Great
Lakes
National
Program
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Great Lakes National Program Office
Significant Activities Report
On the Web at:
www.epa.gov/glnpo
June 2002
IN THIS ISSUE:
• Mid-Point in Toxics Initiative
• First Investigation of
Lake Erie Dead Zone
• White Lake Cleanup Advances
• Grants Aid Wetlands
• Ships Get Clean Bills of Health
• Mudpuppy Probes Cuyahoga
• Great Lakes Scientists Speak
• Marsh on Mend
• Great Lakes Watershed CD
Mid-Point in Toxics Initiative
USEPA and Environment Canada held a 5-
Year Great Lakes Binational Toxics Strat-
egy Anniversary Stakeholder Forum and
Dinner on May 29th in Windsor, Canada.
Presentations at the Stakeholder Forum in-
cluded a retrospective of Substance Work-
group accomplishments and progress to-
ward the goals of the Strategy. In 1997, the
U.S. and Canada signed the Strategy which
commits to virtually eliminate the most
troublesome persistent toxic substances en-
Gary Gulezian
USEPA
Danny Epstein
Environment Canada
Great Lakes Binational Toxics Strategy Display
Great Lakes Binational Toxics Strategy Co-Chairs
Address Stakeholder Forum
tering the Great Lakes basin. These include
chlordane, DDT, PCBs, mercury and diox-
ins as well as other toxic substances. These
substances may have widespread, long-term
adverse effects on fish and wildlife in the
Great Lakes ecosystem.
Most of the challenge goals under the Strat-
egy are expected to be met by 2006. Some
examples of progress to date include the fol-
lowing: air emissions of mercury in the U.S.
have declined by more than 40 percent be-
tween 1990 and 2001, at least 30 percent of
PCB-containing transformers in use in 1994
have been safely disposed of, and, because
of stronger pollution controls, there has
been a 70 percent reduction in dioxin emis-
sions since 1987.
A "mini" State of the Lakes Ecosystem was
presented by USEPA and Environment
Canada on the Strategy's "Level 1" sub-
stances concentrations in air, sediments,
gull eggs and trout as well as air deposition
trends in the Great Lakes Basin. Most of the
trends in the environment show continued
reductions in toxics concentrations, or in
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June 2002
Significant Activities Report
some cases such as pesticides, a leveling off
in concentrations.
Following the Stakeholder Forum, Environ-
ment Canada hosted a dinner for approxi-
mately 100 stakeholders to thank them for
being partners with the United States and
Canada in working toward the Strategy
challenge goals. Keynote speakers included
International Joint Commission Co-Chairs
Herb Grey of Canada and Dennis Schor-
nack of the United
States. John Mills,
H fvlHMHfl Regional Director
*tfl Wki^C * General of Envi-
ronment Canada's
"|." Ontario Region
hosted the dinner
j and spoke on be-
J half of Canada,
while David Ull-
rich, Deputy Re-
gional Administra-
tor for USEPA Re-
gion 5 spoke on be-
half of the United
States.
John Mills
Regional Director General
Ontario Region
Environment Canada
Welcomes Stakeholder
Dinner Participants
The 2001 Great Lakes Binational Toxics
Strategy Annual Progress Report was dis-
tributed at the Stakeholder Forum. Ap-
proximately 150 copies of the report were
distributed, along with 180 CDs containing
the 2000 and 2001 Strategy Annual Pro-
gress Reports and related information.
For more information about the Great Lake
Binational Toxics Strategy or to obtain cop-
ies of the Report and CD, contact Ted
Smith, 312-353-6571, smith.edwin@epa.
gov; or E.Marie Phillips, 312-886-6034,
phillips.emarie@epa.gov.
First Investigation of
Lake Erie Dead Zone
On June 17th, scientists aboard the Great
Lakes National Program Office's 180-foot
research vessel, the R/VLake Guardian, be-
gan an investigation of the increasing Lake
Erie Dead Zone. This investigation, initi-
ated and funded by GLNPO, will determine
the causes of recent changes in Lake Erie.
Scientists from Case Western Reserve Uni-
versity, Pennsylvania State University and
the U.S. Geological Survey began work on
the project, departing from Cleveland, Ohio.
Scientists collected samples and conducted
experiments in Lake Erie's Central Basin,
which has experienced the largest changes
in the last several years.
Scientists Collect Water Samples Aboard
USEPA's Research Vessel, R/V Lake Guardian
In recent years, the "dead zone" in the Cen-
tral Basin has expanded in size: this is an
area where very little oxygen remains by
late summer. This, plus an increase in phos-
phorus, without an increase in algae, is a
puzzle to scientists dealing with Lake Erie.
(See related stories in March 2002 and May
2002 Significant Activities Reports).
(Contact: Glenn Warren, 312-886-2405,
warren.glenn@epa.gov; David Rockwell,
312-353-1373, rockwell.david@epa.gov)
White Lake Cleanup Advances
Williams Environmental Services was
awarded the contract by the Michigan De-
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Significant Activities Report
June 2002
USEPA's R/V Mudpuppy Sampled White Lake
in 1994 and 1996 to Determine
Extent of Sediment Contamination
partment of Environmental Quality
(MDEQ) to conduct the sediment cleanup
project in the Tannery Bay portion of White
Lake in Michigan. The site is located adja-
cent to an abandoned tannery and is heavily
contaminated with chromium, arsenic and
mercury. About 75,000 cubic yards of sedi-
ment are slated for removal. A public meet-
ing was held on June 19th in Whitehall,
Michigan to answer questions on the project
and to address the public's concerns. Site
preparation is scheduled to begin in late
June and dredging should begin in mid-July.
The total cost of the project is expected to
be approximately $5 million, with the costs
shared between Genesco, GLNPO, and
Michigan's Clean Michigan Initiative funds.
GLNPO awarded a grant to MDEQ for
$500,000 in 1998 to help jump-start reme-
dial activities at the site. (Contact: Marc
Tuchman, 312-353-1369, tuchman.
marc@epa.gov)
Grants Aid Wetlands
The Great Lakes National Program Office is
analyzing 106 final grant reports from eco-
logical protection and restoration projects
funded by GLNPO and completed between
1992 and 2001. As part of the analysis, pro-
jects are being analyzed for environmental,
stewardship, and economic results. The fol-
lowing is the analysis of funding for wet-
land projects from the report, "Mining Ideas
II," which is expected to be completed
shortly.
Sixteen projects out of 106 (15.1%) that
were awarded and completed between 1992
and 2001 protected or began to restore more
than 1,700 acres of wetlands. The total
amount GLNPO awarded for the 16 projects
was $1,438,335. The GLNPO funding lev-
eraged another $4,060,959. Of the lever-
aged dollars, $3,400,000 were leveraged for
one project, the Metzger Marsh National
Wildlife Refuge on Lake Erie (also see re-
lated story in this issue). Of the grant and
leveraged dollars, $624,702 went back into
the community as contract dollars and
$163,285 went for personnel costs.
Metzger Marsh Following Restoration
USEPA has limited regulatory responsibil-
ity for the nation's wetlands — the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers has primary re-
sponsibility. Nevertheless, the importance
of wetlands for water quality, as well as fish
and wildlife habitat, is well understood. For
this reason and because of the great loss of
wetlands, ranging from 60 to 90% across
the Great Lakes States, GLNPO has put em-
phasis on funding wetland protection and
U.S. EPA Great Lakes National Program Office
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June 2002
Significant Activities Report
restoration projects.
A comprehensive ecological assessment of
all natural quality coastal marshes of sig-
nificant size in the U.S. portion of the Great
Lakes was completed. The benefits of pro-
tection and restoration of more than 1,700
wetland acres include an increase in rare
flora and fauna habitats, the establishment
of a biological corridor between a refuge
and a state park, and mitigation of agricul-
tural runoff. A detailed inventory, assess-
ment and evaluation of the types and func-
tional values of coastal wetlands, altered
wetlands, and other critical areas in approxi-
mately one million acres of Wisconsin's
Lake Superior basin was conducted. Wet-
lands in the Bad River/Kakagon Watershed
of Wisconsin were inventoried, assessed
and stressors identified. Information about
wetlands and management activities was
shared with the public and this led to greater
participation in project activities. Wetland
monitoring provided information for several
projects. Project activities included educa-
tion and outreach.
Wild Rice Growing in Kakagon Slough, Wisconsin
As a result of the projects as well as reports
from the State of the Great Lakes Ecosys-
tem Conferences, GLNPO came to the con-
clusion that no unified monitoring and re-
porting system of the quantity and quality of
Great Lakes coastal wetlands existed. To
Wetland with Sedges
help remedy the situation, in Fiscal Years
2000 and 2001, GLNPO awarded $400,000
in a cooperative agreement to the Great
Lakes Commission to pull together a con-
sortium of scientists and natural resources
managers to develop a practical long-term
monitoring program. That work is under-
way and is expected to yield a monitoring
program and a model for cooperation that
could be used for inland wetlands or other
ecosystem types. (Contact: Karen Rodri-
guez, 312-353-2690, rodriguez.karen@epa.
gov; MikeMakdisi, 312312-353-1389,
makdisi.mike@epa.gov)
Ships Get Clean Bills of Health
At the end of May, a USEPA Headquarters
health and safety audit team inspected the
GLNPO research vessels, the R/VLake
Guardian and the R/VMudpuppy. The audi-
tors examined all parts of the vessels and all
their safety systems (e.g. alarms, fire extin-
guishing). They reviewed documentation on
the vessels' health and safety planning and
records, and addressed the operating condi-
tions aboard the vessels. The auditors
passed both vessels with flying colors, con-
cluding "no findings" regarding health and
safety risks. The auditors concluded that
GLNPO obviously "takes safety seri-
ously." (Contact: Paul Horvatin, 312-353-
3612, horvatin.paul@epa.gov)
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June 2002
Mudpuppy Probes Cuyahoga
During the week of May 13th, the R/VMud-
puppy collected samples on the Old River
Channel of the Cuyahoga River in Ohio.
The work was carried out as part of a grant
given to the Ohio Environmental Protection
Agency to perform a baseline assessment of
this area. Limited sampling has been per-
formed in the Old River Channel, outside of
the navigation channel, and sediment cores
have never been collected to show the his-
torical sediment deposition. A total of eight
sediment cores and approximately 25 ponar
surface samples were collected and will be
analyzed for a variety of contaminants, in-
cluding PCBs, heavy metals, PAHs, and
pesticides. This is the first time the Mud-
puppy has visited the Cuyahoga River Area
GLNPO Scientists Collect Sediment Core Sample
Aboard R/VMudpuppy
of Concern. (Contact: Demaree Collier,
312-886-0214, collier.demaree@epa.gov)
Great Lakes Scientists Speak
GLNPO's Scott Cieniawski
presented a paper on the his-
tory and performance of Con-
fined Disposal Facilities in the
Great Lakes at "Dredging '02 -
Third Specialty Conference on
Dredging and Dredge Material
Disposal" in Orlando, Florida.
The conference, held May 5th
to 8th, was hosted by the
American Society of Civil En-
gineers. (Contact: Scott Cieniawski, 312-
353-9184, cieniawski.scott@epa.gov).
Meanwhile, further north, in Winnipeg,
Manitoba, several GLNPO scientists partici-
pated in the annual International Associa-
tion for Great Lakes Research (IAGLR)
conference from June 2nd to 6th. David
Rockwell presented a talk on long-term
(1983-2000) data from the Great Lakes Na-
tional Program Office's annual water quality
monitoring program, including the recent
increases in total phosphorus in Lake Erie.
Dr. Marc Tuchman presented a talk on the
decline in populations ofDiporeia, a bot-
tom-dwelling organism that is a key part of
the food-chain for several Great Lakes fish
species. Dr. Tuchman also co-authored a
talk given by Rick Barbiero on temporal
changes in diatom communities in Lake
Michigan. Other scientists attending the
conference were very supportive of
GLNPO's monitoring program and it's ef-
forts to share its data with the scientific
community and the public. Melissa Hulting
chaired an informative session on Atmos-
pheric Transport, Fate, and Deposition. In a
lively session on Emerging Contaminants,
Melissa Hulting and Ted Smith encouraged
presenters to include available health effects
U.S. EPA Great Lakes National Program Office
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Significant Activities Report
information when presenting ambient envi-
ronmental data and to also provide data on
other "new" contaminants to policymakers
early on to keep them informed of develop-
ing trends.
A paper co-authored by GLNPO's Dr. Paul
Bertram was awarded the prestigious Chan-
dler-Misener Award at the conference. The
Chandler-Misener Award is presented annu-
ally to the author(s) of the peer-reviewed
paper in the current volume of the Journal
of Great Lakes Research judged to be "most
notable." The paper receiving this year's
award was "Chemistry of the Offshore Sur-
face Waters of Lake Erie: Pre- and Post-
Dreissena Introduction (1983-1993)" by Jo-
seph C. Makarewicz, Paul Bertram, and
Theodore W. Lewis. It appeared in the
Journal of Great Lakes Research, Volume
26, number 1, pages 82 to 93.
(Contact: Dave Rockwell, 312-353-1373,
rockwell.david@epa.gov; Marc Tuchman
312-353-1369, tuchman.marc@epa.gov;
Ted Smith, 312-353-6571, smith.
edwin@epa.gov; Melissa Hulting, 312-886-
2265, hulting.melissa@epa.gov; Paul Ber-
tram, 312-353-0153, bertram.paul@epa.
gov)
Marsh on Mend
GLNPO's Duane Heaton recently visited the
Metzger Marsh at Ottawa National Wildlife
Refuge near Toledo, Ohio. The marsh was
originally protected by a barrier beach that
eroded away due to hardening of the shore-
line. In 1994, a dike was installed to protect
the marsh from Lake Erie's waves. During
dewatering of the marsh to promote restora-
tion, about 6,000 native mussels of twenty-
one species were temporarily removed, and
a water-control structure was installed to re-
store the hydrologic connection with Lake
Erie. Native mussels have virtually disap-
peared from Lake Erie due to the invasion
Dike System at Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge
(U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Photo)
of zebra mussels. The presence of native
mussels in Metzger Marsh offers hope that
such marshes may serve as refuges for na-
tive mussel populations. The mussels were
marked and measured before being returned
to the marsh, and annual monitoring has in-
dicated a high growth rate. They are also
reproducing, based on the presence of
young mussels. Larval forms of the mussels
require a period of attachment to the gills of
fish, although this has not been observed to
date.
Fish coming into and going out of the marsh
are caught in fish baskets, and length and
species are recorded. On the morning of his
visit, Duane observed white bass, bowfin,
black crappie, quillback, bigmouth buffalo,
gizzard shad, white perch, emerald shiner,
spottail shiner, golden shiner, round goby,
and a water snake in the baskets. The work
is funded through an interagency agreement
between GLNPO and the U.S. Geological
Survey - Biological Resources Division.
(Contact: Duane Heaton, 312-886-6399,
heaton.duane@epa.gov)
Great Lakes Watershed CD
GLNPO published a "Great Lakes Water-
shed" CDROM. The CD includes the Great
Lakes Atlas, Facts about the Great Lakes
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U.S. EPA Great Lakes National Program Office
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June 2002
watershed, Images of the Great Lakes photo
collection, and the Great Lakes Past and Fu-
ture. The CD was originally produced as a
handout for the American Meteorological
Society's 31st Annual Conference on Broad-
cast Meteorology in Williamsburg, Virginia
this month. The CD has proven very popu-
lar: half of the initial run of 1,000 copies
were distributed within the first two weeks.
The Great Lakes Watershed CD
To obtain a copy, please contact Larry Brail
at 312-886-7474, brail.lawrence@epa.gov;
or Contact: Tony Kizlauskas, 312-353-
8773, kizlauskas.anthony@epa.gov.
U.S. EPA Great Lakes National Program Office
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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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