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A Workshop on
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Within the Great
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Lake Surprise Case Study
EPA Region 5
77 West Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, 1L
July 1994
-------
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A Workshop on
Multimedia Initiatives
for Geographically
Targeted Areas
Within the Great
Lakes Basin
Lake Surprise Case Study
US EPA
Headquarters and Chemical Libraries
EPA West Bldg Room 3340
Mailcode 3404T
1301 Constitution Ave NW
Washington DC 20004
202-566-0556
EPA Region 5
77 West Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, IL
July 1994
-------
CONTENTS
List of Figures iv
List of Tables iv
Executive Summary vi
PURPOSE OF THE CASE STUDY 1
INTRODUCTION 2
CHARACTERIZATION OF THE WATERSHEDS 3
Geographical Setting and Demographics 3
Historical Problems 5
Climate 6
Land Uses 6
Governmental/Institutional Structure 9
WATER RESOURCES 13
Groundwater 13
Surface Water 13
Water Uses/Designated Uses 14
RECEIVING WATER RESOURCES 18
Commercial Fishing 18
Recreational Fishing 18
Benthic Communities 19
Nearshore Communities 19
Natural Systems 20
CHARACTERIZATION OF RECEIVING WATERS 22
Chemical Characteristics 22
Sediment Quality 33
ISSUES OF CONCERN 35
Point Source Pollution 35
Nonpoint Source Pollution 35
Degradation of Water Quality 42
Impairment of Designated Uses 44
Institutional Issues 47
Economic/Demographic Consideration 48
DIRECTIVES FOR CASE STUDY 50
July 1994 Hi
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LIST OF FIGURES
1. Map of general location and features of the Geographic Initiative
Area .4
2. Mean monthly precipitation in the Lake Surprise GIA 6
3. Average monthly water temperature for Lake Surprise 22
4. Mean annual concentrations of suspended solids at the mouth of
the Spey River (1976-1992) 24
5. Annual average suspended solids concentration in the Lomond
River (1980-1992) 25
6. Annual average dissolved oxygen concentration in the Lomond
River 25
7. Yearly total phosphorus loading for Spey River 27
8. Yearly total phosphorus loading for Lomond River 27
9. Mean annual concentrations of total phosphorus at the mouth
of the Spey River (1976-1992) 28
10. Average annual total phosphorus concentration in the Lomond
River (1980-1992) 28
11. Average total phosphorus concentrations (ug/l) in water for Lake
Surprise during spring and fall (1980-1992) 29
LIST OF TABLES
1. Characteristics of the Spey and Lomond River Basins 3
2. Land use distributions of the watersheds in the study area ... 7
3. Comparison of pollutant strengths from various point and
nonpoint sources 8
4. NPDES-permitted facilities exceeding permit limits 36
j'v July 1994
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5. Examples of pollutant characteristics found in stormwater runoff
from various land uses in the Great Lakes Region 37
6. Estimated ground water contaminant concentrations originating
from the Slinkee Steel Company site 41
July 1994
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July 1994
VI
-------
Executive Summary
To better familiarize workshop participants with pollution abatement and
water quality management tools and programs, a case study using a
hypothetical Great Lakes water body, Lake Surprise, was developed. This
case study examines an EPA-designated Geographic Initiative Area (GIA)
within the lake drainage basin. From this information groups will determine
the most important issues to be addressed and develop management plans
to resolve these problems.
The GIA consists of two watersheds in two states. The watersheds are
drained by the Spey and Lomond Rivers. (The Lomond River is the border
for the states of Shetland and Dundee.) Within the Spey River watershed
is the city of Angus, which has a population of 1.5 million. The major land
uses in this watershed are urban and suburban, with a heavy industrial area
on the shores of Lake Surprise. The Lomond River watershed is much
larger, with agricultural uses consuming over 50 percent of the land. There
is a small city of 300,000 near the mouth of the Lomond. The Spey River
has a much larger flow rate, which is attributed to the fact that it connects
Lake Surprise to Lake Heron (flowing from Lake Heron to Lake Surprise).
In the past there have been a large number of untreated industrial and
municipal discharges into both rivers and Lake Surprise. The climate of the
area has typical mid-continental patterns, with air temperatures ranging
from 23 °F to 72 °F; water temperatures range from 33 °F to 72 °F.
Several agencies have influence in the GIA, including the following:
• U.S.Environmental Protection Agency: administers all federal
regulations.
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: responsible for dredging navigation
channels.
• U.S. Department of the Interior: oversees wildlife refuges and
historical and recreational areas.
• U.S. Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service: provides
technical assistance to reduce costly waste of land and water
resources.
• U.S. Coast Guard: monitors spills and enforces marine sanitation
device regulations.
• Dundee Department of Natural Resources: issues permits.
• Shetland Department of the Environment: issues permits.
July 1994 vii
-------
Water in the GIA is an important resource that is used for a variety of
economic and recreational purposes. These uses include the following:
• Drinking water (160 million gallons per day (MGD) are withdrawn
from the Spey River.)
• Dilution of wastewater (Both industrial waste and municipal waste
are discharged.)
• Agriculture (Water use for irrigation has been on the rise.)
• Industrial uses (A single power plant withdraws 523 MGD from the
mouth of the Lomond River for cooling water purposes.)
• Navigation (Approximately 50,000 jobs are provided through the
area's ports.)
• Commercial fishing (Lake Surprise is one of the most productive
Great Lakes.)
• Recreational fishing (This multimillion-dollar industry has recently
declined as ruffe have invaded and dominated in the last few years.)
• Other recreation (Activities range from swimming to Hunting.)
The GIA supports a diverse and sometimes.sensitive ecosystem, including:
• Benthic communities (After decreasing, mayflies are on the rise
again.)
• Nearshore communities (About 2,125 acres on the Spey River are
covered with emergent plants.)
• Natural systems (The GIA remains a major habitat for migratory
birds.)
• Wetlands (Only 40,000 of the original 115,000 acres of wetlands
remain in the GIA.)
• Upland habitat (Most of the habitat is urban, suburban, or
agricultural.)
• Endangered species (Most species are endangered because of the
loss of habitat.)
Receiving waters have the following characteristics:
• pH range of 6.5-9.0.
vj'ii July 1994
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• Mean annual temperature of 40 °F.
• High suspended solids (Solids at the mouth of the Lomond River
have regularly been above levels of concern for fish.)
• Biological oxygen demand (The Lomond River has the highest
concentration at 3.11 mg/L.)
• Dissolved oxygen, (Lake Surprise is typically saturated, whereas the
Lomond River has fallen below the 5 mg/L standard 11 times in 10
years.)
• Chlorides (Lomond River concentrations have not been recorded
below the limit of 50 mg/L since 1963.)
• Phosphorus (A total phosphorus (TP) loading goal of 10,000 tons
annually has been met, but TP concentrations remain above the
eutrophic limit of 0.02 mg/L.)
• Nitrogen (Levels in GIA are not considered to be problematic.)
• Bacteria (Bacterial concentrations have limited total body contact
recreation activities on the Spey and Lomond Rivers.)
Information from the NPDES program indicates that the following metals
occur in the case study area, sometimes at toxic levels:
• Mercury (Low levels have been detected in the Spey and Lomond
Rivers.)
• Cadmium and lead, (Ambient concentrations in areas near the
Dundee shore on the Spey River do not fall within limits for these
two metals.)
Copper, nickel, zinc, chromium, and arsenic are not a concern.
Information on organic contaminants in the water column is limited because
most studies have focused on biota and sediment contaminants. Although
chlorobenzene and phenol do not appear to be a problem, two other
organics occur at levels of concern:
• PCBs (The level in the Lomond River has fallen from 1,250 ng/L in
1971 to 25 ng/L in 1981, but this is still above the Dundee limit of
0.02 ng/L)
• PAHs (Concentrations as high as 6,100 ng/L have been recorded.
Currently there are no regulations for PAHs.)
My 1994 ix
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Contaminated sediments have created problems not only in water quality
but also in disposal practices. When dredging, the heavily contaminated
sediments must be disposed of as hazardous waste. In some cases the lack
of disposal sites has delayed dredging operations. Water quality managers
also must look at other sources of pollution—both point and nonpoint
sources that will affect the water quality. Those sources include:
• Combined sewer overflows (CSOs) (There are 126 CSOs in the GIA.
The CSOs can raise bacteria levels from 200 counts/100 mLto over
60,000 counts/100 mL during storm events.)
• NPDES noncompliance (In one year 17 of the 209 permits were
violated.)
• Agricultural runoff (Approximately 88 percent of the suspended
solids load comes from this source; phosphorus contributions are
also significant.)
• Atmospheric deposition (Several pollutants enter the GIA through
atmospheric deposition, including PCBs, 3 percent of the total
phosphorus, and heavy metals. This area also has one of the
highest rates of acid precipitation among U.S. waterbodies.
• Superfund sites (Four Superfund sites are located in the GIA.)
• Landfill sites (There are 12 major landfills, all of which are monitored
regularly.)
Some specific pollutants are currently of particular concern to human and
wildlife survival. These pollutants enter the GIA through CSO discharge and
through resuspension of sediments during dredging operations.
• PCBs (There are localized areas in which sediments are rich in PCBs;
the Spey River is heavily contaminated.)
• Metals (Nearshore sediments have lower concentrations than open
water sediments.)
• Pathogens (In addition to CSO discharges, a livestock plant routinely
discharges wastewater that has high concetrations.)
Fish and wildlife in the GIA have been altered by the changes in the lake.
Most noticeable are the changes in fish populations. Species such as lake
trout have decreased while carp populations have increased. It is believed
that the main reason for the decline in the lake trout population is habitat
loss. In addition to lower catches, there are also health advisories against
eating the fish for such reasons as high PCB concentrations. Fish in the
July 1994
-------
area have also exhibited elevated levels of oral and dermal tumors. Wildlife
in the area have also been affected by the changes in the GIA.
• Birds (Common terns have been found to have detectable levels of
DDE, dieldrin, PCBs, selenium, and/or mercury in 50 percent of their
eggs.)
• Mammals (Mink and otter populations have been severely
depressed.)
To maintain present water quality, both Shetland and Dundee have designed
end-of-pipe criteria and waste load allocations for certain pollutants. In
addition, Dundee has developed criteria for toxic pollutants. The water
resources in the area are a great economic asset, and environmental
protection is sometimes forfeited in favor of economic growth. Industries
in the area often calculate environmental fines into their budgets instead of
implementing expensive environmental controls. To keep the local
government and industries in check, a few public "watchdog" groups use
the courts to protect the environment.
My 1994 xi
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PURPOSE OF THE
CASE STUDY
The purpose of this case study is to give workshop participants a forum to
test their ability to apply the pollution abatement and water quality
management tools and programs discussed during the workshop in an
integrated fashion to a hypothetical Great Lakes water body. The case
study area, an EPA-designated "Geographic Initiative Area" (GIA), includes
characteristics common to the Great Lakes environment. While much of the
information may seem familiar, it is largely fictional.
If possible, workshop participants should read the case study in advance of
the case study exercise to become familiar with its contents. Participants
will be assigned to work groups to develop ideas on ways to promote the
integration of multimedia programs to better manage the Lake Surprise GIA.
The focus of the work group deliberations will be on determining short- and
long-term actions for remediating the problems and more efficiently
managing the resources in the Lake Surprise GIA.
Each work group will determine the issues facing the GIA and rank them in
priority order based on the information presented in the case study.
Participants will identify the three to five most significant issues that need
to be addressed by the concerned states and regions to better manage the
area. The goals to be reached in addressing these issues will be identified,
and then each work group will develop a list of ideas on ways to better
manage the Lake Surprise GIA to reach these goals through the integration
of multimedia programs and tools.
Following the work group deliberations, workshop participants will be
brought together to share ideas and to discuss how the integration of
program areas and tools can be applied to the case study, as well as to the
multimedia issues facing the Great Lakes in general.
July 1994
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INTRODUCTION
This case study is hypothetical and is based on data and information from
a variety of environmental studies throughout the Great Lakes region. It
has been designed to present problems and opportunities that are
representative of the issues faced by environmental professionals in the
area.
The case study is organized in such a way as to characterize the watershed
and receiving waters of the GIA. The information is presented as follows:
• Geographical setting and demographics - provides a general description
of the area, including total land area, climate, land uses, population, and
governmental structure.
Description of the water resources - characterizes both groundwater
and surface water resources, describes their uses, and discusses the
biological communities and designated uses of both the rivers and the
Lake Surprise portion of the GIA.
• Characterization of the receiving waters - describes the chemical
characteristics of both the water column and the sediments in the GIA.
• Issues of concern - describes potential problems, such as impairment of
designated uses, deterioration of water quality, and point and nonpoint
sources of pollution.
• Institutional issues - discusses the governmental and economic issues
facing the two states and the region in addressing the natural resource
concerns of the GIA.
July 1994
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CHARACTERIZATION
OF THE
WATERSHEDS
Geographical Setting
and Demographics
The GIA consists of two watersheds within the Lake Surprise basin of the
Great Lakes. Figure 1 illustrates the general features of the GIA. The two
watersheds cover approximately 7,085 square miles and constitute about
12 percent of the total area of the Lake Surprise Basin. The watersheds
lie due north of Lake Surprise. The two major rivers, Lomond River and
Spey River, and their tributaries drain south to the lake. The Spey River
watershed comprises the drainage for the western basin and is the
connecting waterway between Lake Heron to the north and Lake Surprise.
The Lomond River provides drainage for the eastern basin. Table 1
illustrates the general characteristics of each watershed. The total surface
area of Lake Surprise is 11,145 square miles, the average lake depth is 55
feet, and the total drainage basin area for Lake Surprise is 54,000 square
miles. The watersheds overlap two states, Dundee and Shetland. Two
major urban areas are located within the basin—Angus in Dundee, and
Dumfries in Shetland—along with 40 additional city or village municipalities.
The 1990 census indicated the combined population of the two watersheds
to be approximately 2 million, including people who live in cities, villages,
and townships totally or partially within the two watersheds.
Table 1. Characteristics of the Spey and Lomond River Basins.
Total Drainage Area
Land Use Distribution
Urban/Commercial
Industrial
Suburban
Agricultural
Recreation/Open Space
Average Flow Rate
Average Depth
Length
Spey River
807 mi2
26.4%
7.5%
32.9%
8.1%
26.1%
185,000 cfs
50ft
32 mi
Lomond River
6,278 mi2
13.0%
4.8%
6.9%
56.0%
19.3%
5,427 cfs
15ft
30 mi
July 1994
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DUNDEE
LEGEND
I I AGRICULTURE/OPEN
I I SUBURBAN
MAJOR URBAN AREA
V/\ HEAVY INDUSTRY
SHETLAND
LAKE: SURPRISE
• WATERSHED BOUNDARY
STATE BOUNDARY
Figure 1. Map of general location and features of the Geographic Initiative Area
-------
The City of Angus has a population of approximately 1.5 million and is an
industrial port city surrounded by suburban and agricultural development.
During the early 1800s, Angus grew to be the main port on Lake Surprise,
serving as an entranceway to the lower Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence
Seaway. It is still the center for many industrial activities, including oil
refineries, chemical plants, automobile and machine manufacturing, and
shipping companies. Angus's economic base is manufacturing, and the
Council of Governments projects a continuing strong manufacturing base.
The largest private employers are Klunker Motor Company, Lemon
Manufacturing Corporation, and Be-nice Chemical. A major port and airport
serve the city.
The smaller city of Dumfries developed on the banks of the Lomond River
as a trapping and hunting outpost during the early 1800s. Dumfries grew
to become a moderate-size city of 300,000 people and the financial center
for many midwestern agriculture-based companies. It has a small port that
is used primarily for agricultural shipping, support for limited commercial
fisheries (including boat maintenance and repair), and recreational activities.
Historical Problems
As in many areas of the Great Lakes, there is not a clearly recorded
historical accounting of the disposal of solid waste or municipal and
industrial wastewater. Recent analyses of river and lake sediment, water
samples, and soils indicate that waste management was not a historical
concern of the citizens of the Lake Surprise area. It can be documented
that a number of sources discharged directly and indirectly into Lake
Surprise and the Lomond and Spey Rivers. For example, examination of
historical records indicates that industrial dischargers such as the Packard,
DeSoto, and Edsel Auto Companies; PCBs-Are-Us; Never-Eager Battery
Company; and the Splatz Brewery were located along the shorelines of Lake
Surprise within the confines of the GIA. There is a slaughterhouse on the
Lomond River within the GIA. The area has a long history as an active
shipping center and port, and ships routinely discharged ballast water and
dumped solid and liquid wastes directly overboard.
Prior to 1970, wastewater treatment for the city and surrounding areas was
inadequate to meet the demands of the area. An analysis of the operating
records of three of the major treatment plants on the Spey River indicates
that the three plants had a combined capacity of 150 million gallons per day
(MGD) but before major renovations had a combined inflow that often
exceeded 200 MGD. It can only be assumed that the overflow went
directly into the Spey River.
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the health of Lake Surprise was
examined and problem areas were identified. The problems targeted as
needing immediate action included more adequate treatment of municipal
wastes, identification and treatment of industrial wastes, and elimination of
July 1994
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discharges from ships. A report on the fisheries of the area released in
1969 described the fishery as poor, with little habitat for commercially and
recreationally valuable fish. In fact, the report stated that "fish caught in
the river have a very strong flavor and are scarcely edible without strong
seasoning."
The GIA has a mid-continental climate with cold winters and relatively
short, hot summers. Precipitation averages 30 inches per year, including
16 inches of snow. Mean monthly rainfall ranges from 1 to 3.6 inches; the
greatest precipitation and storm intensity occur between June and August,
as illustrated in Figure 2. The Great Lakes influence the GIA in that they
moderate regional weather extremes. Cold fronts and convective
thunderstorms occur in the summer; cyclonic storms, which bring frontal
precipitation, occur in the winter. The average winter temperature
(January) is 23 °F; the average summer temperature (July) is 72 °F.
Climate
3.5
1 3
I2'5
I 2
£
Q_
8,1-5
2
I i
0.5
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Figure 2. Mean monthly precipitation in the Lake Surprise GIA
During the last 150 years, there has been significant growth and
development in the GIA. Because of its location on the Great Lakes and its
importance as a port, Angus has experienced a notable change in land uses.
The amount of industrial land has more than doubled since the turn of the
century. Since the 1930s, several automobile factories have been built in
the area, many of which are no longer in production. Support industries for
the automobile industry have also developed in the area. Chemical
Land Uses
July 1994
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manufacturing and machine manufacturing are also significant industrial
land uses that have developed in the last 60 years. Suburban land use has
grown over 200 percent since the 1950s.
Anticipated future land uses include additional industrial land uses,
particularly in the vicinity of the ports and airport. Suburban development
will continue to increase, especially in the areas that are now predominantly
agricultural in the Spey River basin. The city of Dumfries will most likely
experience significant growth, attracting new businesses and industries that
will be able to take advantage of the port, which is to be expanded if
additional service is needed. Table 2 shows the existing land use
distributions for the two watersheds in the GIA. Table 3 compares
pollutant characteristics of point and nonpoint sources from various
activities in the GIA.
Table 2. Land use distributions for the watersheds in the GIA.
Land UM
Urban/commerci al
Industrial
Suburban
Agriculture
Open Space
and Recreation
Total
Spey River
Watershed
(mi2)
213.1
60.2
265.5
65.6
210.6
807.0
Lomond River
Watershed
(mi2)
816.1
300.5
434.0
3,515.7
1,211.7
6,278.0
Percent of Total
Area
(%)
14.5
5.3
9.5
50.7
20.0
100.0
Urban/Commercial
The urban/commercial land uses in the Spey River watershed are
concentrated within the corporate limits of Angus along the Spey near the
mouth of the river. This area is primarily office, commercial, high-density
residential, transportation, and light industry, such as warehousing, leaving
little room for new development. The urban/commercial areas in the
Lomond River watershed are concentrated in Dumfries; however, the urban
areas are not as extensive as those in Angus. Urban land uses have long
been recognized as a source of nonpoint pollution, especially stomnwater
runoff. Many of the older areas of both cities do not have stormwater
controls, and runoff is routed to surface waters without treatment. As new
areas are developed and existing areas are redeveloped, stormwater
management systems are being installed.
July 1994
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Table 3. Comparison of pollutant strengths from various point and nonpoint sources.
Type
Urban
Stormwater
CSOs
Light
Industrial
Roof
Runoff
Untreated
Sewage
POTW
Effluent
BOD;
(mg/U
10- 250
60-200
8 - 12
3 - 8
160
20
Suspended
Solids
(mg/U
3 - 11,000
100-
1,100
45- 375
12 - 216
235
20
Total
Nitrogen
(mg/U
3- 10
3- 24
0.2 - 1.1
0.5 - 4
35
30
Total
Phosphorus
(mg/U
0.2- 1.7
1 - 11
n/a
n/a
10
10
Lead
(mg/U
0.003 - 3.1
0.4
0.02 - 1.1
0.005 -
0.03
n/a
n/a
Total
Coliform
(MPN/100
ml)
1 03 - 1 0"
1 06 - 1 07
10
102
1 07 - 1 09
1 04 - 1 06
Because of its importance as a port city, there is a significant amount of
industrial land in Angus. The major industries include automobile and heavy
industrial equipment manufacturing, chemical production, and shipping.
There are also several smaller industrial businesses, such as smelting
operations, automobile recyclers, and small machinery manufacturers. The
Angus International Airport, northeast of the city, is a major focus of
industrial activity, specifically warehousing and freight storage. In addition,
the airport area stores a tremendous volume of jet fuel to service the
commercial carriers. Although there are fewer industrial uses in the vicinity
of Dumfries than in the area surrounding Angus, Dumfries is the site of
major plants for the manufacturing of automobiles, steel, electronic
components, chemicals, and batteries and the processing of sugar beets.
Dumfries also is a shipping center for agricultural products.
Suburban land uses are primarily low- to medium-density residential areas
with limited commercial development. These areas are on the outskirts of
both Angus and Dumfries. The suburban areas have expanded significantly
since the 1950s. As more people have chosen to leave the cities,
"bedroom communities" have developed on the periphery of both cities.
Along with suburban development have come well-maintained yards and
landscaped areas, including golf courses and parks. In addition, because
Industrial
Suburban
July 1994
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people are choosing to live outside the city, where most jobs are
concentrated, reliance on automobile transportation has increased.
The GIA supports both crop and livestock production. Agriculture is the
predominant land use category in the Lomond River watershed, with the
most intensive activity occurring east and north of Dumfries. While not as
extensive in the Spey River watershed, agriculture is still an important
industry surrounding the City of Angus.
Historically, agricultural practices have contributed to loss of topsoil and
pollution of water resources by sediments, fertilizers, and other agricultural
chemicals. Agricultural runoff is a major contributor of sediment, which
accumulates in both rivers. However, agricultural management practices
in both watersheds are undergoing changes and conservation tillage
methods are being applied to at least 41 percent of the acreage planted in
row crops, small grains, and forage crops within the GIA.
Agricultural
Open Space/Recreation
Recreational and open space areas include wildlife refuges, state or locally
operated wildlife management areas, passive and active recreation sites,
and undeveloped lands. There is one federally operated national wildlife
refuge in the GIA, as well as more than 50 state or locally controlled
recreation areas.
Governmental/
Institutional Structure
Federal Agencies
U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency
The GIA is within Region 12 of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA). The regional offices are located in Angus. EPA's responsibilities in
the GIA include administration of all federal environmental regulations, such
as the Clean Water Act (CWA); the Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA); the Superfund
Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA); the Resource Conservation
and Recovery Act (RCRA); and the Clean Air Act (CAA) and Clean Air Act
Amendments (CAAA).
EPA has delegated permit issuance and enforcement responsibilities under
the CWA's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) to both
states. The two states have worked together to develop similar water
quality standards, consistent with the Great Lakes Water Quality
July 1994
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Agreement; to promulgate water pollution regulations; to review and
approve all water pollution projects; and to conduct monitoring and
regulatory studies and other water quality management programs.
CWA section 404 (dredge arid fill permitting) and Safe Drinking Water Act
permitting authority has been delegated to Dundee; Shetland has not
received such delegation. RCRA permitting authority has been delegated
to Shetland; Dundee is currently undergoing review for delegation of RCRA
permitting.
U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USAGE) has a district office in Dundee.
The office is responsible for administering many of the USAGE'S programs
including dredge and fill activities, as defined in section 404 of the Glean
Water Act, and activities in navigable waters, as described in the Rivers and
Harbors Act of 1899. These activities include routine dredging of the rivers
and ports to maintain navigation.
U.S. Department of the
Interior
Two sections of the U.S. Department of the Interior administer programs in
the GIA. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service oversees the Ness National
Wildlife Refuge, and several historical and recreational sites are under the
direction of the National Park Service. The FWS is also involved in jeopardy
opinions of federal permitting actions (determining whether a permitted
activity will jeopardize an endangered species), including RCRA permits,
CWA permits, and others. The U.S. Geological Survey has an extensive
surface water and groundwater monitoring network along both the Spey
and Lomond rivers and in the nearshore waters of Lake Surprise. The USGS
programs include monitoring for hydrologic and hydrodynamic conditions
(e.g., groundwater and surface water flow, water levels, and currents).
U.S. Department of
Agriculture - Soil
Conservation Service
The Soil Conservation Service (SCS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA) helps reduce the costly waste of land and water resources by
providing technical and financial assistance to individuals, groups,
organizations, cities and towns, county and state governments, and other
countries. SCS uses a nationwide network of conservation specialists to
cover three major areas: soil and water conservation, natural resource
surveys, and community resource protection and management. There is a
partnership between SCS and conservation districts, which are local units
of government organized by local residents under state law. Typically, to
10
July 1994
-------
receive SCS assistance, a land user, organization, or agency simply
requests it, then signs a cooperative agreement with the district.
The U.S. Coast Guard enforces cleanup under CWA and CERCLA. It is a
federal requirement to report spills to the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard
coordinates spill cleanup, monitors clean-up progress, and then determines
whether additional cleanup will be supervised by the Coast Guard or EPA.
If the material comes from a vessel (an abandoned barge, for example), the
Coast Guard completes the clean-up process. If the spill is from an onshore
facility and appears to require a long-term clean-up effort, EPA assumes
responsibility. If the spilled material is hazardous, the Coast Guard provides
initial emergency response. The Coast Guard's role in spill prevention and
cleanup is spelled out in the National Contingency Plan, 40 CFR Part 300.
The Coast Guard is also responsible for enforcement of marine sanitation
device regulations. Boats are not required to be equipped with a toilet or
marine head. If a toilet is installed, however, it must be equipped with an
operable marine sanitation device (MSD) that is built and certified to meet
Coast Guard standards. Discharge of raw sewage from a vessel in U.S.
territorial waters (within the 3-mile limit) is illegal. However, a valve may
be installed on any MSD to provide for the direct discharge of raw sewage
when the vessel is outside U.S. waters (more than 3 miles from shore).
The Coast Guard's role in implementing the Oil Pollution Act of 1992 is to
act as overseer. The Coast Guard is responsible for implementing a spill-
response plan, writing regulations, and performing specific studies.
U.S. Coast Guard
State Governments and
Their Relevant Agencies
The two watersheds of the GIA overlap two states, Dundee and Shetland.
As discussed earlier, both Dundee and Shetland have been delegated water
permitting authority from EPA. Both states have developed water quality
standards consistent with EPA standards and the Great Lakes Water Quality
Agreement. These activities are administered by the Dundee Department
of Natural Resources (DDNR) and Shetland Department of the Environment
(SDE). These agencies are also responsible for hazardous materials and
waste permitting, air quality programs and permitting activity, and state
wetlands regulations for their respective states.
July 1994 11
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Public Participation
Groups
There are no comprehensive citizen groups targeted to the GIA; however,
several state and national groups have local chapters in the GIA. Local
chapters of national wildlife organizations have active memberships, with
activities aimed at increasing the amount of endangered species habitat in
public ownership. Industry groups, such as the Organized Fishermen for
Lake Surprise and a farmers advocacy group, are quite active in the area.
12 My 1994
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WATER RESOURCES
The Lomond River watershed is characterized by a clay hardpan located a
few feet below the ground surface and geologic conditions underneath that
facilitate groundwater drainage away from the river. Thus there is not a
significant contribution of groundwater to the water resources of the
Lomond River. Groundwater problems in the area include high levels of
nitrate and certain pesticides in rural wells and locally significant levels of
toxics and PCBs.
In the western watershed, groundwater flow is toward the Spey River.
Groundwater discharges to the river from two hydrogeologic units: a
shallow glacial unit and a bedrock unit. The shallow glacial unit consists of
mostly silty-clay till and glaciolacustrine deposits with continuous stringers
of sand and gravel. The bedrock unit is composed of carbonate rocks
overlain by at least 49 feet of glacial deposits. Groundwater contamination
problems have been found near several industrial sites and historical
industrial waste dumping grounds. Contaminants found in groundwater
problem areas include PCBs, arsenic, cadmium, and many industrial
solvents.
The estimated total discharge of groundwater from the Dundee side of the
Spey River, is between 53 and 106 cubic feet per second (cfs).
Groundwater and surface water systems are highly interconnected in the
lower Spey River because of the thin or absent sediments overlying the
bedrock.
Four major tributaries make up the flow of the Lomond River. The average
flow rate at the mouth of the Lomond River is 5,427 cfs, as estimated by
a USGS model. Discharge estimates from the mouth of the Lomond River
are generally considered unreliable because of the influence of seiche-
induced flow reversals. A seiche is a slow oscillation of the water level of
a lake, a shallow-water standing wave. The average velocity ranges from
1 ft/sec to 2 ft/sec. Large volumes of water (>65 MGD) are added to the
drainage network by townships and municipalities that "import" drinking
water.
As indicated earlier, the Spey River is the connecting waterway between
Lake Heron to the north and Lake Surprise. The average flow of the Spey
River is 185,000 cfs, with seasonal variations of 155,000 to 200,000 cfs.
The .iver has a complex flow distribution due to the many islands and
channels located at its mouth. The total average tributary flow to the Spey
River is approximately 1,240 cfs (less than 1 percent of the total river
Groundwater
Surface Water
My 1994
13
-------
flow). The relatively minute contribution of flow to the total river flow
indicates the significance of the water quality originating in Lake Heron.
Water Uses/Designated
Uses
Public Water Supply
Presently no municipalities are using the Lomond River for public water
supply. Instead, they obtain their water from Lake Surprise, groundwater,
or the Angus Water and Sewer Department. The Lomond Water Supply
System supplies most of the water to the urban areas of the region. The
Lomond system serves a total of 228,000 people and withdraws an
average of 55 MGD from Lake Surprise. The Dumfries system serves
81,000 people and withdraws an average of 12 MGD from Lake Surprise.
Three other city systems, each serving fewer than 5,000 people, withdraw
just over 1 MGD of water from the lake for their municipal water supplies.
A major use of the Spey River is public water supply. The largest
withdrawal is by the Angus Water and Sewer Department, which supplies
3.8 million people in 117 communities of the region, many of which are
outside the GIA. These transfers of water are completed through regional
water use compacts and large-user agreements between the Angus Water
and Sewerage Department and the municipalities receiving the water. The
plants that treat the water withdrawn at the Spey River intakes have the
combined capacity to treat approximately 900 MGD.
Waste Dilution and
Disposal
The heavily populated and industrialized Spey River basin is used to
assimilate waste loads from more than 50 dischargers, including 7 major
(> 1.0 MGD) municipal wastewater treatment plants, 5 major power plants,
and 12 major industrial complexes. There are more than 30 industrial
dischargers on the Lomond River (and tributaries), including 7 major
dischargers (>1.0 mgd) concentrated in the industrial centers near
Dumfries. Two major power plants discharge cooling water. The Lomond
River basin also contains 27 municipal wastewater treatment facilities, 8 of
which are considered major dischargers (>1.0 mgd). In the GIA, an
additional 65 dischargers discharge directly into the lake. These include 12
major industrial dischargers, 4 power plants, and 18 municipal wastewater
dischargers.
All of the larger industries and all but a few of the smaller industries are
NPDES-penmitted for process water discharge. Some of the smaller
industries have elected to establish pretreatment programs and discharge
into municipal treatment systems. Pass-through of toxics in the municipal
treatment plants receiving pretreated industrial wastes is a continual
14 July 1994
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problem, as is treatment plant upset. Three of the municipal treatment
plants in Angus have estimated that treatment plant upset occurs about 15
percent of the time and is almost entirely attributed to inadequate
pretreatment of incoming industrial wastes. These same three treatment
plants consider problems associated with treatment plant upset and pass-
through as the primary cause of treatment plant permit noncompliance.
Although no estimates of water use for irrigation are available, water use
for irrigation has been increasing. Existing estimates based on the low
elevation of the agricultural areas and the relatively high costs associated
with irrigation suggest that use of the Spey River for irrigation water supply
is minimal.
Agriculture
Cooling Water for Power
Generation
Two power generating plants are located in the Dumfries area. The
Dumfries Electric Light and Power Plant, the smaller of the two, withdraws
water from Lake Surprise at an average rate of only 0.01 MGD. The Kilo-
Watt plant withdraws approximately 523 MGD of water from the mouth of
the Lomond River. Five major power plants along the Spey River use river
water for cooling purposes, for a combined daily withdrawal rate of 2,150
MGD.
Overall, the power generating plants consume less than 5 percent of the
water they withdraw from the river and the lake. Increased water
temperature and chlorine and copper toxicity are the primary problems
associated with the power plant effluents. Water temperature increases
have not been found to cause far-field temperature problems in the
discharge plume for any of the aquatic species of concern in the area.
Power plant outfall pipes are increasingly being used by people involved in
subsistence fishing activities. All of the power plants use chlorine or other
chemicals to prevent bio-fouling of cooling equipment. Many molluscocides
and other anti-fouling compounds contain elemental copper as the active
ingredient.
Information on water use by industries in the Lomond watershed is not
available. Some industries are withdrawing water from the Lomond River,
including the Dumfries Acme Auto Plant and the sugar beet processing
plants located along the Lomond River. The Spey River supplies 25
industries with process or cooling water.
Industry
July 1994
15
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Navigation
The most recent estimates are that there are 2.4 million tons of commercial
navigation traffic per year in the Lomond River; Incoming materials include
potassic commercial fertilizers, iron ore and concentrates, limestone, coal,
lignite, nonmetallic building materials, building cement, and residual fuel oil.
Outgoing commodities include wheat, sand, gravel, rock, animal feeds,
distillate fuel oil, and gasoline.
A key point on the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway, the Spey River
houses the busiest port in the Great Lakes. Commercial navigation supports
the economy of the region, providing benefits of well over a billion dollars
annually and supplying nearly 50,000 jobs. Over the last 15 years,
however, commercial navigation in the St. Lawrence Seaway has declined,
largely due to economic conditions and a reduced demand for intra- and
inter-lake shipments. The freight traffic has declined by about 50 percent.
Two-thirds of the commercial river traffic is not destined for Spey River
ports but is using the Spey River for passage to other Great Lakes ports.
One-third of the freight movement is generated out of Spey River ports.
The Port of Angus is the major center for handling and distributing cargo
and freight. Iron ore, coal, lignite, and limestone accounted for over 90
percent of all domestic traffic and 77 percent of the total traffic. Other
cargo includes gypsum, wheat, oil, gasoline, and asphalt.
The USAGE maintains 16 navigation projects in the GIA. All of these
receive periodic maintenance dredging due to sedimentation and siltation.
Three of the projects have not been dredged since prior to 1970 and need
to be dredged as soon as possible. The USAGE maintains four major
navigation channels throughout the GIA, including two in the Spey River,
one in the Lomond River, and one in the nearshore waters of Lake Surprise
leading up to the Lomond River. There are more than 100 terminals along
the rivers and lake shorelines although not all of them are active. The
channels are maintained by dredging to a depth of 27 feet below low water
datum. Dredging also occurs in commercial harbors and turning basins.
The major impediment to dredging projects in the GIA is disposal of
contaminated sediments. Studies using procedures such as the Toxicity
Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) have determined that sediments
from areas that need dredging classify as hazardous waste. To date,
economically feasible disposal sites for these sediments have not been
found.
Total body contact water uses in Lake Surprise include scuba diving, water
skiing, and swimming. Partial water contact activities include fishing,
boating, wading, waterfowl viewing, and duck hunting. Although
swimming and wading may occur in the marinas and at some shoreline
Recreation
16
July 1994
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parks, only two Dundee beaches and one Shetland beach are officially
designated for swimming. Recreational boating is very popular throughout
the GIA, and there are many access points for boats.
Aesthetic use of the nearshore environment is noticeably impaired due to
persistent objectionable deposits, unnatural color, turbidity, oil slicks,
surface scum, and unpleasant odor. Large volumes of combined sewer
overflows following storms contribute waters discolored by slaughterhouse
wastes, oil, grease, and other types of objectionable deposits and debris.
Along river shorelines, materials in the river are usually flushed away
rapidly, with some debris remaining along the shoreline.
Recent beach-cleaning efforts have revealed that shoreline debris typically
includes household and consumer trash (e.g., plastic wrapping materials,
bottles, styrofoam containers, and metal beverage cans), auto tires, and
trash commonly attributed to shipping and boating uses of the waterways.
Periodically, medical wastes have been found along the Shorelines within
the GIA.
July 1994 17
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RECEIVING WATER
RESOURCES
Commercial Fishing
Commercial fishing in Lake Surprise is reported as an important element in
the regional economy. In 1991, 27 licensed commercial fishing operations
harvested approximately 2 million pounds of fish (e.g., carp, channel
catfish, yellow perch, suckers, and yellow drum) from the GIA. The lake is
also excellent for production of forage fish.
The shallow waters of Lake Surprise provide outstanding fish habitat of
great diversity. More than 90 species of fish have been recorded in the
lake. Larval fish find protective habitat for growth, adult fish find habitat
for spawning, and all life stages of fish find a plentiful food supply in the
productive waters of Lake Surprise. Although the habitat has been
significantly altered in recent years. Lake Surprise remains one of the most
productive fish habitats in the Great Lakes.
Commercial fishing for lake whitefish, lake herring, walleye, and yellow
perch developed in the river in the early 1800s. By the early 1870s
commercial catches of 10 major native species were recorded. In the early
1900s, carp, a species introduced to Lake Eerie in the 1800s that migrated
to other lakes, was fished commercially. Catches of lake sturgeon, lake
herring, lake whitefish, smallmouth bass, yellow perch, and walleye were
highest in the late 1800s and decreased substantially by the 1940s.
Smallmouth bass, lake herring, and lake whitefish disappeared from the
catch by 1910, 1930, and 1950, respectively. Lake sturgeon, yellow
perch, and walleye continued to be fished through the 1960s.
Recreational Fishing
Lake Surprise provides sport fishing year-round for a variety of species
including yellow perch, walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, brown
trout, lake trout, coho salmon, chinook salmon, and steelhead. The
recreational fishery is of tremendous economic importance to the region and
boasts the highest rate of angler-hours per season of all the Great Lakes.
The economic value of this fishery is in the millions of dollars annually, and
the importance of this resource is increasing due to recent improvements
in populations of walleye, yellow perch, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass,
northern pike, crappie, and bluegill. Recently, the recreational fishery has
been decimated by the importation of an invasive species of perch, the
ruffe. It is believed that ruffe were introduced to the Lake Surprise area by
the discharge of shipping ballast waters.
18 July 1994
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Benthic Communities
Studies of benthic communities have been used to assess trends in water
and sediment quality in the Spey River. Because of exposure to
contaminated sediments, the benthic community may be slow to respond
to improved water quality conditions. Sediment quality tends to improve
slowly in response to dredging, flushing, and burial of contaminants. Over
300 species of benthic invertebrates are documented in the Spey River
system. Taxa diversity and abundance are greater in the shallower
depositional zones than in the deeper waters or heavily scoured zones.
Pollution-intolerant mayflies (Ephemeroptera) are appropriate indicators of
water quality. Mayflies also play a key role in the food chain of several
fishes, some of which feed on them exclusively during the midsummer.
Although mayflies once occurred in great abundance in the Spey River,
populations declined due to industrial and municipal waste discharges from
the growing population of Angus. Decreases in dissolved oxygen levels and
increased levels of toxicants, oils, and grease resulted in a drastic reduction
in mayfly populations in the Spey River. Presently, however, mayfly
populations are increasing. Little change in the condition of the benthic
communities occurred over the 20-year period between 1962 and 1982.
In the last 10 years, mayflies have increased in density in the upper Spey
River and have recolonized some areas of the lower Spey River although
present densities in the lower river are still very low. Several areas of the
Lake Surprise shoreline remain degraded.
Many of the estimated 36 species of uninid mussels that at one time lived
in the Spey River are now absent or endangered in Dundee. The Spey River
has 13 species of mussels that are classified as endangered, threatened, or
rare—more than any other site in Dundee. Numbers are declining due to
changes in the abundance of fish species, degradation of water quality, and
recent competition with the zebra mussel.
The zebra mussel is an exotic species that was first discovered in Lake
Surprise in 1988. It may have been carried there by a ship discharging
ballast water picked up in a European port. Populations of the mollusk have
spread quickly through the Spey River and into Lake Surprise. As an exotic,
the mussel is outcompeting native mollusks. Zebra mussels threaten
industrial intake and discharge pipes because they quickly encrust these
structures, reducing the pipes' diameters. These mussels also have a
tremendous capacity to filter water and have significantly altered the clarity
of Lake Surprise.
Nearshore Communities
Approximately 27 percent of the area between the shoreline and a 12-foot
depth contour of the Spey River is occupied by submerged plants.
Although water-level fluctuations make obtaining an exact number difficult,
July 1994 19
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it is estimated that the total area covered by emergent macrophytes is
2,125 acres, with over 95 percent found in the lower river. Macrophyte
beds are located around the islands in the lower river, usually on the Lake
Surprise side. They provide food and cover for many aquatic animals.
Waterfowl historically have been abundant in the region. The wild celery
beds in the lower Spey River and along the Lake Surprise shoreline have
long been a major migration stopover point for canvasback, redhead, and
other ducks, as well as tundra swans. The largest migration corridor for the
canvasback from breeding grounds in the Canadian prairie provinces
southeasterly to Chesapeake Bay centers on the Spey and Lomond Rivers.
Although the waterfowl carrying capacity of Lake Surprise is much reduced
from its former condition, the GIA remains a major habitat for migratory
waterfowl, including canvasbacks, redhead, lesser scaup, and tundra
swans. Although a few hundred mallards, some wood ducks, blue-winged
teal, and, in recent years, Canada geese breed in the remaining marshes of
the river, Lake Surprise is not a major waterfowl producing area.
The Lake Surprise area also supports colonial water birds including great
blue herons, great egrets, ring-billed gulls, herring gulls, and common terns.
Herons and egrets were once abundant in the area. These birds typically
nest on the islands.
The Ness National Wildlife Refuge, located on the lower Spey River, is a
gathering site for many of the 3 million birds that migrate through what is
the intersection between the Atlantic and Mississippi River flyways. The
shoreline wetlands, wild celery beds, and other aquatic vegetation around
the islands in the river attract migrating mallards, black ducks, mergansers,
redheads, canvasbacks, goldeneyes, and scaup.
The Ness National Wildlife Refuge and numerous state wildlife areas within
and surrounding the GIA provide refuge along the flyway routes of many
waterfowl species, as well as habitat for other water-dependent birds and
animals. Until recently, coastal wetland resources had been continually
reduced by drainage projects tied to agricultural expansion and by lakeshore
developments. Of the estimated 180 square miles (115,000 acres) of
wetlands that fringed the GIA prior to settlement, only 62.5 square miles
(40,000 acres) remained as of the early 1970s.
Wildlife habitat in the Lake Surprise drainage basin is characterized by
extreme diversity. Along the Lomond River, much of the immediate
watershed is urban, suburban, or agricultural; along the Spey River, the
Natural Systems
Wetlands
Upland Habitat
20
July 1994
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predominant land uses are urban, suburban, and industrial. The upland
areas of both river basins contain a mixture of suburban, agricultural, and
open space. A substantial portion of the shoreline areas is composed of
remnants of wetlands. Many were drained for agriculture or urban
development. The upland areas in the GIA provide habitat for many species
of wildlife, including many mammals and birds.
Endangered Species
Habitat
Many threatened or endangered species are found in the Lake Surprise GIA.
Some of the historically important commercial and recreational fish species
such as lake trout, black perch, and lake sturgeon are endangered. Benthic
organisms such as many of the historically present species of mussels are
endangered or extinct from the Lake Surprise area. The USFWS and the
Dundee Department of Natural Resources have attributed the loss of many
species of plants and animals to the following causes (in order of
significance): loss of habitat, acute and chronic toxicity of the water and
sediment, overuse (overhunting, overfishing, or overharvesting), and
competition from exotic species.
July 1994 21
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CHARACTERIZATION
OF RECEIVING
WATERS
Chemical Characteristics
The pH of Lake Surprise is monitored on a monthly basis and has been
found to be in a range sufficient to protect and maintain aquatic life (6.5 -
9.0). The water in Lake Surprise can be characterized as containing
moderate alkalinity (ca. 90 mg/L as CaC03), which gives the lake sufficient
buffering capacity to maintain fairly consistent and constant pH levels.
The water temperatures in Lake Surprise are affected by circulation patterns
and are warmest in the inshore waters. The mean annual lake water
temperature is about 40 °F, with monthly average temperatures ranging
from 33 °F to 72 °F. Figure 3 illustrates the mean monthly water
temperatures.
Water temperatures exceeding both chronic and acute levels for cold-water
fish species have been identified as potentially problematic in areas
surrounding power plant cooling water outfalls.
Temperature
80
60
i
1 40
8.
20
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
Figure 3. Average monthly water temperature for Lake Surprise
22
July 1994
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Conventional Pollutants
Eutrophication is a water quality problem in Lake Surprise. Eutrophic
waters are high in organic matter or nutrients that promote biological
growth. Eutrophication can lead to reduced dissolved oxygen levels,
turbidity, taste and odor problems, growth of nuisance blue-green algae,
aesthetic impairments, and fish kills. The two nutrients that are key to
eutrophication problems are nitrogen and phosphorus. In freshwater
systems like Lake Surprise, phosphorus is typically the limiting factor for
algal growth. Therefore, phosphorus is usually the nutrient of concern for
controlling eutrophication.
Phosphorus is measured as total phosphorus and orthophosphorus in most
monitoring programs. The total phosphorus concentration is a
measurement of the combined organic and inorganic phosphorus in the
water. Because most phosphorus in water is not directly available for algal
growth, orthophosphate is also measured to give an indication of the
phosphorus in the system that is in a form usable for photosynthesis. EPA
has established that total phosphorus concentrations above 0.020 mg/L
lead to eutrophic conditions in water systems like Lake Surprise.
The basic plant nutrients and essential trace compounds, as well as
dissolved oxygen, sodium, calcium, magnesium, and manganese, are
present in Lake Surprise in sufficient quantities to support most designated
uses. However, a serious oversupply of phosphorus, chloride, and nitrogen
has led to eutrophication problems in the lake.
The Dundee Department of Natural Resources (DDNR) has developed a
continuous database, including data from 1966 to the present, and has
reported that the water quality of the Spey River significantly improved
from 1980 to 1990. The 1980 to 1990 survey found that river
concentrations of chlorides and total phosphorus decreased by 46 percent
and 62 percent, respectively, during this period. Concentrations of total
iron, phenols, total dissolved solids, and ammonia nitrogen did not change
significantly, although loadings of certain parameters to the Spey River from
Dundee point sources decreased (total iron 81 percent, chlorides 80
percent, total phosphorus 63 percent, and oil 80 percent). A 1987 study
found CSOs to be a major source of nutrients, bacteria, solids, oil, and
debris to the Spey River after heavy rains. The average concentrations of
conventional parameters have improved and stabilized between 1972 and
the present.
Suspended solids concentrations ranged from 8 mg/L to 18 mg/L at the
mouth of the Spey River between 1976 and 1992 (Figure 4). The
considerable variation between years is assumed to be due to varying
meteorological conditions, lake levels, and river velocities. These
July 1994 23
Suspended Solids
-------
1976
1980
1984
1988
1992
Figure 4. Mean annual concentrations of suspended solids at the mouth of
the Spey River (1976-1992)
concentrations are below levels of concern (25 mg/L) for fish. Average
annual suspended solids concentrations from 1980 to 1992 ranged from
23.8 mg/L to 46.6 mg/L, as shown in Figure 5. In general, the
concentrations were above the levels of concern for fish. From 1980 to the
present, water clarity was consistently poor in the nearshore environment
of Lake Surprise during the spring and fall, as indicated by Secchi disk
measurements. Clarity in the inner bay is probably affected by wave
resuspension of sediments in shallow water. There has been great variation
in water clarity in the offshore waters of the GIA, probably due to the
mixing of clearer offshore water and turbid nearshore water.
Biochemical Oxygen Demand
The 5-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD6) at the mouth of the Spey
River ranged from 1 to 2 mg/L between 1976 and 1992. During the same
period in the Lomond River, the BOD6 ranged from 3.11 mg/L at the mouth
to 5.8 mg/L several miles upriver from the mouth. The BODB in Lake
Surprise was typically below 1.0 mg/L and always below 1.5 mg/L over the
past 15 years.
The Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement specifies a minimum dissolved
oxygen (DO) value of 6 mg/L. Dissolved oxygen has been above this level
in the Spey River since the mid-1960s. Concentrations of dissolved oxygen
in the Lomond River are shown in Figure 6 for the time period from 1977
to 1987. Over this period, DO concentrations fell below the 5.0-mg/L
standard 11 times. Dissolved oxygen in Lake Surprise typically remains
Dissolved Oxygen
24
July 1994
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1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992
Figure 5. Annual average suspended solids concentration in the Lomond
River (1980-1992)
10
a
I 4
5 0
1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987
1978 1980 1982 1984 1986
Figure 6. Annual average dissolved oxygen concentration in the Lomond
River
July 1994
25
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near saturation levels over the entire lake, and the concentration is primarily
influenced by water temperature.
The chloride ion, which is soluble, is present in most natural waters.
Chloride sources include natural weathering of exposed minerals,
agricultural runoff, groundwater, industrial and municipal runoff, and runoff
of road salts. DONR monitoring data indicate that chloride concentrations
for the lower transect of the Spey River ranged from 9 mg/L to 17 mg/L
between 1982 and 1990 and show a steady downward trend. Average
annual chloride concentrations in the Lomond River have decreased from
230 mg/L in 1963 to 53.1 mg/L in 1986. Rule 51 of the Dundee Water
Quality Standards requires a level of 50 mg/L or less as a monthly average.
Chloride concentrations in Lake Surprise have historically been below the
50-mg/L threshold limit.
Phosphorus concentrations in the Spey and Lomond Rivers are important for
the protection of Lake Surprise with respect to trophic conditions. The
Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement has described target phosphorus
loading for Lake Surprise and has set a target goal of 10,000 tons per year.
Additionally, the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement has established a
total phosphorus concentration limit of 0.02 mg/L and target loadings of
5,000 tons per year for the Spey River and 300 tons per year for the
Lomond River. Figure 7 shows historical phosphorus loadings for the Spey
River, and Figure 8 shows the phosphorus loadings for the Lomond River.
The total phosphorus concentrations in the Spey River and phosphorus
loading to Lake Surprise declined dramatically between 1976 and 1992, and
has become relatively stabilized at around the 0.02 mg/L limit (Figure 9).
Variations within this stabilized concentration are most likely due to rainfall-
induced fluctuations in land-based runoff and total river flow. Figure 10
shows the total phosphorus concentrations for the Lomond River from 1980
through 1992. Concentrations declined steadily for total phosphorus in the
Lomond River through the early 1980s and stabilized in the late 1980s.
However, the concentrations were above the EPA criteria for eutrophic
classification.
The average total phosphorus levels for spring and fall in Lake Surprise from
1980 to 1992 are shown in Figure 11. If the EPA criterion for
eutrophication of 0.02 mg/L total phosphorus is used, the lake would be
considered eutrophic for the entire time period. The sources of total
phosphorus include watershed runoff from rural agricultural land and urban
areas, as well as industrial, municipal, and CSO/stormwater discharges.
Chlorides
Phosphorus
26
July 1994
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40,000
35,000 -
30,000 -
25,000 -
120,000 -
15,000 -
10,000 -
5,000 -
1967 1970 1973 1975 1978 1981 1984 1987 1990
Figure 7. Yearly total phosphorus for the Spey River
2,000
1,500
o
1,000
500
Total Loading
Point Source
1967 1970 1973 1975 1978 1981 1984 1987 1990
Figure 8. Yearly total phosphorus for the Lomond River
July 1994
27
-------
_ 0.1
cb
^To.08
g
1
"c
8 0.06
c.
8
2 0.04
o
0.
o
-C f\ AO
Q_ 0.02
Is
0
_
-
-
I.
1
USEPA Criteria
1976 1980 1984 1988 1992
Figure 9. Mean annual concentrations of total phosphorus at the mouth of
the Spey River (1976-1992)
0.35
1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992
Figure 10. Average annual total phosphorus concentration in the Lomond
River (1980-1992)
28
July 1994
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— 50
01
8 30
1
8-20
CO
10
I
0
Spring
Fall
1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992
Figgre 11. Average total phosphorus concentration (ug/L) in water for Lake
Surprise during spring and fall (1980-1992)
Nitrogen in Lake Surprise can also promote eutrophication when phosphorus
is not limiting, although to a lesser extent than does phosphorus when
nitrogen is limiting. The nitrate-nitrite concentration in Lake Surprise is
quite variable from year to year. In general, levels of nitrogen in the waters
of the GIA are well below levels considered problematic. Nitrogen
originates from a variety of sources including CSO/stormwater discharges,
nonpoint sources, and municipal treatment plant discharges.
Total body contact recreation activities in areas of the Spey River are
periodically impaired due to elevated fecal coliform bacteria levels. A
review of the literature indicates that bacterial concentrations in the Spey
River have been a concern since the 1960s. Based on coliform data from
the Dundee shoreline, conditions changed very little from 1972 to 1991.
The Lomond River has historically exhibited bacterial levels similar to those
of the Spey River. In Dundee, the surface water quality standard for fecal
coliform is 200 coliforms per 100 mL, and for both river systems this
standard is routinely exceeded. Lake Surprise, however, has better
bacterial water quality and over the past 10 years has had no beach
closings due to excessively high levels of fecal coliform bacteria.
Nitrogen
Bacteria
July 1994
29
-------
Metals
Monitoring data and information from the NPDES program indicate that
ambient concentrations of mercury, cadmium, copper, lead, and zinc are a
water quality concern in portions of the Spey River. Concentrations of all
other metals measured were below the Dundee Water Quality Standards
(WQS). Metals were not extensively sampled in the Lomond River; in many
cases, only a single sample was taken per year.
Few studies have been conducted on metals in the waters of Lake Surprise.
Historic data indicate that cadmium, copper, lead, and zinc were present in
the lake. Recent studies indicate that the concentrations of these metals
are greater in the nearshore waters than in the offshore waters. Water
quality data generally indicate that water quality degradation from metals
is not a problem on a large scale in the rivers or the lake. However, the
water quality monitoring program for this area has been quite limited, with
relatively few samples taken on both temporal and spatial scales. Problems
at local sites may go undetected if other pollution assessment methods are
not used.
Dundee's WQS Rule 57 value of 0.0006 ug/L mercury is well below the
detection levels of many of the methods used to measure mercury.
Therefore, exceedances of these criterion cannot be determined from the
data available. Analysis of the monitoring data over the past 10 years does
not reveal any trend in mercury concentrations in the Spey River. Mercury
was mostly undetectable during 1977-92 in the Spey River, with values
ranging from undetectable to about 1.0 ug/L. In the Lomond River, the
levels of mercury were similar to those of the Spey River, ranging from 0.2
ug/L to 0.7 ug/L from 1982 to 1990. Mercury has not been detected in
Lake Surprise from 1978 to the present with laboratory detection limits of
0.2 ug/L to 1.0 ug/L.
Analysis of individual lead concentrations in ambient water for each
monitoring station at the mouth of the Spey River for 1988-92 indicates
exceedances of Dundee's Rule 57(2) level of 3.0 ug/L in 4 percent of the
samples (19 of 419 samples). Forty-seven percent of the exceedances
occurred at the station nearest the Dundee shoreline. These data suggest
that the Dundee shoreline is the source of lead to the Spey River. Lead
concentrations have not exceeded the Rule 57(2) guideline levels for the
Lomond River or Lake Surprise from 1981 to the present.
Mercury
Lead
30 . July 1994
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Cadmium
Analysis of 419 individual sample results from the lower Spey River
between 1988 and 1992 shows that cadmium exceeded Dundee's Rule
57(2) levels of 0.4 ug/L in. 9 percent of the samples. Data indicate that
cadmium is entering the river from shoreline sources along the Spey River.
Cadmium concentrations have not exceeded the Rule 57(2) guideline levels
for the Lomond River or Lake Surprise from 1981 to the present.
Analysis of all individual sample results from the lower Spey River between
1988 and 1992 shows that none of the samples exceeded Dundee's Rule
57(2) level (11.0 mg/L). There was one exceedance occurred in mid-river
in 1989, and two exceedances at the station nearest the Dundee shoreline
in 1990. These data indicate that copper is not currently a water quality
concern. Copper concentrations have not exceed the Rule 57(2) guideline
levels for the Lomond River or Lake Surprise from 1981 to the present.
Analysis of all 419 individual samples from the lower transect of the Spey
River for the period of 1988-92 shows that none exceeded Dundee's Rule
57(2) level of 33 ug/L. Nickel concentrations have not exceeded the Rule
57(2) guideline levels for the Lomond River or Lake Surprise from 1981 to
the present. These data indicate that nickel is not a water quality concern
in the Spey River, Lomond River, or Lake Surprise.
Analysis of all 419 individual samples collected at the lower transect of the
Spey River between 1988 and 1992 shows that nine of the samples (2
percent) exceeded Dundee's Rule 57(2) level of 49 ug/L. These data
indicate that exceedances of Rule 57 criteria for zinc at the lower river have
occurred infrequently. Zinc concentrations did exceed the Rule 57(2)
guideline levels for the Lomond River and ranged from 21.0 ug/L to 104.0
ug/L during 1983-92. Zinc concentrations in Lake Surprise ranged from 6.0
ug/L to 92.8 ug/L during 1986-92, with no apparent trends. For these
reasons, concentrations of zinc in the Lomond and Spey Rivers and in Lake
Surprise are a water quality concern.
Analysis of all 419 individual samples collected between 1988 and 1992
at the lower Spey River transect reveals no exceedances of Dundee criteria
for total chromium. Chromium concentrations were substantially below the
Rule 57(2) guideline levels for the Lomond River and Lake Surprise from
Copper
Nickel
Zinc
Chromium
July 1994
31
-------
1981 to the present. These data indicate that chromium is not a water
quality concern in the Spey and Lomond Rivers and Lake Surprise.
Concentrations of arsenic were at or below 10.0 ug/L at all tributary sites
and Lake Surprise sites sampled during 1982-92 and did not exceed the
Dundee Rule 57(2) guideline level for arsenic concentrations in water of
150.0 ug/L. Arsenic concentrations in the Lomond River ranged from 2.0
ug/L to 8.0 ug/L. Therefore, arsenic is not a pollutant of concern in the
Lake Surprise GIA.
Arsenic
Organic Contaminants
Information on ambient water levels of organic contaminants in the Spey
and Lomond Rivers and Lake Surprise is very limited because most studies
of organic contaminants focus on biota and sediment concentrations of
organics. Organic compounds are not routinely included in monitoring
analysis unless a specific problem is suspected.
Polychlorinated Biphenyls
(PCBs)
Concentrations of PCBs are a concern in the Spey River because of the
persistence and high bioaccumulation potential of these compounds.
Various studies have found ambient levels of PCBs to exceed Dundee's Rule
57(2} value of 0.02 ng/L. A review of the existing data indicates that PCBs
are present throughout the Spey River at concentrations above the
applicable criteria. The Dundee 304(1) list identifies two portions of the
Spey River as exceeding Dundee's Rule 57(2) level for PCBs. The Great
Lakes Water Quality Agreement does not identify a specific objective for
PCBs in water.
PCBs have been detected at the mouth of the river at levels ranging from
1,250 ng/L in 1971 to 110 ng/L in 1979 to 25 ng/L in 1981. The 1979
data indicate that the PCB concentration follows an inverse relationship to
the flow. Therefore, low river flows are apparently associated with higher
PCB concentrations. This also suggests that sediment release of PCBs is
independent of sediment movement into the water column.
PCBs were first reported in the Great Lakes basin at the mouth of the
Lomond River in 1971 at concentrations of 1,250 ng/L. The Rule 57(2)
guideline level for PCBs in water is 0.02 ng/L. Total PCB concentrations in
Lake Surprise varied with location in 1979, declining from 43.1 ng/L in the
nearshore waters to 16.2 ng/L offshore. Dissolved and paniculate PCB
concentrations were also lower offshore than nearshore. The A-1242
mixture of PCB was dominant in the river (75 percent), whereas
concentrations of A-1242 and A-1260 were almost identical in the bay.
32 July 1994
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Chlorobenzenes
Several surveys have indicated the presence of hexachlorobenzene (HCB)
and other chlorinated benzenes in the Spey River. The Spey River System
Mass Balance Study revealed no significant change in the HCB
concentrations from the upstream to the downstream transects (0.33 ng/L),
indicating no significant sources along the river. This concentration did not
exceed the Dundee Rule 57(2) level of 1.8 ng/L. HCB was not monitored
in the Lomond River or in Lake Surprise, and at this time Chlorobenzenes are
not considered to be a problem in Lake Surprise.
Polynuclear Aromatic
Hydrocarbons
Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are byproducts of incomplete
combustion of fossil fuels, petroleum refining, and coking for steel-making
operations. Concentrations increased downstream along the Dundee
shoreline, with values as high as 6,100 ng/L. There are no water quality
criteria for total PAHs in water, but Dundee has developed Rule 57(2) levels
for some individual PAH compounds.
Phenol concentrations were sampled in the Spey River and in Lake Surprise
during 1971-1986. In all cases, the samples were found to be below the
Rule 57(2) guidance level for phenols in water of 230 ug/L, with the
greatest concentration of phenols at 12.0 ug/L. Along the Lake Surprise
shoreline the highest concentration of measured phenol was 1.0 ug/L.
Phenol concentrations were highest during 1976-79 and declined in more
recent years.
The bottom of the Spey River is composed of materials ranging from very
fine silty clay to bedrock. Most of the river bottom is covered with varying
thicknesses of silt, clay, sand, or gravel, and some sections are covered
with limestone bedrock. The velocity of currents dictates the bottom
constituents; i.e., backwater and protected areas near the shoreline are
dominated by silty clay ooze, and the majority of moderate-velocity areas
are fine gravel or medium sand. River sediments continuously shift and
change in areas where velocities are moderate to high, resulting in shoaling
in the dredged navigation channels and considerable downstream transport
of sediment.
Sediment quality is important to the shipping industry because dredging is
periodically required to maintain shipping channels, boat slips, and berths.
For example, dredging activities in the Spey River were estimated to
produce 14 million cubic feet of dredged materials in 1975. Disposal of
Phenols
Sediment Quality
July 1994
33
-------
dredged materials is regulated depending on the contaminant levels in the
dredged materials.
Sediment quality also impacts aquatic organisms that live in or near the
sediments and other aquatic life that consume plants or benthic aquatic
organisms. Sediments with high levels of contaminants or low dissolved
oxygen concentrations can be toxic to aquatic life.
Sediments in the Spey River are heavily polluted by the following
contaminants: arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, cyanide, iron, lead,
manganese, mercury, nickel, zinc, PCBs, and oil and grease.
Most of the sediments sampled along the entire Dundee shoreline were
classified as heavily or moderately polluted. Upstream inputs from Lake
Heron account for the largest estimated loads of total PCBs, cyanide, zinc,
cadmium, copper, iron, and nickel. Dundee CSOs contributed the largest
estimated loads of mercury, lead, and chromium, while Dundee point
sources contributed the largest estimated load of oil and grease. No trend
data are available to analyze changes in sediment contaminant levels;
however, pollutant concentrations in ambient water and in animal tissue
have decreased over the past 20 years in response to point source controls.
34 July 1994
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ISSUES OF
CONCERN
Point Source Pollution
CSOs
Combined sewer overflows and separate storm sewers have historically
contributed a substantial percentage of pollutants to the Lomond River/
Lake Surprise system during high-flow conditions. Several combined sewer
overflows exist along the Lomond River. Combined sewer overflows can
be a major contributor to a reduction in water quality, as well as factors
such as continuous point source discharges and upstream nonpoint sources.
For example, a rain event in 1980 produced 0.8 inch of precipitation, which
caused the observed instream dissolved oxygen to decrease from 6.0 mg/L
to 3.6 mg/L and the bacterial levels to increase from 200 counts/100 mL
to in excess of 60,000 counts/100 mL.
Approximately 126 CSOs discharge directly to the Spey and Lomond rivers
and Lake Surprise. It has been estimated that CSOs contribute about one-
third of the storm water flow into the surface waters of the region. Dundee
CSOs contribute the largest loads of chromium, lead, and mercury. Total
PCB loads from Dundee CSOs are second only to the upstream input load.
NPDES Noncompliance
Of the 209 NPDES-permitted facilities that discharge in the GIA, 17 permit
violations were reported last year. Table 4 lists the violators and the
parameter(s) for which they exceeded their permit limits.
Nonpoint Source
Pollution
Nonpoint sources of pollution are defined by EPA as those sources of
pollution which "are diffuse and do not have a single point of origin or are
not introduced into a receiving stream from a specific outlet." The most
often considered source of nonpoint pollution is stomnwater runoff. Table
5 illustrates the pollutant characteristics of stomnwater from a variety of
land uses in the Great Lakes region.
July 1994 35
-------
Table 4. NPDES Permit Violators
Facility
Major/Minor
Parameters Exceeded
City of Angus WWTP
Ness County WWTP
Shetland City WWTP
Major PCB, mercury, copper, lead,
cadmium
Major tetrachloroethane, methylene
chloride, 1,1,1 trichloroethane,
PCB, mercury
Minor mercury, PCB, lindane, 1,2,3,4-
tetrachlorobenzene, conventional
pollutants
Swanee River WWTP
Heron Valley WWTP
Whata Steel Corporation
Steel Home, Inc.
Steel-ls-Us
Bacon Iron Corporation
Be-nice Chemical
Pest-Rid, Inc.
Garden Grow Chemicals
Chemical Alternatives
Corporation
Can-America Chemical
Klunker Cars
Sugar Pie, Inc.
Dumfries WWTP
Minor
Minor
Major
Major
Major
Major
Major
Major
Major
Major
Major
Major
Major
Major
PCB, BODS, TSS, fecal coliform
conventional pollutants, fecal
coliform
TSS, cyanide
oil and grease
pH, TSS, oil and grease, zinc
(discharge of effluent from a
treatment bypass outfall)
pH, BOD5, oil and grease
mercury, PCB
PCB, mercury, pH, TSS, ammonia,
nitrogen, arsenic
PCB, mercury, BOD5/ TSS, pH,
toluene
copper, arsenic, cobalt, chloride,
ammonia, TOC, fluoride, chromium
PCB, zinc, lead
phosphorus, TSS, BODS
phosphorus, BOD5, mercury .
36
July 1994
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Table 5. Examples of pollutant characteristics found in stormwater runoff from various land
uses in the Great Lakes Region (from Novotnoy and Chesters, 1981).
Land Use
Urban/Commercial
Industrial
Suburban
Agriculture
Open Space
and Recreation
Suspended
Solids
(Ib/ac-yr)
67 - >8,900
670 - 1785
803 - 3,570
4.5- 7,300
1.8 -803
Total
Nitrogen
(Ib/ac-yr)
2.7 - 10.7
2.7 - 11.6
5.4 -8.0
0.7 - 66.9
0.5-7.1
Total
Phosphorus
(Ib/ac-yr)
0.08 - 3.6
0.8 - 5.4
0.5-0.9
0.09 -8.0
0.03 - 0.6
Lead
(Ib/ac-yr)
0.18 - 0.89
n/a
0.07
0.003 - 0.08
0.01 - 0.04
Additional sources of nonpoint pollution include failing onsite disposal
systems (OSDS) and improper disposal of household hazardous materials.
Onsite disposal systems, commonly referred to as septic tanks, are
alternatives to centralized sewer systems. Within the GIA, they commonly
are found in the more rural areas and in older residential areas. There are
several summer homes along the banks of the Spey River. They were built
before the availability of centralized sewer systems and rely on OSDS for
sewage treatment. Because many of the houses are used only seasonally,
the septic tanks are not always properly maintained and failure rates are
high. OSDS are a common source of pathogens and nutrients in receiving
waters. The effluent from malfunctioning OSDS can impact surface waters
depending on location in relation to the receiving waters, soil type, slope,
depth from the system to the water table, and connectivity of the surface
waters and groundwaters.
Improper disposal of household hazardous materials can be a chronic water
quality problem. Everyday household activities generate numerous
pollutants that can affect water quality. Common household pollutants
include paints, solvents, lawn and garden care products, detergents and
cleansers, and automotive products such as antifreeze and oil. The
pollutants are usually introduced into the environment because of lack of
disposal options or because the general public might not know the impacts
these products can have on the environment. For example, 40 percent of
the used oil from do-it-yourself oil changers is poured on roads, driveways,
or yards, or is disposed of down storm drains. It has been estimated that
15 to 20 percent of household hazardous waste ends up in storm drains or
runoff.
July 1994 37
-------
Two additional significant sources of nonpoint pollution are runoff from
agricultural areas and atmospheric deposition. The primary concern with
agricultural runoff is sediment loading. Sediment eroded from the
agricultural areas in the northern portions of both drainage basins are carried
downstream and often fall out of suspension at the mouths of the rivers.
Pollutants commonly associated with atmospheric deposition include
phosphorus, heavy metals, PCBs, and chlorides. These sources are often
difficult to control because they do not originate in the GIA. The issues of
concern related to agricultural runoff and atmospheric deposition are
discussed below.
Agricultural Runoff
Annual suspended solid loads to inner Lake Surprise were approximately
457,330 tons from 1983 to 1989. In 1990, the suspended solid loads to
the lake were approximately 277,704 tons, with agricultural nonpoint
sources contributing approximately 88 percent of the load. The portion of
Lake Surprise receiving loads from the Lomond River had the greatest
agricultural nonpoint suspended solid load for the entire lake in 1980. Wind
and water erosion of agricultural land is the major source of sediment in the
Lomond River and Lake Surprise.
More than 9.5 million tons of soil is eroded annually from agricultural lands
in the Lake Surprise drainage basin. Water-induced sheet and rill erosion
accounts for an estimated 3.5 million tons (37 percent) of the annual
erosion; more than 5.9 million tons (63 percent) of eroded soil is the result
of wind erosion.
Animal wastes are a significant source of phosphorus to Lake Surprise.
More than 1.87 million tons of animal waste is produced annually in the
Lake Surprise basin, with almost a million tons potentially available to area
waters. About 67 tons of phosphorus from animal waste is delivered to
Lake Surprise.
Atmospheric Deposition
Based on the average atmospheric deposition rates to Lake Surprise, the
average atmospheric deposition rate of PCBs has been estimated at 0.103
Ib/mi2/yr. The total atmospheric load of PCBs based on a surface area of
11,142.5 mi2 is therefore 1177 Ib/yr. Measurements of PCB concentrations
in wet precipitation, dry deposition, and bulk deposition have revealed that
concentrations, especially those of dry deposition, vary greatly both
spatially and temporally.
The frozen waters of Lake Surprise accumulate contaminants through
precipitation, dry deposition, and accumulation from the vapor phase. PCBs
deposited on the ice are released in the spring when the ice melts. The
38 July 1994
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Lomond River and atmospheric deposition contribute about 3.75 Ib/day of
PCBs to Lake Surprise.
Atmospheric deposition accounts for only about 3 percent of the total
phosphorus load to Lake Surprise. The load derived from atmospheric
deposition is not uniformly distributed over the lake but tends to be
concentrated in the northeastern end. The loads to the northeastern portion
of the lake were approximately 6.5 tons per year.
Atmospheric loads of chloride to Lake Surprise at Dumfries, the sampling
location where chloride loads were highest, ranged between 1,228 and
1,867 Ib/mi2. A study of heavy metal deposition to Lake Surprise
conducted from 1988 to 1990 revealed that Dumfries also had the highest
deposition rate for mercury. Deposition rates for mercury ranged between
0.394 and 0.834 Ib/mi2/yr during this period. Deposition rates of cadmium,
lead, nickel, and chromium decreased during the 3-year study at least one
location. Cadmium rates fell from 8.12 Ib/mi2/yr to 0.64 Ib/mi2/yr at the
station where atmospheric deposition rates had been highest. Lead
deposition rates at Dumfries were about 188.5 Ib/mi2/yr in 1982 but
decreased to about 17.1 Ib/mi2/yr at this same station by 1984. The
relatively high atmospheric loadings of nickel at Dumfries (about 34.8
Ib/mi2/yr in 1982) decreased to an average of about 3.77 Ib/mi2/yr by 1984.
Concentrations of copper and arsenic showed less variation between the
sampling stations and sampling years. Copper deposition rates averaged
about 17.1 Ib/mi2/yr, and arsenic deposition rates averaged about
1.26 Ib/mi2/yr. Zinc deposition rates decreased by about 50 percent in
1983 but were back to their original levels of about 68.53 Ib/mi2/yr, if not
higher, by 1990.
Lake Surprise has one of the highest rates of acid precipitation among
waterbodies of the United States. The substantial buffering capacity of the
lake considerably mitigates the potential toxic effects of low pH on aquatic
life.
The GIA is within one EPA-designated Air Quality Control Region (AQCR).
Currently, the region does not meet National Ambient Air Quality Standards
(NAAQS) (it is in nonattainment) for sulphur oxides and nitrogen oxides and
has met the standards for 4 years. While both states have State
Implementation Plans (SIPs) in place, only Shetland has implemented
stationary and mobile source emission controls for major sources of air
pollution, as required under the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990.
Because Dundee has not adopted similar standards, there is concern that
the AQCR will not meet attainment requirements for the problem pollutants
within the specified 5-year time frame.
July 1994 39
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Superfund Sites
The Slink Steel Company (SSC) is located in Dumfries along the banks of
the No-Name tributary (a small, created channel connected to the Lomond
River). Because of its unique location, the SSC site falls under the
jurisdiction of two states. The company has operated at this site from
1940 until the present and was involved in the production of coke, steel
making and finishing, materials storage, and the manufacturing of spring-
like toys.
For 50 years, the SSC plant has operated a coal-fired powerhouse, tool
shops, two blast furnaces, coke batteries, a coke-by-product plant, open
hearth furnaces, and various mills to produce steel products. The blast
furnaces and coking operations were put out of service and were
subsequently demolished in 1975. The company still maintains some of the
milling operations and stores a variety of steel products onsite.
SSC investigated the site in 1976 at the request of both the Dundee and
Shetland governments and identified significant contamination of
groundwater and surface water, soil, and sediment in and around the No-
Name tributary. The major surface water discharge from the site is the No-
Name tributary, which has received untreated wastes from the various
finishing operations throughout the plant's history of operation. Estimates
of pollutants in the No-Name tributary are outlined in Table 6. Groundwater
is monitored from a series of monitoring wells, and contamination is in the
form of metals (primarily cyanide and zinc) and a variety of PAH
compounds. Hydrogeologic analysis of the area indicates that the
groundwater is essentially isolated and the groundwater discharges at a
very low seepage rate into the No-Name tributary. Sediment contamination
is primarily in the Shetland portion of No-Name tributary. At this time, over
1 million yd3 of sediment is contaminated with metal scale and a variety of
PAH compounds.
In 1977, the site was investigated by an EPA field team and immediately
placed on the National Priority List (NPL). Since sales of the steel Slink
products have declined dramatically with the introduction of plastic models,
the company has had limited financial success over the past 16 years.
Placement on the NPL has made the site eligible for federal financial
assistance if the responsible party is financially unable to assume the clean-
up costs. At this time, SSC has assumed the costs of cleanup at Shetland
locations after negotiating a Response Order to Consent with Shetland. The
company has been unable to negotiate an agreement with EPA for the
Dundee areas. In December of 1992, SSC sought bankruptcy protection
and filed under Chapter 11 of federal bankruptcy laws.
Three other Superfund sites are located within the GIA; two in Dundee
(Acme Tar and Chemical and Wrought Iron, Inc.) and one in Shetland (PCBs-
Are-Us). The Acme Tar and Chemical site was placed on the NPL in 1980
40 July 1994
-------
and is currently in the final stages of cleanup. This site was used to
produce steel and iron products, manufacture tar and asbestos shingles,
and produce coke for other local steel mills. There is no history of disposal
methods used by the company, and a 10-acre dump was uncovered in
1973.
The dump contains tar, coal and coke particles, ash, clinker, and oily waste.
The soil in the area of the dump once contains levels of PAHs exceeding
20,000 mg/kg.
The Wrought Iron, Inc. site is on the NPL and is currently under litigation
between former owners and the state. Wrought Iron, Inc. produced iron
patio furniture and lawn ornaments during the 1960s and 1970s. Wastes
were drummed and dumped into a pit located on the property. Many of the
drums, which contain a variety of industrial solvents, are leaking.
Contaminated groundwater leaks from the site into a small stream and
threatens the last remaining population of yellow-bellied creek chubs in the
Great Lakes region. Water samples in the stream have been analyzed and
toluene, ethylbenzene, styrene, and xylenes have been found. Ammonia
levels in the stream have been found to exceed 1.0 mg/L in more than 75
percent of the samples over the past 2 years.
Table 6. Estimated groundwater contaminant concentrations originating from the Slink
Steel Company site
Parameter
Idenod ,2,3,cd)pyrene
Dibenzo(a,h)anthracene
Benzo(ghi)perlyene
Pyrene
Phenanthrene
Cyanide
Chromium
Lead
Zinc
Current MCLs
for Drinking
Water (mg/L)
NC
NC
NC
NC
NC
NC
0.1
0.015
NC
Estimated Concentration
(mg/L)
0.01
0.01
0.01
0.005
0.002
5.1
1.7
2.7
0.3
July 1994 41
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PCBs-Are-Us, located in Shetland near Dumfries, is the site of a now-
defunct PCB recycler. The company refilled electric transformers with used
PCB-laden oil during the 1960s. No records of operations or waste disposal
related to the site can be found. The site was listed as a Superfund site in
1989. The parent company, Waste-Not-Want-Not, is currently negotiating
with EPA Region 12 officials to develop a clean-up plan and funding
requirements. Soil samples taken from the site indicate levels of PCBs that
exceed the state standard of 0.05 mg/kg in 100 percent of the cases. The
site has been stabilized and presently poses little off-site contamination
threat.
There are 12 major landfill sites and 36 documented minor landfill sites
located throughout the GIA. In the Dundee portion of the GIA there are six
closed major landfills and three active major landfills. Shetland has three
major sanitary landfills, including one recently opened site. The new site is
a state-of-the-art facility and has a projected lifespan of at least 10 years.
Two of the active sites in Dundee are used for sanitary disposal and are run
by local governments. The capacity of the two sanitary landfills is expected
to be exceeded by mid-1995. No new landfill sites have been located or
permitted, and negotiations have stalled. Primary opposition is from local
citizens groups, and the issue can be best described as volatile. The third
active Dundee landfill is a private operation for the disposal of construction
and commercial wastes. The site is regulated and monitored closely by the
Dundee Department of Natural Resources. To date, this private site has
met all permit requirements. Many of the inactive landfill sites are on
Priority Lists of Concern in both states. Monitoring and assessment of
these sites continue to be supervised by the respective governmental
agencies.
Landfill Sites
Degradation of Water
Quality
Pollutants of Concern
Sources
To maintain adequate depths for ship traffic, the Spey River, the Lomond
River, and the nearshore waters are routinely dredged. Using current
methods, large amounts of sediments are resuspended in the water column
during both dredging and disposal of dredged material. CSOs and raw
sewage are a source of bacteriologic contamination to the Spey River,
particularly following rainfall events.
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Sediments
All areas downstream of upper segments of the rivers have sediments
contaminated with metals at levels exceeding the EPA Region 12 guidelines.
Dredged spoils from the entire Dundee shoreline may not be suitable for
open-water disposal based on concentrations of metals in sediments. Mid-
river sediments are generally not as polluted. Metal pollution is higher in the
lower rivers. Sediments in the Spey River exceed the EPA Region 12
guidelines for PCS (10 mg/kg) in localized areas. Sediments along the entire
Dundee shore exceed the DDNR's 0.05-mg/kg standard for open-water
disposal of dredged spoils. Median oil and grease concentrations also
exceed DDNR's guidelines at all stations in the mid-river segment.
Recent estimates for Lake Surprise suggest that the actively mixed
sediments are grossly contaminated by PCBs. Every day, discharges from
the Lomond River and atmospheric inputs increase the mass of PCBs in the
inner bay by about 0.25 percent. The highest concentrations of PCBs (0.8
to 1.0 mg/kg) occur in the mud deposit at the southwestern end of the
river. Sediments in the navigational channel in Lake Surprise at the mouth
of the Lomond River are also highly contaminated with PCBs. Although
concentrations declined rapidly during the 1970s and early 1980s,
concentrations in the navigational channel have leveled off at about 1.0
mg/kg.
Metal concentrations in surface sediments of nearshore areas of Lake
Surprise are somewhat lower than concentrations in surface sediments of
open-water areas. The relatively low concentrations of metals in lake
sediments do not indicate, however, that mass loadings of metals to the
lake are insignificant. Metal concentrations in the lake are low due to
biological mixing and dilution by inert materials. The actively mixed surface
sediments of the lake, nonetheless, are highly enriched in contaminant
metals relative to deeper deposits. Concentrations of arsenic and barium,
for example, significantly exceed the criteria established by EPA for
sediments of Great Lakes harbors. Based on EPA criteria, these sediments
would be classified as highly polluted. Other metals exceed concentrations
that would classify the sediments as moderately polluted. These .metals
include chromium, nickel, lead, and zinc. Concentrations of metals are
highest in the nearshore areas with the highest clay content. Chromium
and lead are the most abundant metals in the lake, followed by nickel,
copper, and zinc.
A major livestock-processing facility is located just outside the corporate
limits of Dumfries. This NPDES-permitted processing plant routinely
PCBs
Metals
Pathogens
July 1994
43
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discharges wastewater that exceeds permit requirements for bacteria,
ammonia, BOD, and oil and grease. The treatment system for the plant
consists of primary screening for solids and an extended-detention aerated
lagoon for secondary treatment. The lagoon has been characterized by
problems—particularly odors and poor treatment efficiency—during its entire
period of operation. The lagoon outfalls are located upstream from a major
beach and recreation area in Dumfries.
Impairment of Designated
Uses
Fish
Fish stocks have declined dramatically since the late 1930s as a result of
spawning habitat loss, overfishing, introduction of nonnative fish species,
eutrophication, and ecosystem stresses caused by toxic substances.
Elevated levels of contaminants in fish may limit reproductive success by
increasing the mortality of fry and eggs. Catches declined from a peak of
14.2 million pounds in 1902 to a record low of 1.6 million pounds in 1973.
The decline in commercial harvest has been accompanied by a shift in the
species dominating the commercial fishery. Although lake trout, walleye,
and herring once dominated the commercial fishery, these species were
reduced to insignificant levels by the late 1940s and are no longer
harvested commercially. The commercial catch of yellow perch in 1990
was only about one-quarter of the average annual level of 465,000 pounds.
Carp and channel catfish, which formerly made up only a small percentage
of the commercial catch.
The Dundee Department of Public Health (DDPH), in conjunction with the
Dundee Department of Agriculture (DDA), has issued fish consumption
advisories for a variety of fish species in the Lake Surprise basin based on
a 1986 study. The DDPH's fish advisory warns against the consumption
of carp and catfish caught in the Lomond River because of concentrations
of PCBs above the contaminant trigger levels established based on state or
federal health guidelines. Concentrations of PCBs in walleye of the Lomond
River are below the DDPH action level.
A recent sampling of fish from the Lomond River, however, failed to detect
differences in PCB concentration among bottom feeders, mid-level feeders,
planktivores, and piscivores. Concentrations of PCBs in all species were
about the same and were about 12 percent of the 1986 values. The
sediments of the Lomond River are much more contaminated than those of
the lake. This factor, coupled with the mobility of the fish, may complicate
comparisons.
Population Changes
Fish Advisories
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Fish Abnormalities
In addition to elevated levels of contaminants, the fish of the Spey River
have elevated levels of oral and dermal tumors. Ten percent of bullheads
and 5 percent of walleyes exhibit dermal and/or oral neoplasms. The
percent of fish with liver tumors is comparable to that of other highly
industrialized areas of the Great Lakes. Tumor incidence rates have been
observed to vary greatly from site to site with the GIA; however, in most
cases they exceed background levels.
Dredging, bulkheading, and backfilling of wetlands, littoral zones, bayous,
and small embayments in the Spey River have resulted in extensive losses
of wildlife habitat. Retaining walls or riprap and harbor structures currently
form over 60 percent of the Spey River shoreline structure. It has been
suggested that the collapse of the commercial lake herring and whitefish
fisheries may be linked to the destruction of rock outcroppings during the
construction of the shipping channels.
Loss of wetlands along the riverfront has also dramatically reduced the
waterfowl populations. The extensive mashes that once existed along
portions of the lakefront have all been filled. Waterfowl, wading birds, and
muskrats that previously had relied on the marshes have for the most part
disappeared from the area. The pollutant loadings to the river transformed
the once lush growths of wild celery, wild rice, and pondweeds to bare
sediments covered with an oily residue. During the 1940s and 1950s
thousands of ducks were found dead on the lower Spey River. Causes of
death included oiling, an incident of phosphorus poisoning, and starvation.
By the 1960s many canvasbacks had chosen an alternate route to avoid the
hazards of the Spey River.
Pollution control measures instituted in the 1970s have eliminated much of
the input of oil and conventional pollutants to the river. Wild celery beds
have begun to return, but not nearly to their former abundance.
Herring gull colonies on Treasure Island and Fantasy Island have been
monitored periodically since 1978. Treasure Island is located adjacent to
the mouth of the Lomond River. Fantasy Island is a natural island located
out toward the middle of the inland waters at the boundary between the
inner and outer segments of Lake Surprise. Eggs of herring gulls on
Treasure Island contained DDT and its metabolites (DDE and DDD), dieldrin,
mirex, and PCB.
Habitat Loss
Wildlife
Birds
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Concentrations of contaminants in the herring gull eggs of Treasure Island
would be expected to be high because the gulls living there may ingest
some of the fish living in the waters around the island of contaminated
sediments from the Lomond River. Detectable concentrations of PCB, DDE,
and mirex have also been found in herring gull eggs from Fantasy Island.
The eggs collected at Fantasy Island have concentrations of contaminants
about twice as high as concentrations measured at 85 percent of the
herring gull colonies in the Great Lakes.
Fifty percent of eggs of common terns nesting on Treasure Island have
levels of DDE, dieldrin, PCBs, mercury, and selenium above detection limits.
Other birds nesting on Treasure Island include black-crowned night herons
(250 nests). Concentrations of PCBs in diving ducks overwintering in Lake
Surprise are not expected to be as high as concentrations in diving ducks
of the Spey River because exposure to contaminants is lower for ducks in
Lake Surprise. One experiment determined that ducks stopping over at
Treasure Island increased their body burdens of PCBs and DDE by over an
order of magnitude during a 3-month stay.
Organic residues of the type found in bird eggs around Lake Surprise have
been linked to chick-edema syndrome and egg-shell thinning. Lake Surprise
gull reproduction, however, appears to be normal. Common terns are more
sensitive than gulls to environmental contaminants and tend to develop
congenital anomalies such as axial skeletal abnormalities and crossed bills.
Hatching success for tern eggs collected from Treasure Island was
significantly lower than that of other locations tested.
Mink and otter populations are severely depressed in the counties bordering
the bay. To some extent the declines in population may be explained by
habitat loss due to urbanization of the watershed. Some suggest, however,
that the absence of mink and otter may be linked to toxic contamination of
the watershed's rivers, streams, and bays. Mink are very sensitive to the
effects of PCBs, with fetotoxicity occurring at dietary concentrations below
5 mg/kg and reproductive failure at 2 mg/kg.
Beach closings have occurred at two adjacent beaches on the Spey River
because of elevated levels of bacteria. Both beaches were posted as
unsafe for swimming due to frequent exceedances of Dundee's standard
for fecal coliform bacteria. The only beach located on the Lomond River is
downstream from a livestock processing plant and is subject to periodic
closings. Plans for a new beach at Lake Surprise Park were canceled
because of high fecal coliform levels along the shore.
Mammals
Beach Closings
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Although there have been no additional beach closings, total body contact
activities are periodically restricted because of elevated bacterial levels.
Navigation Impediments
(shoaling/sedimentation)
As discussed earlier, several of the waterways necessary to maintain the
shipping industry are in need of dredging. Large volumes of sediment are
deposited in the ports and at the mouths of the rivers every year. Because
of the high levels of contaminants in the sediment, dredging of these areas
has been deterred by lack of disposal sites for the dredged material.
Suitable spoil disposal sites will be needed to maintain the navigable
waterways of the GIA.
Institutional Issues
Consistency Among
Federal, State, and Local
Government Programs,
Regulations,and Goals
Water quality standards, including designated uses, water quality criteria
(both numeric and narrative), and antidegradation policies to maintain
present water quality levels and uses exist for each state. Both states have
end-of-pipe criteria for dissolved oxygen, temperature, pH, phenols, odor,
synthetic detergents, radioactivity, fecal coliform, total dissolved solids, and
turbidity. Criteria for discharges to the rivers and their tributaries are
equivalent to those for discharges to the lake. Both states have developed
waste load allocations (WLAs) for conventional pollutants. In addition,
Dundee has developed criteria for toxic discharges and has developed WLAs
for toxic pollutants for the Spey River and the Dundee side of the Lomond
River. Shetland has not developed standards or WLAs for toxics for the
Lomond River. The WLAs for the Lomond River have been overallocated by
the State of Dundee, with the sum of wasteloads allocated exceeding the
river's assimilative capacity. This point is disputed by the two states since
they have not worked together to calculate the river's total maximum daily
load (TMDL) and Shetland has not developed any WLAs for the river.
As discussed earlier, there are three Superfund sites in the area.
Remediation of the sites is administered by EPA Region 12 in Dundee and
by the Department of the Environment in Shetland. Shetland does not
administer a Supplemental Environmental Projects (SEP) program in the
state; all offenders are required to remediate the site and pay a fine. Often,
the fine levied by the state is not sufficient to cover the cost of additional
damages caused by the contaminated sites that may not be part of the
remediation process.
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At the local level, municipal and county governments are responsible for
establishing land uses within the watersheds. Because of the economic
importance of industrial development in the Lake Surprise GIA, local
governments have made a concerted effort to attract industry to the area.
This has not always been done in concert with the environmental goals and
plans of the state and federal agencies. While industrial development is an
important component of growth, it may be better targeted to one area than
another, from an environmental point of view.
Public Perception in
Addressing
Environmental Concerns
Many state and federal regulations address current pollution impacts based
on the best available information regarding environmental and ecological
risks. However, perceived risks related to various permitting actions versus
actual risks are not always based on sound technical information. Because
of this, some of the local public participation groups involved in the GIA
have historically acted as "watchdogs" and question most state and federal
permitting decisions. Significant state and federal resources are often
expended to address the inquiries. For example, when the Dundee Solid
Waste Incinerator was proposed, local civic organizations were not satisfied
with the best available technology being installed in the facility for
controlling air emissions. They believed that the emissions, especially
sulphur compounds and dioxin, would still be at harmful levels, and they
sued the city, the state, and EPA to block the action. In addition, the local
groups felt that the issue of fly ash disposal had not been adequately
addressed. This conflict resulted in 2 years of litigation.
Economic/Demographic
Considerations
The economic base of the area is focused on industrial activities, including
manufacturing and shipping. More than two-thirds of the population within
the Spey River watershed and one-half the population in the Lomond River
watershed depend on these industries for employment. More than half of
the tax base in the GIA is generated from industrial and urban activities.
Elimination of any portion of these activities would potentially create
significant financial hardship in the area. Very often, small businesses are
faced with the cost of meeting environmental regulations, which may
exceed the normal costs of doing business and make a venture
economically infeasible. Larger industries calculate the cost of
environmental fines into their cost of doing business, which allows them to
continue to pollute with little, if any, hardship.
Another major focus of the local economy in the GIA is shipping. Because
of the two ports in the area, the industries have come to rely on water-
borne shipping as the primary means for moving goods to and from the
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region. To maintain the shipping industry, the waterways need to be
maintained. Dredging of the rivers and ports is crucial but has been
impeded because of a lack of alternatives for the disposal of contaminated
dredge spoil.
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DIRECTIVES FOR
CASE STUDY
Work group members are to consider the information presented in this
hypothetical case study in conjunction with the information presented in the
Program Handbook. The case study has been designed to help workshop
participants understand how to use the "tools" presented in the handbook.
Issues and opportunities are presented for the work groups to discuss. The
case study will be evaluated in four stages:
(1) Problem characterization
(2) Remediation and restoration
(3) Protection options
(4) Strategy development for a multimedia geographic initiative
Each group will work through these stages to develop short- and long-term
remediation and management options for the study area.
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