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-------
Remarks:
             Iron was found to be a major constituent in the effluent
             of industries and the limit of 17 mg/1 was recommended
             by both the Public Health Service and the Michigan Water
             Resources Commission.  The following loading limitations
             were also included in the Michigan Water Resources
             Commission stipulations:
                  Ford Motor Company
                  Firestone Tire and Rubber Co.
                  Great Lakes Steel Corp.  -
                              Ecorse Plant
                  McLouth Steel Corp. -
                              Trenton Plant
    2500 Ibs/day
     330 Ibs/day

    4000 Ibs/day

    2500 Ibs/day
        CH:  Cyanide concentration of .025 mg/1 was recommended as the
             limit by both the Public Health Service and the Michigan
             Water Resources Commission.   In addition,  the State agency
             stipulation set a maximum loading of 25 Ib/day for Ford
             Motor Company (Monroe).

        pH:  The recommended limit on the pH range for  Great Lakes
             Steel (Ecorse Plant) effluent was set at 5.5-10.6 by
             both the Public Health Service and the Michigan Water
             Resources Commission.  Public Health Service recommended
             that E. I.  duPont de Nemours and Company comply with the
             State order that the effluent of this industry have pH
             in the range of 5.8-10.3.

        Clt  Chlorides were found to be a significant waste constituent
             in the effluent of the several industries  and limits of
             chlorides loading were set by the Michigan Water Resources
             Commission as follows:
                  Allied Chemical Corporation -
                    Solvay Process            -   2,800,000 Ib/day
                  Wyandotte Chemical Corporation -
                    North Plant
                    South Plant
                  Pennsalt Chemicals Corp.
                    East Plant
                    West Plant
1,300,000 Ib/day
   64,000 Ib/day

  550,000 Ib/day
    8,800 Ib/day
                                  23

-------
B.  Conference on Lake Erie and its Tributaries

         The first session of the Conference in the matter of pollution

of Lake Erie and its tributaries was held in Cleveland, Ohio, August 3-5,

1965.  The second session was on August 10-12, 1965, at Buffalo, New York.

The third meeting was held at Cleveland, Ohio, on June 22, 1966.  A fourth

meeting is scheduled for March 22, 1967, at Buffalo, New York.

         Conferees representing the Indiana Pollution Control Board, the

Michigan Water Resources Commission, the Ohio Department of Health, the

Pennsylvania Sanitary Water Board, the New York State Department of Health,

and the Federal Water Pollution Control Administration were present at the

meetings.

         It was agreed that each State water pollution control agency

would develop time schedules for treatment facilities for each source of

municipal and industrial waste on a plant by plant basis.  The Michigan

schedule for such activities, resulting from the Detroit River-Lake Erie

Project recommendations, was deemed satisfactory to meet the demands of

the Lake Erie Conference.

         Other recommendations by the conferees include the following:

1.  Control of highway runoff during construction.

2.  Industrial plant practices.  Plant by plant surveys throughout the
    basin to evaluate the impact on water quality and to take remedial
    action.

3.  Federal surveillance program.   Sampling program has been established
    in western Lake Erie and will be extended to cover the entire lake.

4.  Phosphate removal program.  The Federal Water Pollution Control
    Administration has indicated that phosphates can be removed at less
    cost than previously anticipated.  Pilot plants are under construction
    at Detroit and Trenton, Michigan, to evaluate removal methods.
                                   24

-------
5.  Dredging operations.  Disposal of dredged material should be done in
    such a manner as to minimize pollutional effects.  The Corps of
    Engineers has been asked to develop plans toward this end.

6.  Technical Committee.  The Technical Committee now studying phosphates
    and their effects would expand its activities to include other problems
    effecting Lake Erie.

7.  Disposal of trash, garbage, and other refuse is also being studied by
    the State agencies.


C,  Michigan Department of Public Health - Macomb County.

    In May 1966, the Michigan Department of Public Health ordered a ban

on the construction of new sewer lines to the Clinton River in 10 fast-

growing Macomb County communities.  The ban was intended to prevent further

pollution of the Clinton River, a tributary of Lake St. Clair.  The Health

Department will not lift the ban until a workable program is initiated to

clean up the Clinton River.

    A consulting firm retained by Macomb County recommended connection

to the Detroit sewer system as the most feasible and economic method of

protecting the Clinton River and Lake St. Clair.

    Most of the Macomb County communities have signed agreements with

Detroit to be connected to their interceptor system.

    Chlorination;  The Michigan Department of Public Health has ordered

all municipal treatment plants to chlorinate the effluent year-round,

effective January 1967.

D.  Pollution Control Program for the Detroit Regional Watershed.

    Recognizing a need for all communities in the Detroit Regional Water-

shed to unite in the effort to abate pollution, the Detroit Board of Water

Commissioners proposed Its revised water pollution control program in 1966.


                                  25

-------
          The 1966 program is comprehensive and complete and revises this

1957 program.  The major objectives of the program were presented as

follows:

          1.  Systematic and orderly development of a single pollution
              control system for the Detroit Regional Watershed, which
              includes all of the area covered in this report.

          2.  Construction of an area-wide wastewater interceptor system.

          3.  Installation and operation of facilities for advanced
              wastewater treatment.

          4.  Further reduction of stormwater overflows.

          5.  Acceleration of industrial wastewater control on a coopera-
              tive government-industry basis.

          6.  Improved methods of waste disposal for pleasure boats and
              freighters.

          7.  Regulation of water levels in the Lake St. Glair-Detroit-
              River- Lake Erie complex to aid in stream and shoreline
              beaut if icat ion.

          8.  Tighter control of lake and river dredging and landfill
              practices.

          9.  International assurance that the Canadian communities will
              take equivalent action to enhance the water quality of the
              Great Lakes.

         10.  Continuation of a broad and sound financing base (founded
              upon user charges) to assure uninterruped progress.
              Acceleration is possible through use of Federal and State
              grants.


     Phase 1 is that portion of the total program to be completed by the

year 1975.  This portion of the program provides for the construction of:

     Regional sanitary sewage interceptors in Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb
       counties;

     Advanced treatment facilities at Detroit's wastewater plant in com-
       pliance with Detroit River-Lake Erie Project's recommendations;

     Stormwater'  overflow control facilities.

     Relief sewers and sewer renovations in the City of Detroit.

                                   26

-------
 E.   Other Action  Taken  by Michigan Water Resources Commission
       in Pollution Abatement;

     1.   In February  1965, a final order of determination was  issued
 against  the Longworth Plating Company and the Village of Chelsea,
 located  in the Huron River Basin.  All wastewaters from the Longworth
 electroplating processes presently discharged to Chelsea's storm
 sewer, and ultimately to Lett's Creek, must be  treated  to reduce
 constituent concentrations to allowable limits.

     2.   In April  1966,  the Michigan Water Resources Commission held
 a  show cause conference regarding Huron Valley  Steel Corporation's
 violation of a 1962  order to control its solids discharge to  the
 Huron  River.  The company has been directed to proceed  immediately
 with plans for design and construction of the necessary treatment
 facilities.

     3.  At a show cause conference in September 1966, McLouth Steel
 Corporation explained that its recent violation of a 1963 order  to
 abate  pollution in the  Detroit River was the result of  an operational
 error.   The company  assured the Commission, that in the future,  all
 operational decisions to discharge waste material will  be made only
 by  specially designated top management personnel.

     4.   In December  1966, a final order of determination was  issued
 against  the Village  of  Novi, Michigan, located in the Rouge River
 Basin.  Before June  1,  1969, the city must have constructed the
 sewage treatment  facilities necessary to prevent the unhealthy and
 undesirable conditions  existing in Walled Lake Creek caused by the
 discharge of its  raw sewage.

     5.  In December  1966, a final order of determination was  issued
 against the City of Walled Lake, located in the Rouge River Basin.
 By  June 1, 1967,  the city must have constructed the necessary sewer
 system and treatment plant to collect and treat its sewage before
 discharge to surface waters.

     6.  The Michigan Water Resources Commission, in cooperation with
 other  State agencies, has been ordered by Governor Romney to  develop
 rules and regulations controlling the waste discharges  from pleasure
 boats.  The State is optimistic that the new law will be enforceable
 by June 1, 1970.

     7.  In addition to  those mentioned above, numerous  other  orders
were issued relating to specific users of water.  These include
 industrial and commercial establishments discharging waste products
 of a domestic or industrial nature to both surface and  ground waters
 of  the State.   Maximum  flows and concentrations of substances were
 stipulated where necessary.
                                 27

-------
     8.  The Commission staff, in accordance with recommendations of
the Detroit River-Lake Erie Conference, conducted a surveillance
program on the Detroit River, Michigan waters of Lake Erie, and the
industrial outfalls in the conference area.  This surveillance program
was supplemented by the Federal Water Pollution Control Administration.
The Water Quality Monitoring Program begun in 1955 was continued, as
was the industrial waste surveys program in the Southeastern Michigan
Basin.

     9.  In addition to matters called under Section 6 of the Act,
the Commission under Section 5, scheduled at its December 1966 meeting
a number of conferences throughout the State to establish water quality
criteria.  The criteria so established would be applied to intrastate
waters in a certain priority, i.e., first, where grant money is involved,
beginning with the July 1967 meeting.  The following schedule was adopted
for 1967, primarily to hold hearings on water quality criteria on
interstate waters:

     January  -  Formulate proposed water quality criteria for the
                 several uses.

     February -  St. Joseph River and Lake Michigan.

     March    -  Lake Huron.

     April    -  St. Clair River, Lake St. Glair, Detroit River and
                 Lake Erie.

     May      -  Menominee and Montreal Rivers - Lake Superior and
                 St. Marys River.
              -  Adopt implementation and enforcement plan for St.
                 Joseph River, Lake Michigan, and Lake Huron.

     June     *  Adopt implementation and enforcement plan for
                 Southeastern Michigan, Maumee River, Montreal
                 River, Lake Superior, and St. Marys River.
                                28

-------
VI.  BACKGROUND
A.  Basin Characteristics;
    The St. Clair River-Lake St. Clair Basin includes St. Clair, Black,
Belle, Fine, and Clinton Rivers.
    The St. Clair River, the connecting waterway between Lake Huron and
Lake St. Clair, flows in a southerly direction for about 40 miles.  The
upper channel, having an average width of one-half mile, and a depth vary-
ing from 25 to 75 feet, extends 28 miles from Lake Huron to Algonac.  Below
Algonac, the channel divides into the several sections of the lower delta
portion of the river known as the St. Clair Flats.  At this point, 32 per-
cent of the flow enters Anchor Bay by the North Channel and 68 percent
enters the main body of Lake St. Clair through Middle Channel, Chanel Ecarte
and South Channel.  The South Channel, with the depth varying from 25 to 45
feet, is the main navigation channel into Lake St. Clair.  The average flow
is 177,000 cubic feet per second (cfs).
    The principal tributaries draining into the St. Clair River on the
American side are the Black, Fine, and Belle Rivers.
    The Black River has a drainage area of 690 square miles comprising parts
of Sanilac, Lapeer, and St. Clair counties.  The main stem of the Black
River flows southeasterly about 60 miles to the St. Clair River at Port
Huron.  The river has been improved by an 8200-foot channel requiring
periodic dredging and maintenance for navigation.  Deficient flows, recorded
as low as 8 cfs in 1964, retard the waste assimilation properties of this
stream.
    The Pine River, with a total drainage area of 180 square miles in St.
Clair County,  flows southeasterly to the St. Clair River at St. Clair,
                                  29

-------
Michigan.  An old channel dredged In the late 19th century serves for  the




transportation of sand and gravel.



    The Belle River, draining 210 square miles of Lapeer and St. Clair




counties, flows from the center of Lapeer County to Marine City on the




St. Clair River.  The stream is used mainly as a winter harbor for medium-




size vessels.  During 1964, flows as low as 4 cfs during fall months were




recorded.




    The northern section of the St. Clair River-Lake St. Clair Basin is




a sparsely populated rural area which includes part of Sanilac, St. Clair,




Lapeer, and Macomb counties.  The major population centers along the St.




Clair River are Port Huron, Marysville, St. Clair, East China Township,




Marine City, and Algonac.  These communities have a total population of




about 50,000 and draw their water supply from the St. Clair River.  Indus-




trialized Port Huron is the major city with a population of 36,000.




    Lake St. Clair is a shallow basin with low, marshy shores and gently




sloping bottom, located in the Great Lakes chain between Lake Huron and




Lake Erie.  The maximum depth of the lake is 21 feet.  However, a dredged




channel, 700 feet wide and 25 feet deep, extends from the South Channel to




the head of the Detroit River.   The surface area of Lake St. Clair is 430




square miles and has a total drainage area of 5006 square miles; 4010 square




miles are Canadian and 996 are American.




    Currents in Lake St. Clair are predominantly north to south because of




the overwhelming influence of the flow-through of the St. Clair-Detroit




River influence.  The water entering the lake from the Cutoff Channel




flows in a general southwest direction, until it approaches the southern




portion of the lake, where it runs westward into the Detroit River.  In




                                   30

-------
Anchor Bay, the water flows counter-clockwise from the North Channel




until it enters the main portion of the lake.  The rest of the water  in




the  lake flows in a clockwise direction until it joins the flow  into  the




Detroit River.




     These currents are modified and influenced by wind friction  on open




areas of the lake, particularly the eastern half of the lake.  During the




months of June through October, the most frequent winds are from the  south




and  southwest.  From November through March, winds from southwest and




northwest are most frequent.




     Retention time in Lake St. Glair, using average flow, is computed as




approximately 8 days.  This, of course, would vary under field conditions




because of current movements, eddies, and recirculation in certain parts




of the lake, due to the natural configuration of the bottom and  shoreline.




It does indicate, however, that the flushing interval is very short for a




lake of this size.  Therefore, eutrophication would be dependent on the




quality of water in the St. Clair River.




     The Clinton River, the major tributary on the United States  side  of




the  lake, has a drainage area of 760 square miles.  It has had a mean flow



of 484 cubic feet per second for the 29 years of record - 1935 to 1963.




The river, with its origin in the Bushman Lake in upper Oakland  County,




flows easterly through the City of Pontiac to Mt. Clemens and out into




Anchor Bay.  The river flows about 50 miles and falls about 425  feet  be-




tween its mouth and source.  A dredged channel, 8 feet deep and  100 feet




wide, extends up to Mt.  Clemens.
                                   31

-------
    The Clinton River adds polluted water to Lake St. Clair.  The  flow-




 through characteristics of the St. Clair-Detroit River  system keeps many




 of  these polluting constituents in suspension and subsequently flushes




 them from  the lake.




    Metropolitan Beach, located on the western shore of Lake  St. Clair




 near Mt. Clemens, has the largest bathing beach and park facility  in  the




 basin.  This 550-acre park has had, in the past, 1,400,000 visitors.




 Facilities are provided for swimming, water skiing, and boat mooring  and




 launching.




    The southwestern shoreline area of Lake St. Clair is heavily populated.




 The communities of St. Clair Shores, Grosse Pointe, Grosse Pointe  Farms,




 Grosse Pointe Park, Grosse Pointe Shores, and Grosse Pointe Woods  have a




 total population of 132,000.  This area offers boating  facilities  and is




 the site of large marinas.




    The Detroit River, the connecting waterway between  Lake St. Clair and




 Lake Erie and the International Boundary between the United States and




 Canada, flows in a southerly direction about 31 miles from Peach Island




 to  its mouth at Lake Erie.  The Detroit River Basin has a four-county area



 of approximately 2040 square miles, and, according to the 1960 census, has




 a population of 3,863,480 in the Greater Detroit area.




    The flow of the Detroit River is exceptionally steady because  of  the




 tremendous storage capacity provided by Lakes Superior, Huron, and Michigan.




 The average discharge of the Detroit River, for the period 1936 through




April 1964, was 182,000 cfs.  The extremes in discharge are usually a re-




 sult of winds, ice, or sudden change in barometric pressure.






                                  32

-------
    The upper thirteen miles of the river, having an average width of
2400 feet, a mean depth of 25 feet, is divided only at its mouth by Peach
Island and Belle Isle.  The river bed in this upper reach consists mainly
of clay.
    The lower section of the river contains Fighting Island  (Canadian
waters), Grosse lie  (American waters), and several smaller islands with
large areas of marshland.  In the lower river, shipping channels have been
cut through exposed underlying rock to a depth of 28 feet.
    The Rouge River, a tributary to the Detroit River, rises northwest of
Detroit and flows southeasterly emptying into the Detroit River below
Dearborn.  The basin, covering an area of 464 square miles, lies almost
entirely in an old lake bed.  The topography is relatively flat and imper-
vious with no natural storage.  The main stream is 32 miles long and falls
about 360 feet from its headwaters to the mouth.  The lower 3.5 miles
through Short Cut Channel consist of a dredged channel used for vessel
traffic to industries in the area.  The Short Cut Channel is an artificial
connection between the Detroit River and the Rouge River.  The natural
S-shaped portion of the Rouge, now referred to as the Old Channel, receives
limited use from the commercial ship traffic.
    Discharge measurements are taken by the U.S. Geological Survey at the
Rouge River, the Middle Rouge, and the Lower Rouge.  The summation of the
average discharges of record from these three gages shows an average flow
of the Rouge River above the influence of the Detroit River backwater of
approximately 235 cfs.  This flow is not large enough to effectively
dilute the large volumes of waste effluents from the industries along the
Rouge River.
                                 33

-------
    The automobile industry has been responsible for the rapid industrial
growth which has occurred in the Detroit area during the past 30 to 40
years.  This industry has brought about the establishment of many related
activities such as steel mills, blast furnaces, tool and die manufacturing,
and coke plants.  Other industries include chemical plants, pulp and paper
mills, oil refineries, and the manufacture of rubber and related products.
    Extensive use has been made of the many islands for industrial and
recreational purposes.  Zug Island, Fighting Island, and the upper end
of Grosse lie are being used for the disposal of waste materials resulting
from the manufacture of caustic soda and soda ash.  Grassy Island and Mud
Island are being used for the disposal of material from dredging operations;
Belle Isle and Bois Blanc Island are devoted to recreational purposes.
    The Huron River rises west of Detroit and flows in a southwesterly
direction emptying into a large marsh at Pointe Mouillee.  This marsh is
subject to backwater from Lake Erie and has no clear dispersion into the
lake.  The river, with total drainage area of 892 square miles, is about
90 miles long and falls about 440 feet in its descent to the Detroit River.
The major part of its drainage basin reaches the main stem above Ann Arbor,
and from this point downstream, receives no important tributaries.  Most
of the upper part of the basin is hilly containing many lakes which provide
natural storage.
    The River Raisin, entering the lake at Monroe, drains an area of 1070
square miles.  The total fall of the river from its headwaters in north-
eastern Hillsdale County to Lake Erie is 500 feet.  The uplands of the
north and west areas of the basin are characterized by the lighter-textured,
well drained soils, while heavier-textured, more poorly drained soils occur
in the lower lands of the south and east sections.
                                  34

-------
    A series of low-head dams are spaced at one-mile intervals near the




mouth of the river.  The last 1.5 miles of the river contain a dredged




channel for navigation serving the Port of Monroe.  Lake-affected back-




water extends approximately three miles up the river to the first low-




head dam.




    Lake Erie.  While land in the Detroit area is used for industrial




purposes, that bordering the western edge of Lake Erie is, in general,




used for both farming and recreation.  Summer residences and cottages




dot the western shoreline of Lake Erie.  The inland area in the Detroit




River-Western Lake Erie Basin is also used for farming.  The agricultural




sections consist of relatively small individually owned farms.  Chief




yields are field crops, vegetables, sod grass, and fruits.  There is also




extensive production of dairy and poultry products.  The forests have been




denuded and now mainly consist of small, isolated woodlots, which have




little or no effect upon the flow or quality of the streams.




    This area is under the climatic influence of the Great Lakes.  Because




of the stabilizing influence of these large bodies of water, extreme tem-




peratures occur rather infrequently in the Detroit area.  The mean annual



temperature is about A1.9°F, and the average annual precipitation at Detroit




is 31.49 inches.  Winters are marked by cloudiness and frequent snow flurries.




The average wind velocity is 10 miles per hour.
                                  35

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B. Water Quality

St. Glair River

     Soluble phosphate concentrations were generally low, that is less

than .025 mg/1.  Some greater concentrations were found but the phos-

phate input into Lake St. Clair does not appear to be excessive at this

time.

     The quality of the river water does not vary to any great extent

along the reach of the river.  This can be verified by examination of  .

data collected at SR 39.0 and SR 13.7.  The average concentrations of

several parameters as measured across two ranges are shown in the table

below.

                                       Average Values*
         Parameters                SR 39.0        SR 13.7
         Dissolved Oxygen            8.9            8.9
         NH3-N                       0.12           0.09
         N03-N                       0.31           0.28
         Suspended Solids           16              3
         Dissolved Solids          108            137
         Phenols                     3              3
*A11 results in mg/1, except phenols - ug/1.


     The waste treatment of six American industries along the river are

rated adequately the Michigan Water Resources Commission.  The communi-

ties in the sparsely populated St. Clair River Watershed discharge wastes

of only 67,000 people.  Five municipal sewage treatment plants with a

total average flow of 13 million gallons per day discharge primary

effluent into the river.
                                 36

-------
Black and Belle Rivers




     Hie two American tributaries, Black and Belle Rivers, have small dis-




charges compared to the flow of the St. Clair River.  At the mouth of the




Black River, coliform counts of as high as 6000 organisms/100ml were recorded.




Low dissolved oxygen concentration is also characteristic of the mouth of this




tributary.



     Considerable bacteriological pollution was found at the Belle River,




with median total coliform count of 29,000 organisms/100ml and a maximum of




130,000 organisms/100ml.  Although the overall water quality degradation in




the St. Clair due to this tributary is not readily detectable, the bacteriol-




ogical pollution presents a health hazard.




Lake St. Clair




     In 1964, a sampling program was conducted by the Lake Huron Program




Office on Lake St. Clair.  The data is summarized below:




              LAKE ST. CLAIR - SUMMARY OF 1964 SURVEY

Avg
Max
Min
No. of
Stations
DO
9.1
10.2
6.7

39
BODs
2
7
1

22
NH3
.22
.69
.07

22
N02
.007
.019
.002

22
N03
0.34
1.80
0.08

22
Tot . Sol .
151
204
120

40
Phenol
2
12
0

23
Coliform
62
250,000
< 1

42
     pH values of 9.1 and 8.8 were measured at Station P17 and P18 on one



occasion.  Other than these two values, pH varied from 7.6 to 8.6.  Most of



the alkalinity measurements were between 70 and 90 mg/1, although the total



range of values is somewhat larger.  The other constituents exist in rela-



tively insignificant concentrations.  The water quality of the lake is good,



although isolated problem areas do exist.





                                  37

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     Metropolitan Beach, a recreational area for swimming, is located

near sampling Station F17.  Recorded coliform densities as high as

8600 organisms/100ml present a health problem to users of the beach.

Clinton River

     The Clinton River is one of the major sources of pollution in Lake

St. Clair.  In 1966, this river was sampled by the Lake Huron Program

Office.  The downstream reach of the river, extending approximately

17 miles from Red Run to the mouth of the Clinton River, reflects the

quality of the water entering the lake.  The results of the 1966 survey

on this section of the Clinton River are shown in the table below:


                CLINTON RIVER (Red Run to Mouth)
                    Summer Survey (mg/1)
•

Avg
Max
Min
Temp.
°C
24
26
22

DO
2.7
6.1
0.6

BOD5
9
14
3

Cl
81
103
67

NH3~N
4.58
6.00
3.20

N03-N
2.6
4.9
1.3
Tot:
P04
9.2
14.4
6.7
Total
Solids
544
670
500
Susp.
Solids
35
169
5
     The data shows an average dissolved oxygen content of 2.7 mg/1,

average BOD5 of 9 mg/1, nutrient concentration of 7.18 mg/1 inorganic

nitrogen, and 9.2 mg/1 total phosphates, and an average total solids

concentration of 544 mg/1.  All the sewage treatment plants on the

Clinton River are secondary and most of the major industries on the

river have treatment rated as adequate by the Michigan Water Resources

Commission.  The long-term average flow at Mt. Clemens is 468 cfs.  In

1964, the minimum flow was 83 cfs.  The total waste effluent discharged

into the river is estimated at more than 71 cfs.
                               38

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Milk River

     The Milk River, located on the western shore of Lake St. Clair,

is the site of a stormwater overflow system.  Samples were collected

at P22 at the mouth of the river and coliform densities were as follows:


              1964             MF/100ml

              July 21              390
              August 13            100"*"
              September 23     250,000
              November 18          100


Precipitation (.2 inch at Metropolitan Airport) occurring on September 23

could have caused an overflow on that day.  No precipitation occurred on

the other sampling days.  This stormwater overflow interferes with

recreational use of the lake in the immediate area.

Detroit River

     The water quality of the Detroit River has been discussed in detail

in the "Report on Pollution of the Detroit River, Michigan Waters of

Lake Erie, and Their Tributaries," by the Federal Water Pollution Control

Administration.  Action has been taken by the Michigan Water Resources

Commission against the major polluters in accordance with the Federal

Water Pollution Control Administration's recommendations.  This has been

discussed in the section on the Detroit River-Lake Erie Project in

Section V of this report.

Huron River

     Samples were collected at the mouth of the Huron River on a bi-

weekly basis during 1966.  The average BOD5 concentration was 6 mg/1.

The Huron River water is high in dissolved solids as indicated by the


                               39

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average conductivity of 675 mg/1 and dissolved solids content of 489 mg/1.
The average phenol concentration of 5 ug/1 is sufficient to cause taste
and odor problems in water supplies.  The river is also supplying high
average concentrations of nutrients to Lake Erie:  1.15 mg/1 total
phosphates (as PO^), .90 mg/1 soluble phosphates (as PO^), and 1.59 mg/1
inorganic nitrogen (as N).  The bacteriological pollution is represented
by median coliform density of 36,000 MF/ 100ml, and maximum density of
95,000 MF/ 100ml.  The communities of Dexter, Flat Rock, and Rockwood,
discharge primary effluent to the river.  The Huron Valley Steel Corpor-
ation and Peninsular Paper Company have waste treatment rated as inadequate
by the Michigan Water Resources Commission.
River Raisin
     Station T89, above the City of Monroe, was sampled 20 times in 1966.
The average  8005 concentration was  6 mg/1.       This station reflects
high dissolved solids content, as indicated by a conductivity of 687 mg/1,
and dissolved solids concentration of 670 mg/1.  Average phenol concen-
tration is 6 Ug/1.  The River Raisin adds high concentrations of nutrients
to Lake Erie:  .59 mg/1 total phosphates, .46 mg/1 soluble phosphates,
and 3.81 mg/1 inorganic nitrogen.  Considerable bacteriological pollution
is demonstrated by median coliform counts of 1850 MF/ 100ml, and
coliform  concentrations of 44,000 MF/ 100ml.  The dissolved oxygen con-
tent remains high in the reach of the river, with an average dissolved
oxygen content of 9.9 mg/1.  However, oxygen depletion is apparent as the
river enters Lake Erie.  At Station T80, at the mouth of the rivez, the
dissolved oxygen concentration has often been depleted to near septic
conditions.
                               40

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     The communities of Blissfield, Clinton, Dundee, and Monroe,



discharge primary effluent to the river.  Consolidated Packaging



Corporation, Ford Motor Company, Monroe Paper Products Company,



and Union Bag-Camp Paper Corporation, have treatment rated as in-



adequate by the Michigan Water Resources Commission.  As a result



of the Enforcement Project, action has already been taken against



the City of Monroe and the industries mentioned above by the



Michigan Water Resources Commission.
                               41

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                       WATER USES

The principal water uses of the Southeast Michigan Basin include:

Municipal Water Supply - Use of surface waters of the river or lake
as a municipal water source.

Total Body Contact - The complete immersion of the body in water as
in swimming.

Partial Body Contact - Partial immersion of the body as in water
skiing, wading, and stream fishing.

Fish and Aquatic Life - Habitat for fish and aquatic life and
available for fishing.

Wildlife - Available for animal and fowl wildlife use.

Livestock - Used for stock watering of dairy cows, pigs, horses, etc.

Irrigation - Used for watering of agricultural lands, golf courses,
parks, etc.

Industrial Water Supply - Use of surface waters for processing and
manufac tur ing.

Cooling Water - Industrial and municipal surface water use for
cooling of machinery.

Hydro-power - River waters used for the production of hydroelectric
power.

Waste Assimilation - Assimilation of municipal and industrial wastes
and wastewater.

Esthetics - The use of water for esthetic enjoyment.  Camping,
picnicking, and sight-seeing, while not directly water oriented
activities, are considerably enhanced by the presence of a relative-
ly clean water course.

Pleasure Boating - Includes canoes, small row boats, power boats,
and sailboats.

Commercial Shipping - Use of lakes and streams by steamships and
commercial fishing boats.
                            42

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     Table 1 is a description of the river and lake areas covered by this



report, and Figures 1 and 2 show their locations in reference to the basins



by area.  The reach boundaries were based on consideration of changing



water quality, observed and reported water uses (see Table 2), and/or



certain physical features of the area.  These water uses were developed



through extraction of material from the Michigan Water Resources Commission



reports, Bureau of Recreation reports, Michigan Department of Public Health



reports, and the U.S. Public Health Service reports.  However, full respon-



sibility for designation of these uses is assumed by this office.



     The Southeast Michigan Basin waters are heavily used for municipal




and industrial activities and also provide a degree of recreation for



those who live in the local areas.  Parks and picnic areas are numerous .



in the Southeast Basin, but swimming and body contact activities are



limited in several areas because of pollution of the waters.
                                 43

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 Stream
St. Glair River

Black River

Pine River

Belle River

Lake St. Glair

Salt River

Clinton River
     TABLE 1.  REACH DESCRIPTIONS

St. Clair River and Lake St. Glair Area

               Description

               Port Huron to Lake St. Ciair

               St. Clair River to Deckerville

               St. Clair River to East of Capac

               St. Clair River to Imlay City

               Michigan waters of Lake St. Clair

               Lake St. Clair to near Richmond
Detroit River


Fox Creek

Connors Creek

Rouge River
               Lower - Lake St.  Clair to Rochester, Mich.
               Upper - Rochester to above Clarkston
       Detroit River and Lake Erie Area

               Upper - Lake St.  Clair to So. Belle Isle
               Lower - So.  Belle Isle - Lake Erie

               Detroit River to  E. Jefferson Avenue

               Detroit River to  E. Jefferson Avenue

               Lower - Detroit River to 3.43 mile point
               Middle - 3.43 mile point to Upper Rouge River
               Upper - Upper Rouge River to Bloomfield Hills
Ecorse River

Monguagon Creek ,

Elizabeth Park Channel

Frank & Poet Drain

Lake Erie

Huron River
               Detroit River to Southfield Road

               Trenton Channel to Wyandotte

               Detroit River - Detroit River

               Trenton Channel to Metro Airport

               Michigan Waters of Lake Erie

               Lower - Lake Erie to 58.5 mile point
               Upper - 58.5 mile point to Big Lake
                                 44

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Stream

Swan Creek

Stoney Creek

Sandy Creek

Raisin River



La PLaisance

Otter Creek
TABLE 1.  REACH DESCRIPTIONS (cent.)

Detroit River and Lake Erie Area

          Description

          Lake Erie to Wayne-Washtenaw County Lin*

          Lake Erie to North of Milan

          Lake Erie to west of Maybee

          Lower - Lake Erie to \ mile west of U.S. 24
          Middle - \ mile west of U.S. 24 to 79.7 mile point
          Upper - 79.7 mile point to Cement City

          Lake Erie to west 1 mile

          Lake Erie to east of Petersburg
                                 45

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