicity of Phenol to Rainbow Trout in Hard
Water. Water Research 1:587-594.
2. Pickering, Q. H., and Henderson, C., 1966. Acute Toxicity of Some
Important Petrochemicals to Fish. Journal Water Pollution Control
Federation 38 (9): 1419-1429.
3. Ryckman, D.W., Prabhakara Rao, A. V. S., and Buzzel, J. C., Jr.
Behavior of Organic Chemicals in the Aquatic Environment: A
Literature Critique. Published by the Manufacturers Chemists
Association, Washington, D. C. , Summer 1966.
4. Water Quality Criteria, Report of the National Technical Advisory Committee
to the Secretary of the Interior, Federal Water Pollution Control
Administration, Washington, D. C. , April 1968.
91
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AMMONIA
I. BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS. Ammonia is a normal product of animal metabolism and the major nitrogenous
excretion of fish and other freshwater animals. It enters water naturally also by microbial decomposition of
decaying plant and animal material, in rain water and, under certain conditions, by the degradation of dissolved
nitrites and nitrates. In addition, it enters water as a component of sewage, fertilizers, and numerous indus-
trial wastes. Conversely, it serves as a nutrient for some of the algae. Its concentration is unlikely to remain
constant in a normal aquatic environment, but tends to be decreased by conversion to nitrite and nitrate. Be-
cause of its many possible sources and fates, the ammonia content of natural unpolluted waters is highly vari-
able, and has been reported to range from 0. 0 to about 4. 0 mg/1, although usually less than 0. 2 mg/1.
The experimental work to date on ammonia toxicity does not provide clear guidelines, partly because the
distinction has not always been made between the highly toxic ammonia molecule and the less toxic ammonium
ion, and partly because the experiments have been too crude to be related to long-term effects. A concentra-
tion of 1. 5 mg/1 has been reported as "not harmful to fish", but it has also been reported, however, that 1
mg/1 and even 0. 3 mg/1 can affect the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood. Its effects on important fish food
organisms of the lake are not known.
II. SPECIAL CONSIDERATION. The higher the pH the greater the proportion of toxic molecular ammonia
relative to ammonium ion, the toxicity of ammonium compounds increasing by 200% or more between pH 7. 4
and 8. 0. Over the period 1958-1968 the pH of Lake Superior water at Duluth has ranged between 7. 3 and 8. 5,
with a mean of 7. 72, which is in a critical range for ammonia. Further, because of its low salt concentration
Lake Superior water is poorly buffered against changes in pH. For these reasons the standard for ammonia
must be extremely conservative to be safe for aquatic life.
IE. EXISTING CONDITIONS. Over the period 1959-1966 at Sault Ste. Marie, and 1958-1965 at Duluth, the
reported ammonia concentrations ranged between 0. 0 and 0.1 mg/1 as ammonia nitrogen, with means of 0. 071
and 0.0024 mg/1, respectively.
IV. RECOMMENDED CRITERIA FOR LAKE SUPERIOR. Since the values so far recorded seem not to have had
an adverse effect, since the ammonia concentration is highly labile, and since ammonia is most toxic at high
pH ranges, the recommended criteria is a maximum of 0.1 mg/1, expressed as ammonia nitrogen, and 90%ofthe
values should be less than 0. 05 mg/1.
V. PERTINENT REFERENCES.
1. Doudoroff, P., and Katz, M., 195022:1432-1458. Critical Review
of Literature on the Toxicity of Industrial Wastes and their
Components to Fish. I. Alkalies, Acids and Inorganic Gases.
Sewage and Industrial Wastes.
2. Ellis, M. M. 1937. Bulletin U. S. Bureau of Fisheries.
Detection and Measurement of Stream Pollution. Vol. 48:
365-437.
3. Goldstein, L., Forster, R. P. and Fanelli, G. M., Jr. 1964.
Gill Blood Flow and Ammonia Excretion in the Marine Teleost,
Myoxocephalus scorpius. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 12:
489-499.
4. Lloyd, R. 1961. Effect of Dissolved Oxygen Concentrations on the
Toxicity of Several Poisons to Rainbow Trout. Journal
Experimental Biology. 38: 447-456.
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PHOSPHORUS
I. BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS. Phosphorus is an essential nutrient which frequently occurs in minute quantities in
natural waters and can thereby be limiting to the growth of aquatic plants. When present in excess, however,
under favorable environmental conditions, it is instrumental in producing heavy and undesirable growths of both
algae and rooted aquatic plants. Results obtained by various workers (e.g., Sawyer, 1947; Chu, 1943; Strick-
land, 1965; and Sylvester, 1961) indicate that phosphorus does not become limiting to algae until concentrations
as low as 0. 01 mg/1 or less of soluble phosphorus are reached.
II. SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS. Phosphorus, in increased quantities, is commonly associated with acceler-
ated lake eutrophication. The degree to which aquatic plant growth is stimulated by phosphorus is variable, and
will depend on the occurrence of other essential nutrients, temperature, light, etc. Phosphorus is, however,
a substance which is sssential to plant growth, one which is frequently limiting, and one which is much more
amenable to control than many other nutrients. Nitrogen, for example, is difficult to control because some
forms of algae are able to fix atmospheric nitrogen.
in. EXISTING CONDITIONS. Data on phosphorus distribution in Lake Superior are scarce. A synthesis of
data published by Putnam and Olson (1960) and by Beeton, et al. (1959), indicate average distribution of total
phosphorus, as mg/1 Phosphorus, for all depths, to be as follows:
West End (West of Apostle Islands) 0.009
Apostle Islands Region 0. 014
Open Lake, Apostle Islands to Keweenaw Peninsula 0. 010
Keweenaw Bay 0.011
Coastal Waters off Marquette and Munising 0. 010
Open Lake, East End 0. 005
Whitefish Bay 0. 008
The average for the entire lake is 0. 0096 mg/1.
IV. RECOMMENDED CRITERIA FOR LAKE SUPERIOR. The total phosphorus levels should not be permitted
to exceed existing values. Where background data are not available the maximum value should not exceed 0. 01
mg/1 total phosphorus.
V. REFERENCES.
1. Beeton, A.M., J. H. Johnson, and Stanford H. Smith, 1959. Lake Superior Limnological Data. U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service. Special Scientific Report - Fisheries No. 297, Washington, D. C., 177 p.
2. Chu, S. P., 1943. The Influence of the Mineral Composition of the Medium on the Growth of Plank-
tonic Algae. Part n. The Influence of the Concentration of Inorganic Nitrogen and Phosphate
Phosphorus. J. Ecology 3_1:109.
3. Putnam, H. D., and T. A. Olson. An Investigation of Nutrients in Western Lake Superior. School of
Public Health, University of Minnesota, Duluth, for the Minnesota Water Pollution Control
Commission, 1960.
4. Putnam, H. D., and T. A. Olson, 1966. Primary Productivity at a Fixed Station in Western Lake Su-
perior. Proceedings, Ninth Conf. on Great Lakes Res., Inst. of Sci. and Tech., University of
Mich., Ann Arbor, p. 119-128.
5. Sawyer, C. N. , 1947. Fertilization of Lakes by Agricultural and Urban Drainage. J. NEWWA, 6^:109.
6. Strickland, J. D. H., 1965. Production of Organic Matter in the Primary Stages of the Marine Food
Chain. Chemical Oceanography (J. P. Riley and D. Skirrow, eds.), Academic Press, New York.
7. Sylvester, R. O., 1961. Nutrient Content of Drainage Water from Forested, Urban, and Agricultural
Ar^as. Algae and Metropolitan Wastes, Public Health Service, SECTRW61-3, 80, U.S. Govt.
P"Vit. Off., Washington, D.C.
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IRON
I. BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS. Iron causes problems of taste, color and odor in water supplies and may stimulate
the growth of bacteria and other lower plant life. It will discolor shore areas and may coat water conduits.
Concentrations in excess of 0.3 mg/1 cause taste problems and stain laundry. Lesser concentrations in com-
bination with manganese often result in undesirable growths.
II. SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS. Iron solubility is highly pH dependent. In more desirable pH values of 6. 5 to
8. 5 it occurs in the oxidized state and is rather insoluble and usually settles. Introductions of iron may result
in an increase in settleable solids content in this way. Iron will redissolve in hypolimnionic waters under cer-
tain conditions and then may cause taste and odor problems.
HI. EXISTING CONDITIONS. The ten year average concentration at Duluth is 0. 023 mg/1 and 0. 019 mg/1 at
the St. Mary's River. The high value recorded is 0. 168 mg/1. Highest readings occurred during the last sev-
eral years.
IV. RECOMMENDED CRITERIA FOR LAKE SUPERIOR. The maximum value should be 0. 1 mg/1 and 90% of
the values should be less than 0. 03 mg/1 at any single location.
V. REFERENCES.
1. Water Quality Criteria, Report of the National Technical Advisory
Committee to the Secretary of the Interior, Federal Water
Pollution Control Administration, Washington, D. C. April 1968.
2. U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare, 1962, Public
Health Service Drinking Water Standards, PHS Publication No. 956.
3. Water Quality Criteria, California State Water Quality Control
Board, Sacramento, California, Publication 3-A, 1963. pp. 215
94
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CADMIUM
I. BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS. Cadmium occurs in small amounts in naturally occurring zinc ores reflecting its
close chemical relationship to zinc but in natural waters occurs in only trace amounts. Cadmium is a nonessen-
tial, nonbeneficial element. It is a heavy metal that accumulates in animal tissues and has a high pollution
potential because of its high toxicity and cumulative effects.
In the U. S. Public Health Service Drinking Water Standards, cadmium in excess of 0. 010 mg/1 constitutes
grounds for rejection of the supply. Long term toxicity studies conducted at the Federal Water Pollution Con-
trol Administration's Newtown Fish Toxicology Laboratory have shown slow accumulative mortality in young
fish and that newly hatched fry are extremely sensitive to cadmium. These chronic studies conducted in hard
water (in which cadmium is less toxic than in Lake Superior) gave a "safe" concentration of 0. 037 mg/1. The
test concentration of 0. 057 mg/1 was lethal to newly hatched fry.
II, SPECIAL CONSIDERATION. The toxicity of cadmium, like the other heavy metals, is influenced by water
quality characteristics, such as pH and hardness. Acute toxicity studies indicate that the lethal concentration
of cadmium in softer water is 1 mg/1.
in. EXISTING CONDITIONS. According to Kopp and Kroner, of 66 samples in the Western Great Lakes Basin
the frequency of detection (0.45 millipores filtered samples) was 3%. They did not detect cadmium in Lake
Superior.
IV. RECOMMENDED CRITERIA FOR LAKE SUPERIOR. The recommended criteria for cadmium in Lake
Superior is a maximum value of 0. 005 mg/1 and 90% of the measurements less than 0. 002 mg/1 at a single
location.
V. REFERENCES.
1. Pickering, Q. H., and Cast, M. The Chronic Toxicity of Cadmium
to the Fathead Minnow (Pimephales promelas) (In preparation).
2. Pickering, Q. H., and Henderson, C. Acute Toxicity of Some Heavy
Metals to Different Species of Warm Water Fishes, Proceedings
19th Industrial Waste Conference. Purdue University. 1965.
95
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CHROMIUM
I. BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS. In the U.S. Public Health Service Drinking Water Standards the presence of hex-
avalent chromium in excess of 0. 05 mg/1 shall constitute grounds for rejection of the supply. Chromium is not
known to be either an essential or beneficial element in animals. There is accumulation of chromium in many
animals and when inhaled, chromium is a known cancerigenic agent for man. Trivalent chromium is not of con-
cern in drinking water supplies at present.
In long-term tests conducted at the Federal Water Pollution Control Administration's Newtown Fish Toxicology
Laboratory, in a hard water, 1 mg/1 of hexavalent chromium was found to be a "safe" concentration for sur-
vival and reproduction of the fathead minnow. The lethal value in a similar water (200 mg/1 hardness) was 33
mg/1. In a soft water, low pH bioassay the lethal value for the fathead minnow was 17 mg/1.
Bioassays conducted with four species gave lethal values of hexavalent chromium that ranged from 17 to 118
mg/1. Thus it appears that there is a great range of sensitivity of various fish species. Hexavalent chromium
appears to be more toxic to some invertebrates; 0. 05 mg/1 is lethal to Paphnia, a very important animal in
Lake Superior. In acute bioassays trivalent chromium is more toxic in soft water than hexavalent chromium.
The chronic studies indicated that their toxicity is not greatly different.
II. Special Considerations. Hexavalent chromium is very soluble in water while trivalent chromium is much
less soluble, especially in hard water. Many variables influence the toxicity of chromium. Trama and Benoit
have shown that the toxicity of hexavalent chromium is dependent on pH; it is more toxic under conditions of low
pH. The toxicity of trivalent chromium is dependent on concentration, pH, hardness, and equilibrium state.
HI. EXISTING CONDITIONS. Hexavalent chromium concentrations found in Lake Superior at Duluth had a
frequency of detection of 40%. In these samples of positive occurrence the mean concentration was 9 Mg/1 and
the maximum was 20 /ug/1. At St. Mary's River hexavalent chromium was found in 17% of the samples with a
mean of 3 Aig/1 and a maximum of 7 /ug/1. Data are not available for trivalent chromium concentrations.
IV. RECOMMENDED CRITERIA FOR LAKE SUPERIOR. The recommended criteria for total chromium is a
maximum of 0. 050 mg/1 and 90% of the values should be less than 0. 02 mg/1 at any single location.
V. REFERENCES.
1. Pickering, Q. P., and Henderson, C. Acute Toxicity of Some Heavy
Metals to Different Species of Warmwater Fishes, Proceedings
19th Industrial Waste Conference, Purdue University, 1965.
2. Trama, F. B. , and Benoit, R. J. Toxicity of Hexavalent Chromium
to Bluegills, Journal Water Pollution Control Federation,
Volume 32, 1960.
96
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COPPER
I. BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS. Copper is one of the more toxic of the heavy metals to many desirable aquatic
organisms. It is also an essential trace element and is often added to the foods of both aquatic and terrestrial
animals. It is commonly used to control algal growths in water supplies. The permissible concentration in
public water supplies is 1 mg/1 and the desirable concentration is virtually absent.
Experiments with trout, perch, sunfish, freshwater shrimp, Daphnia, snails, and clams establish the max-
imum no-effect concentrations in Lake Superior water to be between 0. 01 and 0. 05 mg/1. Trout, shrimp, and
Daphnia, all important in Lake Superior, are among the most sensitive. To some animals, copper concentra-
tions that kill are substantially higher than concentrations that retard growth and inhibit reproduction. Exper-
imentation has shown that concentrations 1/10 to 1/30 of the lethal concentrations inhibit reproduction.
H. SPECIAL CONSIDERATION. Both pH and the calcium-magnesium content of water affects copper toxicity
to aquatic organisms. The lethal concentrations are more affected by these characteristics than are the no-
effect concentrations. Lake Superior water has low concentrations of calcium and magnesium and therefore
copper is more toxic in it than in most other natural waters of the United States. For this reason, stringent
criteria are needed.
in. EXISTING CONDITIONS. Five year average concentrations of copper at Duluth and the St. Mary's River
are 0. 003 and 0. 005 mg/1, respectively. Some values have been reported as high as 0. 02 mg/1, but nearly all
are less than 0. 01 mg/1. Except near sources of copper introduction, concentrations do not vary greatly.
IV. RECOMMENDED CRITERIA FOR LAKE SUPERIOR. The criteria for Lake Superior should be a maximum
of 0. 012 mg/1 and 90% of the measurements should be less than 0. 008 mg/1 at any single location.
V. REFERENCES.
1. Sprague, J. B., Lethal Concentrations of Copper and Zinc for
Young Atlantic Salmon, Journal of Fisheries Research Board,
Canada, 21 (1), 1964.
2. Mount, Donald I. Chronic Toxicity of Copper to Fathead Minnows
(Pimephales Promelas, Rafinesque). Water Research,
2:215-223, 1968.
3. Grande, Magne. , Effect of Copper and Zinc on Salmonid Fishes,
Third International Conference on Water Pollution Research,
Section 1, Paper No. 5.
4. Sprague, J. B. , Avoidance of Copper-Zinc Solutions by Young Salmon
in the Laboratory. Journal Water Pollution Control Federation.
Vol. 36 (8): 990-1004, 1964.
5. (Personal communication, National Water Quality Laboratory Staff.)
Acute and Chronic Effects of Cu+^ on Fish and Invertebrates
in Lake Superior Water, 1969.
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LEAD
I. BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS. Lead is quite poisonous to aquatic organisms, concentrations of 0.1 mg/1 having
killed fish in soft water. In water more like that of Lake Superior, however, short term (a few hours to a few
days) mortality test values of from 5 to 50 mg/1 of lead have often been obtained.
The few longer term (up to six months), nonlethal exposures to lead in water have demonstrated that accumu-
lations in various parts of the body result from continuous uptake of lead by the fish. Such accumulations in
mammals have led to toxic effects and death after long periods of time, even many years. On the basis of
available information on fish, similar results would be expected.
Daphnia in Lake Superior water are killed in a few days by an 0. 5 mg/1 concentration; mayflies, stoneflies,
and caddisflies are killed at 16 to 64 mg/1 concentrations.
H. SPECIFIC CONSIDERATIONS: Because of lead's low solubility in comparison with many other metal salts,
pH and calcium-magnesium content of water are particularly important in determining its toxicity. High lead
concentrations are particularly significant in the soft water of Lake Superior,
HI. EXISTING CONDITIONS. The average concentration of lead in filtered water at the St. Mary's River over
the five year period ending September 30, 1967 was 0. 006 mg/1. Two filtered samples taken at Duluth during
this period contained 0. 007 and 0. 02 mg/1. The average of 20 unfiltered samples taken at scattered sites in
Lake Superior during 1967 is 0. 027 mg/1. This figure excludes one very high and probably incorrect value of
0. 306 mg/1 that was found in a sample taken near the center of the lake.
IV. RECOMMENDED CRITERIA FOR LAKE SUPERIOR. The Public Health Service Drinking Water Standard
of 0. 05 mg/1 should never be exceeded and 90% of the measurements should be less than 0. 03 mg/1 at any
single location.
V. REFERENCES.
1. McKee, J.E., and Wolf, H.W. , Water Quality Criteria, Publication
No. 3-A, California State Water Quality Control Board, Second
Edition, 1963.
2. Pickering, Q. H. , and Henderson, C. , 1966. The Acute Toxicity of
Some Heavy Metals to Different Species of Warmwater Fishes.
Air-Water Pollution International Journal 10:45.°,-463.
3. Warnick, S. F., and Bell, H. L., 1969. The Acute Toxicity of Some
Heavy Metals to Different Species of Aquatic Insects. Journal
of Water Pollution Control Federation. 41:280-284.
4. Water Quality Criteria, Report of the National Technical Advisory
Committee to the Secretary of the Interior, Federal Water
Pollution Control Administration, Washington, D. C. April 1968.
5. U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare, 1962, Public
Health Service Drinking Water Standards, PHS Publication
No. 956.
98
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NICKEL
I. BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS. The U. S. Public Health Service Drinking Water Standards do not place any con-
centration limits on nickel. It is a nonessential element, and its toxicity to mammals appears to be very low.
However, nickel may be very toxic to some plants.
The lethal concentration of nickel in soft water (20 mg/1 hardness) to the fathead minnow is about 5 mg/1 and
in hard water (360 mg/1 hardness) it is about 43 mg/1. With continuous-flow testing the lethal concentration is
20 mg/1 in water of 200 mg/1 hardness. Using these data, the estimated lethal concentration in Lake Superior
water (44 mg/1 hardness) would be 7 mg/1 of nickel. Some Lake Superior fish are more sensitive, however.
In a long-term bioassay conducted with a water of 200 mg/1 hardness at the Federal Water Pollution Control
Administration's Newtown Fish Toxicology Laboratory, the "safe" concentration was 0.4 mg/1 nickel. At this
concentration the fathead minnow lived, grew, and reproduced.
H. SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS. Certain environmental variables affect toxicity of nickel, but toxicity is not
affected by hardness as much as for other metals. Various types of aquatic life differ considerably in sensi-
tivity to nickel.
IE. EXISTING CONDITIONS. Concentrations of nickel in the Western Great Lakes Basin were found in 9% of
the samples. In the samples with positive occurrence, the mean concentration was 0.01 mg/1 and the maximum
concentration was 0. 028 mg/1. Nickel was not detected at Duluth.
IV. RECOMMENDED CRITERIA FOR LAKE SUPERIOR. Nickel should not exceed a maximum of 0. 03 mg/1
and 90% of the values should be less than 0. 015 mg/1 at a single location.
V. REFERENCES.
1. Pickering, Q. P. and Henderson, C., Acute Toxicity of Some Heavy
Metals to Different Species of Warmwater Fishes, Proceedings
19th Industrial Waste Conference, Purdue University, 1965.
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ZINC
I. BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS. Zinc is one of several heavy metals occurring almost universally in surface wa-
ters. These natural levels of zinc vary greatly and are influenced by minerals in soils and characteristics of
the water itself. Zinc is an essential trace metal for aquatic life, yet inhibits fish production at quite low con-
centrations.
Long-term tests with the fathead minnow in which the fish were continuously exposed to a series of zinc con-
centrations during the entire life cycle indicate that concentrations significantly inhibiting reproduction are much
lower than the lethal concentrations or those that have demonstrated some histological or physiological changes.
These studies were conducted in water with higher calcium, magnesium and pH than that found in Lake Superior
water and therefore zinc was less toxic under the test conditions. A decrease in reproduction occurred at a
zinc concentration of 0. 045 mg/1 in hard water. Since the test was conducted in a harder water than that of Lake
Superior and the toxicity of zinc increases as the calcium-magnesium level decreases, the safe level in Lake
Superior is lower than 0. 045 mg/1. Zinc partially reduces reproduction over a wide range of concentrations and
there is no sharp threshold.
II. SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS. Many environmental variables affect the toxicity of zinc. Principal examples
would be the calcium-magnesium content of the water, pH, temperature, and differential sensitivity of aquatic
species. Such factors prohibit the selection of a single criterion for all freshwater environments.
HI. EXISTING CONDITIONS. The mean zinc concentration in water taken at the Duluth, Minnesota, water
treatment plant was 0. 009 mg/1 and at the St. Mary's River, 0. 020 mg/1. The current permissible level of
zind in public water supplies is 5 mg/1. The high values recorded in St. Mary's River are of concern.
IV. RECOMMENDED CRITERIA FOR LAKE SUPERIOR. Zinc concentrations should not exceed 0. 015 mg/1 and
90% of the values should be less than 0. 010 mg/1.
V. REFERENCES.
1. Brungs, W.A. Chronic Toxicity of Zinc to the Fathead Minnow
(Pimephales Promelas, Rafinesque). Transcription American
Fisheries Society, April 1969.
2. Mount, D.I. The Effect of Total Hardness and pH on Acute
Toxicity of Zinc to Fish. Air and Water Pollution Inter-
national Journal, 10:49-56 (1966).
3. Skidmore, J. F. Toxicity of Zinc Compounds to Aquatic Animals,
with Special Reference to Fish. The Quarterly Review of
Biology, 10 (3): 227 (Sept. 1964).
4. Water Quality Criteria, Report of the National Technical Advisory
Committee to the Secretary of the Interior, Federal Water
Pollution Control Administration, Washington, D. C. April 1968.
100
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CYANIDE
I. BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS. Cyanide is a highly poisonous chemical and occurs principally from industrial
processes. It combines with hemoglobin in blood, forming a rather stable complex, and reduces the oxygen-
carrying capacity of the blood. It is poorly removed by normal water treatment processes.
Experiments with trout and bluegills resulted in total kill at 0. 05 nig/1 and other adverse effects as low as
0. 005 mg/1.
The U. S. Public Health Service Drinking Water Standard is 0.2 mg/1 and the desirable concentration is vir-
tually zero.
H. SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS. Cyanide toxicity to aquatic life forms is highly pH dependent. Undissociated
hydrocyanic acid is most toxic and this is present in the largest proportion at low pH values. It combines
readily with heavy metals and may be more or less toxic than the uncombined form, depending on the particular
complex.
m. EXISTING CONDITIONS. Average concentrations at both Duluth and the St. Mary's River are less than
0.001 mg/1.
IV. RECOMMENDED CRITERIA FOR LAKE SUPERIOR. The maximum concentration should not exceed 0. 004
mg/1 and 90% of the values should be less than 0. 002 mg/1 at any location.
V. REFERENCES.
1. Biology of Water Pollution, U. S. Department of the Interior,
Federal Water Pollution Control Administration, 1967.
2. U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare, 1962,
Public Health Service Drinking Water Standards, PHS
Publication No. 956.
3. Water Quality Criteria, Report of the National Technical
Advisory Committee to the Secretary of the Interior,
Federal Water Pollution Control Administration, Wash-
ington, D. C. April, 1968.
4. Cairns, John. Notulae Naturae, #361, July 30, 1963.
5. Doudoroff, P. Transactions of the American Fishery
Society, Vol. 95, No 1, Jan. 1966.
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HYDROGEN SULFIDE
I. BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS. Sulfides in water are the result of natural processes of decomposition in enriched
waters, sewage, and industrial wastes such as those from oil refineries, tanneries, pulp and paper mills*
chemical plants, and gas manufacturing facilities. Sulfides are produced by the action of anerobic organisms
on sulfates and organic sulphur compounds. Hydrogen sulfide contributes to taste and odor of water supples
that can be detected by man at 0. 005 - 0. 010 mg/1^ and taints flesh of aquatic organisms.
Experiments with eggs and fry of trout, walleye, northern pike, suckers, and immature blue gills and fathead
minnows indicate lethal concentrations of undissociated hydrogen sulfide to vary between 0. 008 - 0. 058 mg/l2.
Trout fry are killed in three days at 0. 020 mg/1 at high oxygen levels. Freshwater shrimp are more sensitive
than fish fry.
H. SPECIAL CONSIDERATION. Hydrogen sulfide decays exponentially with a half life of one hour in oxygen-
ated water.3 However, it can be evolved into oxygenated water from organic deposits and can be found at
lethal concentrations at the bottom-water interface. * The toxicity of an effluent may bear no relation to its
potential toxicity in organic deposits. Fish eggs, fry, and food organs-ins are most susceptible. Since most
species of sport and commercial value in Lake Superior spawn at deptns of 100 fathoms or less, it is im-
portant that good water quality be maintained to this depth at the bottom-water interface.
Fish fry are more sensitive to hydrogen sulfide at low oxygen concentrations.2 The toxicity of sulfide in-
creases markedly with a decrease in pH because there is more undissociated hydrogen sulfide present.
ID. EXISTING CONDITIONS. No measurements of dissolved sulfide have been recorded for Lake Superior,
however, it is unlikely that any accumulation has occurred since high oxygen levels are found even at 250
meters.
IV. RECOMMENDED CRITERIA FOR LAKE SUPERIOR. The recommended criteria is a maximum of 0. 02
mg/1 and 90% of the values less than 0. 002 mg/1 as total sulfide measured at the bottom-water interface.
V. LITERATURE CITED.
1. Colby, Peter J. , and Smith, Lloyd L., Jr., 1967. Survival of
Walleye Eggs and Fry on Paper Fiber Sludge Deposits in
Rainy River, Minnesota. Transactions American Fisheries
Society 96 (3) 278-296.
2. Unpublished Data, Department Entomology Fish and Wildlife,
University of Minnesota, St. Paul.
3. Hayes, F. R., Reid, B. L. and Cammeron, M. L. 1958. Lake Water
and Sediment. II. Oxidation-Reduction Relations at Mud-
water Interface. Limnology and Oceagrophy 3: 308-317.
4. Unpublished Data, Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, Ashland, Wisconsin.
5. Longwell, J. and Pentelow, F.T. K. 1935. The Effect of Sewage on
Brown Trout (Salmo trutta L.) Journal Exp. Biology 12: 1-12.
TASTE AND ODOR
1. GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS. Tastes and odors affect principally municipal water supplies and beverage
industries. In places, tainting of fish flesh occurs and causes impairment of the water for fish production.
Great expense is incurred at some treatment plants in other areas of the country because activated carbon
treatment is needed to remove tastes and odors.
II. RECOMMENDED CRITERIA FOR LAKE SUPERIOR. Taste and odor do not exist at present in Lake
Superior, and in order to avoid expensive treatment in the future, substances causing taste and order should
not be permitted. Chloroform extracts should not exceed a maximum of 0. 05 mg/1 and 90% of the values
should be less than 0.03 mg/1. Threshold odor numbers should not exceed 3 and 90% of them less than 1.
HI. REFERENCES.
1. U. S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare, 1962, Public Health Service Drinking Water
Standards, PHS Publication No. 956.
2. Water Quality Criteria, Report of the National Technical Advisory Committee to the Secretary of the
Interior, Federal Water Pollution Control Administration, Washington, D. C. April 1968.
3. Microbiology for Sanitary Engineers. McKinney. 1962.
4. Duluth Municipal Water Supply. Ten Year Composite Log Annual Reports. Duluth, Minnesota. 1968.
5. Quality of Waters, Minnesota - a Compilation - Taste and Odor, 1955 - 1962. State of Minnesota,
Department of Conservation, Division of Waters, Bulletin 21, June 1963.
102
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TEMPERATURE
I. GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS. Temperature affects all physical, chemical, and biological processes in
Lake Superior. If the normal temperature regime is altered the complete balance of the lake will be changed.
An increase in temperature is known to accelerate the aging process of lakes, increase the toxicity of chem-
icals, lower dissolved oxygen levels, increase algal growths, disrupt delicate biological cycles, and endanger
many important sensitive organisms.
Increases in the water temperature of Lake Superior will require more stringent water quality standards for
other parameters.
n. BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS. The valuable lake trout, herring and whitefish of Lake Superior require cold
water for their survival. Complete mortality of developing embryos is known to occur at 12° C (54° F.).
Significant reduction in hatch occurs above 60° C (43° F.) among the coregonid fishes. Most of the important
fish in Lake Superior spawn in the fall (Oct., Nov., Dec.) in response to falling temperatures, requiring tem-
peratures of about 10° C (50°F.) or less to initiate the response. Incubation of the eggs which are found on the
lake bottom is best below 6°C (43°F.). Optimum incubation occurs at 0.5°C (33°F.) for the lake whitefish
(Coregonus clupeaformis) and 2°C (36° F.) or less for the lake herring (C. artedi). Upon hatching in the spring
the young fish move into surface waters and at this time exhibit greater temperature tolerance than the incu-
bating eggs. Exposure to temperatures of 15° C (59°F.) will be tolerated by lake herring fry for extended
periods without increased mortality rates. Temperature between 18 - 21° C (64-70°F.) will be tolerated for
lesser periods but extended exposure to these temperatures increases rate of mortality markedly.
in. SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS.
A. Heated effluents should not contribute to temperatures of water so as to cause them to serve as barriers
to the movement of anadrumous fish to and from their spawning and rearing areas.
B. Discharge of heated effluents should be to the epilimnion, unless a special study indicates a more desir-
able discharge point, because the important fish species in Lake Superior are deep water dwellers much of the
time.
IV. EXISTING CONDITIONS. Lake Superior is a cold clear, oligotrophic lake. It usually does not exhibit
well defined temperature stratification until mid-July and even then the stratification is not uniform from area
to area and the thermocline is poorly developed. The lake may mix to great depths and homothermous water
around 2°C (36° F.) has been found to occur to depths of 600 ft. The deep water remains near 4°C (39° F.)
through the year. Yearly average temperatures from Duluth and St. Mary's River are 8. 5°C (47° F.) and 7. 3°C
(45°F.).
Nine year average temperatures at St. Mary's River, given as quarterly averages are:
I. (Jan., Feb. , Mar.)
II. (Apr., May, June )
HI. (July, Aug., Sept. )
IV. (Oct., Nov. , Dec. )
Average of
Quarterly Mean
- 0.7° C (33° F)
- 5.5° C(42° F)
- 16.0° C (61° F)
- 7.0° C (45° F)
Average of
Quarterly Maximum
2.3° C (36° F)
14.9° C (59° F)
20.4° C (69° F)
13.8° C (57° F)
Average temperatures along the North Shore and mid-lake are below these temperatures while averages for
areas along the South Shore (Calumet, Marquette, etc.) are similar and occasionally somewhat higher.
These are the maximum values for Lake Superior obtained from the literature as referenced.
I. (Jan., Feb. , Mar.)
II. (Apr. , May, June )
in. (July, Aug., Sept.)
IV. (Oct., Nov., Dec.)
Mean
Max.
Mean
Max.
Mean
Max.
Mean
Max.
1.
2.
6.
17.
17.
25.
7.
13.
3
8
8
2
9
0
6
9
0
O
0
O
0
O
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
(34
(37
(44
(63
(64
(77
(46
(57
O
O
O
F)
F)
F)
F)
F)
F)
F)
F)
Soo (St. Mary's R.)
Marquette
Soo (St. Mary's R.)
Calumet
Soo (St. Mary's R.)
Calumet
Soo (St. Mary's R.)
Calumet
1965 NWQN
1954 Beeton
1964 NWQN
1955 Beeton
1966 NWQN
1953 Beeton
1963 NWQN
1953 Beeton
103
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TEMPERATURE (Con't)
V. RECOMMENDED CRITERIA FOR LAKE SUPERIOR.
A. The recommended quarterly mean and maximum surface* water temperatures^ for Lake Superior that
are not to be exceeded are given below:
I. (Jan., Feb. , March): Mean- 2° C (36°F)
Maximum- 5° C (41°F)
H. (April, May, June ): Mean- 10° C (50°F)
Maximum- 18° C (64° F)
III. (July, Aug. , Sept. ): Mean- 18° C (64°F)
Maximum- 21° C (70°F)
IV. (Oct., Nov. , Dec. , ): Mean- 8° C (46°F)
Maximum- 15° C (59°F)
1less than 1 meter (3 ft.).
based on continuous temperature monitoring.
B. Water temperatures of 6° C (43° F) shall never be exceeded at depths of 20 fathoms (120 ft.) or greater.
C. The water depth between 3 feet and 120 feet shall be a zone temperature transition.
VI. REFERENCES.
1. Beeton, A.M., Johnson, J. H. and Smith, S. H., 1959. Lake Superior
Limnological Data. U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service Special
Science Report - Fisheries No. 297, Washington, D. C, , 177 pp.
2. Breeder, C. M. Jr., and Rosen, D. E., 1966. Modes of Reproduction
in Fishes, American Museum of Natural History, Garden
City, New York.
3. Dryer, W. R. , 1966. Bathymetric Distribution of Fish in the
Apostle Island Region of Lake Superior. Transactions of
American Fisheries Society. 95 (3): 248-259.
4. National Water Quality Laboratory: Thermal Studies, 1966-
1969. Unpublished Data.
5. National Water Quality Network (1957-1968) Annual Compilation
of Data. (Storet Retrival System). U. S. Department of Health,
Education and Welfare, Washington, D. C.
6. Price, John W . , 1940. Time-temperature Relations in the Incubation
of the Whitefish, Cpregonus clupeaformis (Mitchill). Journal
General Physics (4) 23: 449-468.
7. Ruschmeyer, O.R. and Olson, T.A., 1958. Water Movements and
Temperatures of Western Lake Superior. School of Public
Health, University of Minnesota, for Minnesota Water
Pollution Control Commission, 86 pp.
8. Tait, J. S., 1960. The First Filling of the Swim Bladder in
Salmonids. Canadian Journal of Zoology. 38: 179-187.
9. Wells, LaRue, 1966. Seasonal and Depth Distribution of Larval
Bloaters (Coregonus hoyi) in Southeastern Lake Michigan.
Transactions of American Fisheries Society. 95 (4); 388-396.
104
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pH
I. GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS. Most organisms of esthetic and commercial importance live in water within
an extremely narrow pH range. The pH concentration is governed by many inorganic chemicals and biological
processes. Excessive additions of domestic or/and industrial wastes result in pH changes and can therefore
make water unsuitable for desirable organisms. Thus it is important to control pH which in turn will regulate
other water quality parameters.
H. BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS. Rudolfs, et. al. (1953) states that a pH range from 6. 5 to 8.4 is tolerated by
most fish. Chandler (1940) suggests values between 7.5 to 8.4 to bs best for plankton production. Ellis (1937)
found that most inland waters having fish have pH values between 6. 7 and 8. 6. Hart, et. al. (1945) report that
only 5% of the waters in the United States supporting a good fish population have pH less than 6. 7 whereas 95%
have a pH less than 8. 3. Parsons (1968) found the greatest number of species of plankton, benthos, and fishes
to be in stream sections with a pH of 6. 8 and above.
Work with pH at the National Water Quality Laboratory suggests that pH values below 6. 0 inhibit or reduce
spawning success with fathead minnows, and are lethal to Daphnia magna and new Gammarus pseudolimnaeus.
HI. SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS. Permissible criteria for public water supplies given in Water Quality
Criteria (1968) give a range of pH from 6. 0 - 8. 5.
IV. EXISTING CONDITIONS. Lake Superior is an oligotrophic lake low in total dissolved solids and rather
poorly buffered. Beeton (1959) gives pH values ranging from 6. 9 to 8. 0 in 1953 for samples taken at various
depths in the open lake; however, most values were between 7. 3 and 7. 7. The maximum, minimum and mean
pH values in Lake Superior were:
Lake Superior St. Mary's River
at Duluth at Saulte Ste. Marie
Years 1958 - 1968 1960 - 1968
No. Samples 543 457
Maximum 8.5 8.3
Minimum 7.3 6.8
Mean 7.7 7.8
V. RECOMMENDED CRITERIA FOR LAKE SUPERIOR. The pH in Lake Superior should remain between 6. 8
to 8. 5.
VI. REFERENCES.
1. Water Quality Criteria, Report of the National Technical Advisory
Committee to the Secretary of the Interior, Federal Water
Pollution Control Administration, Washington, D. C., April 1968.
2. Beeton, A. M., J. H. Johnson, and S. H. Smith, 1959. Lake Superior
Limnological Data. U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service Special
Science Report -- Fisheries No. 297, Washington, D. C., 177 pp.
3. Chandler, B.C., 1941. Limnological Studies of Western Lake Erie.
I. Plankton and Certain Physical-Chemical Data on the Bass
Islands Region, from September 1938 to November 1939. Ohio
Journal of Science 40, 291.
4. Ellis, M. M., 1937. Detection and Measurement of Stream Pollution
(Related principally to fish life). U. S. Department of
Commerce, Bureau of Fisheries Bulletin 22.
5. Hart, W. B., P. Doudoroff, and J. Greenbank. 1945. Evaluation
of Toxicity of Industrial Wastes, Chemicals and Other
Substances to Freshwater Fishes. Water Control Laboratory,
Atlantic Refining Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
6. Parsons, J. D., 1968. The Effects of Acid-Strip-Mine Effluents
on the Ecology of a Stream. Arch. Hydrobiol. 65(1):25-50.
7. Rudolfs, W., et. al. 1953. Industrial Wastes. Reinhold
Publishing Company, New York.
105
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RADIOACTIVITY
I. GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS. There are at present no numerical radiological criteria directly applicable
to the open waters of Lake Superior. Releases of radioactive materials to the lake (or otherwise) are regulated,
however, by license by the Atomic Energy Commission.1 Concentration of radionuclides in food and water used
in interstate commerce, derived from the lake, are regulated by the U.S. Public Health Service. In addition,
State and local regulations limit the concentrations permitted in public drinking waters.
The Federal Water Pollution Control Administration has been working with the Atomic Energy Commission
and the U. S. Public Health Service to develop model radiological criteria for water. These criteria will apply
to receiving waters, as different from waste effluents which are regulated by the Atomic Energy Commission as
noted above. These criteria will be composed of three parts designed for the protection of human health as it
may be affected through (1) drinking water, (2) waters used for recreation and other purposes involving poten-
tial human contact with or ingestion of water, and (3) waters used for the production or processing of food for
human consumption (i.e. fish, shellfish, irrigated crops, milk, etc.).
After a draft of the criteria, developed at staff level through the joint effort of these three Federal agencies,
has been reviewed and officially endorsed by each agency, it will be submitted to the Federal Radiation Council,
the Conference of State Sanitary Engineers and an appropriate organization of the State radiological health
officers for review, comments and hopefully, endorsement. This process may require up to a year to com-
plete.
II. EXISTING CONDITIONS. The 12 year average gross beta radioactivity at Duluth is approximately 9. 5
picocuries/1, including several years of active atmospheric bomb testing (and accompanying fallout). Radio-
activity levels since 1965 have averaged less than 3. 5 picocuries/1.
The similar 12 year average for total alpha activity, which includes radium and other naturally occurring
radionuclides, is approximately 0.12 picocuries/1.
Similar averages were obtained at the St. Mary's River station.
HI. RECOMMENDED CRITERIA FOR LAKE SUPERIOR. It is recommended that action to establish radio-
logical criteria for Lake Superior be deferred until the model criteria have been fully developed.
IV. REFERENCES.
1. U. S. Atomic Energy Commission, Part 20: Standards for Protection
Against Radiation, Federal Register 25 (224): 10914-10924.
November 17, 1960.
2. National Committee on Radiation Protection, Report of Ad Hoc
Committee, Somatic Radiation Dose for General Population,
Science 131:482. February 19, 1960.
3. Maximum Permissible Body Burdens and Maximum Permissible
Concentrations of Radionuclides in Air and in Water for
Occupational Exposures. Handbook No. 69, National Bureau
of Standards, Washington, D. C. 1959.
4. Background Material for the Development of Radiation Protection
Standards. Staff Report, Federal Radiation Council,
Washington, D. C. July 1964.
5. Water Quality Criteria, Report of the National Technical Advisory
Committee to the Secretary of the Interior, Federal Water
Pollution Control Administration, Washington, D. C., April 1968.
106
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ALL OTHER POLLUTANTS
I. GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS. Application factors provide a rational basis for estimating safe concen-
trations of pollutants utilizing easily obtained lethal values and are especially useful for establishing safe con-
centrations of mixed effluents. The procedures to be followed in deriving application factors are discussed on
pages 58 and 59 of the Report of the National Technical Advisory Committee on Water Quality Criteria and a
brief outline follows.
As the report points out, a great difference usually exists between the toxicant concentration that kills in a
few days and the concentration that is just barely safe over one or more entire life cycle periods of continuous
exposure to the toxicant. An application factor is composed of the ratio or fraction derived by relating, for a
given pollutant, the mortality data from a four day toxicity test to the just safe concentration for the entire life
cycle. This factor can subsequently be used to estimate environmental concentrations of this toxicant that are
safe for different species of fish or in different water types. One does this by multiplying the application factor
for the pollutant by the toxicity data obtained from a four day test with the new species or water type. A differ-
ent application factor must be calculated for each pollutant.
Thus, application factors are important because they eliminate the necessity of having to expose entire life
cycles of all species in all water types. They have varied from 1/7 to 1/500 for different pollutants that have
been tested.
II. RECOMMENDED CRITERIA FOR LAKE SUPERIOR. In the absence of specific information, safe concen-
trations of pollutants should be:
1. For nonpersistent pollutants or those that have noncumulative effects, the environmental concentration
should not exceed 1/10 of the 96-hour TLm level at any time or place, and 90% of the measurements
should not exceed 1/20 of the 96-hour TLm value.
2. For other toxicants the environmental concentrations should not exceed 1/20 and 1/100 of the 96-hour
TLm level under the conditions described in (1) above.
3. Proportional reductions should be made in the permissible concentrations of pollutants when they are
known to affect or add to the toxicity of other pollutants present in the water.
m. REFERENCES.
1. Water Quality Criteria, Report of the National Technical Advisory
Committee to the Secretary of the Interior, Federal Water
Pollution Control Administration, Washington, D. C., April 1968.
2. Mount, D.I., and C.E. Stephan. 1967. A Method for Establishing
Acceptable Toxicant Limits for Fish--malathion and the butoxye-
thanol ester of 2, 4-D. American Fish Society, Trans. 96(2):
185-193.
107
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