Great
Lakes
National
Program
On the Web at:
www.epa.gov/glnpo
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Great Lakes National Program Office
Significant Activities Report
July 2002
IN THIS ISSUE:
• Lake Erie Checkup Continues
• Detroit River PCB Contamination Sub-
ject of Workshop
• 2001 Sediment Remediation Statistics
• Mudpuppy Probes Sediments
• Plant Invader Controls Tested
• Invasive Species Issue Gets High-Level
Attention
• St. Joseph Watershed Conference
• GLNPO Tests Remote Meetings Tech-
nology
Lake Erie Checkup Continues
The U.S. and Canadian special study of
Lake Erie, the "Lake Erie Supplemental
Study of Trophic Status" continued with a
five-day scientific cruise of the lake. The
180-foot USEPA research ship, the R/V
Lake Guardian departed Cleveland, Ohio
on July 17th with a full complement of sci-
entists aboard. In addition to scientists from
EPA Scientist Prepares Rosette Water Sampler for
Deployment from R/V Lake Guardian
the USEPA's Great Lakes National Program
Office, teams of scientists from Case West-
ern Reserve University, Michigan State
University, Ohio State University, Penn
State University, University of Waterloo,
and the U.S. Geological Survey also partici-
pated. They measured biological and
chemical processes which will begin to give
us an understanding of the changes happen-
ing in Lake Erie, particularly its central ba-
sin. USEPA scientists also measured dis-
solved oxygen concentrations in the lake,
and observed what they believe is the begin-
ning of loss of oxygen from portions of the
central basin. The cruise ended in Cleveland
on July 21st.
Some of the experiments that were con-
ducted during the cruise included:
• Measuring phytoplankton production
and respiration in the epilimnion (upper
layer of warmer, less dense water),
hypolimnion (lower layer of colder,
more dense water) and thermocline (the
boundary between the epilimnion and
hypolimnion) using incubation cham-
bers suspended in the water.
• Measuring production in incubators
aboard ship.
Two fairly unique instruments were used
during the cruise:
• The Self-Contained Autonomous Micro-
Profiler or SCAMP, which looks at mi-
cro temperature and dissolved oxygen
profiles to determine mixing of
hypolimnion and thermocline water, and
• A multiple sensor in situ fluorometer to
look at the composition of the phyto-
plankton based on their pigments
(colors).
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July 2002
Significant Activities Report
The sun sets on another long day of sampling
aboard the R/V Lake Guardian
Samples were also taken to be used in
measuring sediment oxygen demand back in
the U.S. Geological Survey laboratory in
Ann Arbor.
Two more scientific cruises will take place
aboard the Lake Guardian this year. The
next cruise is scheduled for mid-August.
(Contact: Glenn Warren, 312-886-2405,
warren.glenn@epa.gov)
For more information about the Great Lakes
National Program Office's monitoring pro-
gram, visit: http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/
monitor.html.
For more information about the R/V Lake
Guardian, visit: http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/
guard/ship.html.
Detroit River PCB Contamination
Subject of Workshop
On June 18th and 19th in Windsor, a work-
shop was convened entitled "Evaluating
Ecosystem Results of PCB Control Meas-
ures Within the Detroit River-Western Lake
Erie Basin." The goal of the workshop was
to assess recent trends in PCB loads and as-
sociated ecosystem changes within the De-
troit River system, and to develop recom-
mendations for future monitoring, research,
modeling and management. On June 18th, a
series of presentations were made on the
various research, monitoring and remedial
activities that have taken place in the system
over the past few years. On June 19th, three
breakout sessions were convened focusing
on: research and modeling; sediment man-
agement; and monitoring. One of the more
interesting observations noted is that PCB
concentrations in biota while declining
through the mid 1990's seem to have leveled
off since then. It also appears that the Tren-
ton Channel area is still the most contami-
nated zone in the Detroit River system. Ad-
ditionally, more work needs to be done
looking at disposal options for contaminated
sediments. Proceedings and recommenda-
tions from the workshop should be available
in a report by later this fall. This workshop
was convened by Wayne State University
through a grant awarded by GLNPO in
2001. EPA personnel who participated in-
cluded: Laura Lodisio; Rose Ellison; De-
maree Collier and Marc Tuchman. (Contact:
Marc Tuchman, 312-353-1369, tuchman.
marc@epa.gov)
Detroit River Looking Upstream
(Grosse lie is the island in the middle of the river.
The Trenton Channel is on the left side of the island.)
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U.S. EPA Great Lakes National Program Office
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Significant Activities Report
July 2002
2001 Sediment Remediation Statistics
Over 400,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediments were remediated in the Great Lakes
during 2001. Of this, 393,000 cubic yards were remediated at five U.S. sites, and 14,400 cu-
bic yards at a site in Canada.
Great Lakes Sediment Remediations in 2001
• Action taken in 2001
• Sites remediated or natural
recovery decided
Sites where some remediation
has occurred
• Sites awaiting remediation
decision
m.500 cv
1. HARP-OU1 - Source Abatement
6.000 cy
11.800 cy
(935 kilograms
PCBs)
2. Fields Brook Superfimd Site
42.000 cv
11,000 cy
4. Saginaw River & Bay
,205.000 cy
5. Pine River
(50JOO pounds
DDT)
120.000 cy
1-10.000 cy
2 JO .000 cy
(Plusel ami Phase 2)
6. Thunder Bay-
Noithern Wood Preservers
28'000cm
3. Reynolds Metals/Alcoa East
4JOOcy
11.000 cm
Sl.'OOcy
(20.000 pounds PCBs)
I I Volume remediated in 2001
| | Volume remediated prior to 2001
^| Volume capped
^| Volume undergoing natural
^^ recoveiy
^1 Volume awaiting remediation
Full details about sediment remediation projects carried out in 2001, as well as in other years
can be found at: http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/glindicators/sediments/remediateb.html (Contact:
Demaree Collier, 312-886-0214, collier.demaree@epa.gov)
Mudpuppy Probes Sediments
The USEPA Great Lakes National Program
Office's specially-outfitted sediment sam-
pling boat, the R/VMudpuppy was once
again busy sampling sediments around the
Great Lakes.
From June 2n to 6 the R/V Mudpuppy was
in Duluth, Minnesota helping the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers in collect sedi-
ment core samples in Duluth/Superior Har-
bor, Minnesota/Wisconsin. The Corps was
collecting sediment data to determine the
quality of the sediments they plan to dredge
to support navigation in the harbors. A total
of 28 stations were sampled during the four-
day effort. Of the stations sampled, sedi-
ment cores (vertical sections of mud) were
collected at 19 locations and surface sam-
ples of sediment were collected at nine loca-
tions using a Ponar grab sampler.
U.S. EPA Great Lakes National Program Office
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July 2002
Significant Activities Report
Later in the month, the Mudpuppy traveled to
Milwaukee to help the Corps sample the navi-
gation channel in the Milwaukee River and
Harbor. From June 24th to 26th, the Mudpuppy
sampled a total of 20 stations. Sediment core
samples were collected at 14 locations, while
surface samples of the sediments were col-
lected at the remaining six stations. The sam-
pling was part of the Corps' routine sampling
to support its navigational dredging responsi-
bilities. The Corps usually samples the Mil-
waukee River and Harbor about every five
years.
The analyses of the core and surface sediment
samples from both Duluth/Superior Harbor and
Milwaukee River and Harbor will be shared
with GLNPO to increase our understanding of
sediment contamination in these Areas of Concern. (Contact: Scott Cieniawski, 312-353-
9184, cieniawski.scott@epa.gov).
Plant Invader Controls Tested
On June 14th, GLNPO's Mike Makdisi, Mike Russ, and Duane Heaton visited Indian Ridge
Marsh in Chicago's Calumet area (south of the city, near the Indiana border). Work being
conducted at the site is funded by a GLNPO grant to the Chicago Department of Environ-
ment. With technical assistance from the Illinois Natural History Survey, the City is compar-
ing methods of controlling purple loosestrife, an invasive species of many wetlands. A num-
ber of plots have been established to test alternative treatment methods including manual re-
moval, herbicide treatment, and biological control with loosestrife-eating beetles. Prior to in-
Milwaukee River and Harbor
Purple loosestrife taking over a wetland.
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U.S. EPA Great Lakes National Program Office
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Significant Activities Report
July 2002
troduction, the beetles had undergone exten-
sive study at Cornell University to be sure
the beetles would not themselves become an
invasive species. During the visit, the City
and the Illinois Natural History Survey con-
ducted their Spring monitoring of species
present in each plot, percent cover of each
species, height of the five tallest purple
loosestrife plants, abundance and impacts of
leaf-eating beetles. Similar measurements
were noted along a 10-meter transect from
one corner of each plot. The City is plan-
ning to build an Environmental Center in
the area, and the work will also form the ba-
sis for an education exhibit at the Center.
(Contact: DuaneHeaton, 312-886-6399,
heaton.duane@epa.gov)
Invasive Species Issue Gets High-
Level Attention
The Binational Executive Committee —
senior-level executives from U.S. and Cana-
dian Federal, State, and Provincial agencies
who oversee the implementation of the
Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement —
highlighted the issue of invasive species at
their meeting in Toronto, Canada on June
20th and 21st. To raise awareness and en-
courage agency involvement, speakers gave
overviews of several ongoing Great Lakes
invasive species initiatives:
• Commander Mike Gardener of the U.S.
Coast Guard and Steve Peck of the Ca-
nadian Coast Guard presented an over-
view of the existing Great Lakes ballast
water program.
• Allegra Cangelosi of the Northeast Mid-
west Institute gave an update on the
status of the reauthorization of the Non-
Indigenous Species Act.
• Mark Hovorka of Environment Canada's
Canadian Wildlife Service described
Canada's National Plan on Invasive
Alien Species.
• Tom Johengen from the National Oce-
anic and Atmospheric Administration
described research being conducted on
what invasive organisms may be carried
in ships which officially are considered
to have no ballast onboard.
• Hugh Maclssac of the University of
Windsor-Great Lakes Institute for Envi-
ronmental Research described new de-
velopments in invasive species.
A compendium of these presentations will
be available this Summer. (Contact: James
Schardt, 312-353-5085, schardt.james@epa.
gov)
St. Joseph Watershed Conference
The Lake Michigan LaMP and Forum in co-
operation with the Great Lakes Commis-
sion, Western Michigan University and
Friends of the St. Joe held a St. Joseph
River Watershed Conference June 10th and
11th at Century Center, South Bend, Indiana.
HEADTtRS dF ThE
SAIN! JOSEPH RIVER
Sign Marking Headwaters of St. Joseph River.
(Made by Dorla Null, donated to the Friends of the St.
Joe River Association, Inc.)
The 100 participants were drawn from both
the Indiana and Michigan portions of the
watershed. The conference was opened by
Al Smith, President of the Friends of the St.
Joe River Association and Lori Kaplan,
Commissioner of the Indiana Department of
U.S. EPA Great Lakes National Program Office
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Significant Activities Report
Lake Michigan LaMP
graphic
ment Plan (LaMP).
Environmental Man-
agement. Presenta-
tions were given on
the region's unique
geology, the modeling
results of the Lake
Michigan Mass Bal-
ance models, ground-
water/surface water
interaction, and the
Lake Michigan
Lakewide Manage-
The conference provided the opportunity for
announcement of a Sediment Transport and
Watershed Modeling project in the basin
planned by the US Army Corps of Engi-
neers, a Clean Water Act Section 319 wa-
tershed planning project to develop an ap-
provable watershed management plan for
the St. Joseph basin uniting interest and data
from both Indiana and Michigan. The din-
ner keynote speaker was David Dempsey,
Policy Advisor for the Michigan Environ-
mental Council and author of "Ruin and Re-
covery, Michigan's Rise as a Conservation
Leader."
This conference launched the Lake Michi-
gan Watershed Academy, a project of the
Lake Michigan LaMP 2002. (Contact: Judy
Beck, 312-353-3849, beck.judy@epa.gov)
For more information on the Lake Michigan
LaMP and the 2002 LaMP Update, visit:
http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/lakemich/index.
html.
GLNPO Tests Remote Meetings
Technology
Use of Raindance web conferencing service
in the Great Lakes program began in June
and increased in July. Web conferencing al-
lows "content-rich" meetings to take place
without travel. Users can participate in
meetings from anywhere using only their
computers' connection to the Internet and a
telephone. Participants join into various
web conferencing events by visiting a web
site, http://glnpo.raindance.com and select-
ing a conference ID given them by the indi-
vidual that initiated the conference. Ten
conference moderators from USEPA and
Environment Canada have been trained to
host conferences. Participants require no
training,
since the
Raindance
web con-
ferencing
product is
character-
ized by its
ease of
use.
GLNPO
intends to Web conference underway
use this technology to support binational
projects in which USEPA and Environment
Canada participate, including the State of
the Lakes Ecosystem Conference, the Great
Lakes Binational Toxics Strategy, the bina-
tional. net web site, and others. A total often
"seats" have been acquired that allow ten
simultaneous users to participate in one
conference or several smaller conferences.
Use of the system in conference rooms ex-
pands the number of participants that can
join into such a meeting. (Contact: Pranas
Pranckevicius, 312-353-3437, prancke-
vicius.pranas@epa.gov)
We welcome your questions, comments or
suggestions about this month's Significant
Activities Report. To be added to or re-
moved from the Email distribution of the
Significant Activities Report, please contact
Tony Kizlauskas, 312-353-8773,
kizlauskas.anthony@epa.gov.
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U.S. EPA Great Lakes National Program Office
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