On the Web at:
www.epa.gov/glnpo
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Great Lakes National Program Office
Sign if Scant Activities Report
September- October2002
IN THIS ISSUE:
• R/VLake Guardian Back Home
• Zapping Toxics
• For the Birds
• New Sediment Publications
• Playing in the Mud
• Reeling in Asian Carp
• Floating Classroom
• Lessons Shared with World
• Are the Fish Safe to Eat?
• Springfield Township Wins Awards
R/VLake Guardian Back Home
GLNPO's 180-foot research vessel, the R/V
Lake Guardian, concluded a very busy year
of research and monitoring on the Great
Lakes. In addition to its routine annual
monitoring program on the Great Lakes, the
Guardian conducted special studies on Lake
Michigan, Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario.
USEPA's R/V Lake Guardian.
(Photo by Emil Groth, Michigan Technological U.
Sunset on the Great Lakes.
"The hours are long but the views are breathtaking."
On September 2nd, the crew of the Lake
Guardian completed the 2002 Summer
Survey of the Great Lakes. All five lakes
were sampled to assess the chemical, physi-
cal, and biological condition of the lakes. In
addition to this continuing work of looking
for long-term trends in the lakes, samples
were taken to assist in looking at the recent
history of polybrominated diphenyl ethers
(through sediment cores), and atmospheric
deposition.
The USEPA's Chief Scientist on the Sum-
mer Cruise observed
"While much of the work
during these surveys is rou-
tine, one's sense of steward-
ship of the lakes is constantly
renewed by their splendor
and immensity."
(Contact: Glenn Warren, 312-886- 2405,
warren.glenn@epa.gov)
On Southern Lake Michigan, from Septem-
ber 8th to 10th, the Lake Guardian conducted
a special survey to monitor the decline of
the benthic invertebrate Diporeia. This
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Diporeia
study was a continuation of a cooperative
effort of GLNPO and the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration's Great
Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory.
I Approximately
50 stations were
surveyed to col-
lect trend data
on the status of
this organism,
which is a very
important food
source for
| young fish in
Lake Michigan.
This is the fifth
year GLNPO and NOAA have combined
efforts to monitor for Diporeia. Results to
date have demonstrated that Diporeia has
disappeared from the southeastern corner of
the lake at depths shallower than 70 me-
ters — it does appear to be found at the
deeper depths. The cause of the decline of
Diporeia in the Great Lakes has not been
found, although it is thought that zebra mus-
sels may have a role. Results from this
year's survey should be available by next
Spring. Find out more about this important
indicator of the health of the benthic
(bottom) biological community on the Web
at: http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/glindicators/
biology/benthica.html. (Contact: Marc
Tuchman, 312-353-1369, tuchman.
marc@epa.gov)
The fourth Lake Erie Supplemental (Dead
Zone) Survey, in support of GLNPO funded
research into the anoxia problems in the
central basin was conducted from Septem-
ber 14th to September 20th. There were 22
researchers aboard the Lake Guardian for
this survey. As on previous surveys, a num-
ber of different measurements will be taken
and experiments performed. This survey
contains the sixth dissolved oxygen survey
of the bottom waters of the central basin of
Lake Erie. (Contact: Marvin Palmer, 312-
353-1367, palmer.marvin@epa.gov)
GLNPO Chief Scientist, Glenn Warren explains Lake
Erie "Dead Zone" Study to reporter.
A press event was held aboard the R/V
Lake Guardian in Cleveland, Ohio on Sep-
tember 20th after the Lake Erie Supplemen-
tal Survey. The event was held in response
to a number of requests from the press to
learn more about the special studies on Lake
Erie undertaken this Summer to investigate
changes in the Lake Erie ecosystem.
(Contact: Glenn Warren, 312-886-2405,
warren.glenn@epa.gov)
Later, on Lake Ontario, the Lake Guardian
conducted the Fall Lake Ontario Atmos-
pheric Deposition Study (LOADS) Sur-
vey. LOADS is an intensive multi-year air
toxic deposition monitoring project de-
signed to better understand the deposition of
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EPA Scientist checks LOADS air sampler.
mercury, PCBs, DDE, mirex, HCB, and di-
oxins/furans to Lake Ontario. The project's
objectives are to:
1. Estimate loadings of these pollutants for
use in the Lake Ontario Mass Balance
Model,
2. Assess any differences in concentrations
and deposition over land versus over
water,
3. Determine the effect of urban areas on
deposition to the Lake, and
4. Investigate the sources and source re-
gions of deposition to Lake Ontario.
The week-long Fall sampling cruise collect
ed ambient air, precipitation and lake water
samples in eastern and western Lake On-
tario from September 22nd to October 2nd.
Two new atmospheric samplers were in-
stalled aboard the Lake Guardian specially
for the cruise. LOADS is being managed by
USEPA Region 2 and Clarkson University,
with assistance from SUNY Oswego,
SUNY Fredonia, Environment Canada,
University of Michigan, USEPA Region 5
and the Great Lakes National Program Of-
fice.
For more information on LOADS, see the
April 2002 issue of the Significant Activi-
ties Report. (Contact: Barbara Belasco,
212-637-3848, belasco.barbara@epa.gov, or
Todd Nettesheim, 312-353-9153,
nettesheim.todd@epa.gov)
A press event was held aboard the Lake
Guardian at Oswego, New York on Sep-
tember 25th to give radio, television, and
press reporters a close-up look at the
LOADS study. Mike Basile and Erika Clark
of USEPA's Region 2 Office hosted the
press tour. Bob Kelly, the lead USEPA sci-
entist for the study, briefed the press on the
study's technical aspects, including sam-
pling equipment and methods.
Mike Basile, Erika Clark, and Bob Kelly
from EPA's Region 2 aboard the Lake Guardian at
LOADS press event off Oswego, New York.
The LOADS study is being funded through
grants from Region 2. Media representa-
tives were first provided a tour of the ship
and then were taken on a brief cruise on
Lake Ontario to demonstrate the various
equipment and techniques used for the
LOADS study. The event resulted in wide-
spread news coverage of LOADS. (Contact:
Barbara Belasco, 212-637-3848, belasco.
barbara@epa.gov)
On its trip to home port in Milwaukee, Wis-
consin, the Lake Guardian was hit by the
aftermath of Hurricane Lili, as it encoun-
tered gale-force sustained winds of 40 knots
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and wind gusts of up to 70 knots with 8 to
12-foot waves. The ship and its crew made
it safely to port on October 6th, completing
one of the busiest sampling years yet.
Zapping Toxics
On October 25th, a Visitor's Day was held
to introduce a new contaminated sediment
treatment technology in Duluth, Minnesota.
Congressman James Oberstar was among
those who attended the roll-out of the dem-
onstration of the Electro-Chemical Geo-
Oxidation (ECGOx) Sediment Treatment
Technology.
The approximately $550,000 sediment treat-
ment demonstration is a collaborative effort
between GLNPO, the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers (USAGE) Detroit District, the
Natural Resource Research Institute, the
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, and
Weiss Consulting. A portion of the Corps
of Engineers funding for this project came
through legislation sponsored by Congress-
man Oberstar for the USAGE to test alterna-
tive sediment treatment technologies.
GLNPO provided $250,000 to the USACE
During Visitor's Day at the ECGOx sediment treat-
ment demonstration in Duluth, Minnesota, Congress-
man Oberstar talks to Al Klein, U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers as Steve Hopkins, U.S. EPA looks on.
Technicians collect sediment core sample from
ECGOx treatment area for PAH analysis.
Note the ECGOx electrode (inside circled area).
to evaluate the performance of the technol-
ogy. This is the first U.S. test of the ECGOx
technology.
In this demonstration, ECGOx was used to
treat polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon
(PAH) contamination in approximately 700
cubic yards of sediments in the Erie Pier
Confined Disposal Facility. The material
had been dredged from Duluth Harbor.
(PAHs are a class of semi-volatile, organic
compounds that are known carcinogens.)
Preliminary results from a 30-day sample
are promising, and the demonstration is ex-
pected to continue until November 2002. If
the technology proves to be effective on the
PAH contamination, additional studies may
be performed to test the technology's ability
to also treat metals contamination in the
sediments.
ECGOx works by imposing a low amper-
age/low voltage coupled AC/DC field
across the sediments via electrodes, causing
reduction/oxidation reactions that destroy
certain non-chlorinated organic contami-
nants and make metals mobile. Organics are
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reduced to carbon dioxide and water, while
the metals that are mobilized plate out
(attach to) the electrodes.
Earlier tests on other projects with elec-
trokinetic remediation technologies using a
DC field alone were effective at destroying
phenols and removing other contaminants
including lead, chromium, cadmium, and
uranium. ECGOx uses a coupled AC/DC
field, which is claimed to be more effective.
This demonstration will test that claim.
ECGOx, has been used for years in Europe
with promising results, but this is the first
time it's been tried on a pilot-scale in the
United States. (Contact: Scott Cieniawski,
312-353-9184, cieniawski.scott@epa.gov).
Tannery Bay Cleanup Underway
The sediment cleanup of Tannery Bay in
White Lake, Michigan began in early Au-
gust. This site, located adjacent to an aban-
doned tannery, is heavily contaminated with
chromium, arsenic and mercury. About
75,000 cubic yards of sediment are slated
for removal. The cost of the project is ex-
pected to be approximately $5 million, with
the costs shared between Genesco, GLNPO
and Michigan Clean Michigan Initiative
funds. GLNPO awarded a half-million dol-
lar grant to the Michigan Department of En-
vironmental Quality to help jump-start the
cleanup. Dredging is expected to be com-
pleted by early December 2002, with some
wetland restoration work to be conducted
next Spring. (Contact: Marc Tuchman; 312-
353-1369, tuchman.marc@epa.gov).
For the Birds
Shoreline at Tannery Bay, White Lake, Michigan.
The warbler, "Northern Parula".
(Photo courtesy of C.S. Robbins, USGS.)
Scientists at the University of Wisconsin at
Green Bay recently completed a GLNPO-
funded project to map conservation priority
areas for breeding birds in the Western
Great Lakes Basin. This region is particu-
larly important for populations of neotropi-
cal migratory birds, including a number of
species that have experienced steady de-
clines during the past 20 years. Utilizing
data from thousands of point-centered bird
counts, along with data on land cover and
climate, predictive models were developed
for 82 species of birds. Maps were then gen-
erated to indicate places of high conserva-
tion priority. The resolution of these maps is
better than any maps available from breed-
ing bird atlases or the North American
Breeding Bird Survey, which do not take
into account habitat in different geographic
areas. "Hotspots" of bird conservation
emerge by combining maps of sensitive
species. An interactive, web-based applica-
tion makes this information available to lo-
cal governments, land trusts, private conser-
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vation organizations, state and federal agen-
cies, environmental consulting firms, scien-
tific researchers, and others who make deci-
sions that affect the quality of habitats for
breeding bird populations.
Additional information on the project is
available on the Web at: http://www.uwgb.
edu/birds/greatlakes/. (Duane Heaton, 312-
886-6399, heaton.duane@epa.gov)
New Sediment Publications
Several new sediment reports were pub-
lished recently.
An In Situ Laser-Induced Fluorescence
(LIF) System for Poly cyclic Aromatic Hy-
drocarbon-Contaminated Sediments de-
scribes the results of a field-scale demon-
stration of an innovative sediment assess-
ment technology that quantitatively meas-
ures polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in-
place. The method uses real-time laser-
induced fluorescence. This real-time meas-
urement method allows much faster and ef-
ficient sampling for PAHs compared to the
usual method of first collecting a sample of
sediment and then analyzing it in the labora-
tory. The report documents excellent results
of this system in quantifying the vertical
and horizontal extent of PAH contamination
at a site in the Milwaukee Area of Concern.
(Contact: Demaree Collier, 312-886-0214,
collier. demaree@epa. gov)
Screening Level Risk Assessment for the Ot-
tawa River, Ohio: Ecological and Human
Health summarizes the results of a screen-
ing-level risk assessment for the lower por-
tion (8.8 miles) of the Ottawa River, Ohio
(near Toledo). The assessment used all of
the existing data and some supplemental
data collected specially for this study. The
report evaluates the ecological and human
health risks posed by the contaminants in
Ottawa River biota, sediments, and water to
Wastewater discharge on Ottawa River, Ohio.
provide a basis for prioritizing areas for
remediation. (Contact: Demaree Collier,
312-886-0214, collier.demaree@epa.gov)
June 2000 Survey of Sediment Contamina-
tion on the Manitowoc River, Manitowoc,
Wisconsin documents the results of sedi-
ment chemistry and whole-sediment toxic-
ity testing conducted by GLNPO and the U.
S. Army Corps of Engineers in the lower
Manitowoc River near Manitowoc, Wiscon-
sin. Results indicate extremely elevated
concentrations of poly cyclic aromatic hy-
drocarbons (>4,000 ppm) and Oil & Grease
(>15,000 ppm) in an area of the river near a
former manufactured-gas plant. The report
has been provided to the Wisconsin Depart-
ment of Natural Resources and a consultant
working for the current owner of the prop-
erty who is planning further investigations
later this Fall. (Contact: Scott Cieniawski,
312-353-9184, cieniawski.scott@epa.gov).
Playing in the Mud
GLNPO's sediment team kept very busy as
Summer was coming to a close.
During the week of July 16th, scientists from
the University of Wisconsin and GLNPO
conducted a sediment sampling survey in
Deer Lake, Michigan. Deer Lake is an
Area of Concern located outside of Mar-
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quette, Michigan and is severely impacted
by mercury contamination. Aside from the
sediments, the fish are so heavily contami-
nated that a "no fish-consumption advisory"
is currently in effect for the entire lake. The
sampling work, supported by a GLNPO
grant, will assist the Michigan Department
of Environmental Quality in its attempt to
determine which sediments in the lake are
the major sources of methyl mercury pro-
duction. (Contact: Marc Tuchman; 312-
353-1369, tuchman.marc@epa.gov).
Later, on August 28th, GLNPO, in conjunc-
tion with USEPA Superfund's FIELDS
group and the U.S. Army Corps of Engi-
neers, conducted sediment sampling on the
Chicago River, Illinois using the FIELDS
sampling vessel. The sediment data was
collected to document current, baseline
sediment quality conditions within the Chi-
cago River. Sampling on the river origi-
nally took place in October 2000, but labo-
ratory errors resulted in the loss of data at
several sampling locations. During this re-
sampling survey, surficial samples were
collected at five stations on the Chicago
River. The samples will undergo chemical
analysis and whole sediment toxicity test-
ing. A summary of the results from the Oc-
tober 2000 and August 2002 surveys is ex-
pected to be available in November 2002.
(Contact: Scott Cieniawski, 312-353-9184,
cieniawski.scott@epa.gov).
From September 16th to 20th, scientists from
GLNPO and Michigan Department of Envi-
ronmental Quality (MDEQ) probed the
sediments of the canals near the Ten-Mile
Drain at St. Clair Shores on Lake St. Clair,
Michigan. Using GLNPO's specially-
outfitted sediment sampling boat, the R/V
Mudpuppy, the researchers took samples to
test for levels of poly chlorinated biphenyls
(PCBs). These canals are the location of a
$2 million Superfund emergency removal
action to remove PCB-contaminated sedi-
ments. The goal of the MDEQ study is to
determine the existence and levels of PCB
contamination outside of the removal area.
Scientists remove sediment core from vibracorer
sampler's tube onboard the R/V Mudpuppy.
Previous sampling in the canal outside the
removal area was conducted to a sediment
depth of only approximately 3 feet. Utiliz-
ing the vibracorer on the Mudpuppy, the
field team was able to collect several sedi-
ment cores over 8-feet in length. A total of
6 cores were collected in the canals. Addi-
tionally, two cores and four surficial ponar
samples were taken in Lake St. Clair near
the mouth of the canal to determine if any
significant amounts of PCB contamination
entered the lake. (Contact: Scott
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Cieniawski, 312-353-9184, cieniawski.
scott@epa.gov).
Then, on September 9th to 13th, scientists
from GLNPO, the U.S. Army Corps of En-
gineers (USAGE) and the Wisconsin De-
partment of Natural Resources (WDNR)
teamed up to investigate the extent of sedi-
ment contamination in a stretch of the
Kinnickinnic River located in the Milwau-
kee, Wisconsin Estuary, Wisconsin Area of
Concern. Sixteen locations were sampled
using a barge with a mounted drill rig that
collected samples via a split-spoon core
sampler. Sediment samples were collected
at two-foot intervals down to native (clean)
material. Sediments were analyzed for
polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), poly-
cyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), total
organic carbon (TOC), toxicity characteri-
zation leaching procedure (TCLP, a test to
determine "hazardous waste" under the Re-
source Conservation and Recovery Act),
and other physical and chemical properties.
The USACE, WDNR, and USEPA will util-
ize the data from this study to develop re-
medial alternatives and cost estimates for a
potential sediment cleanup project in the
river. Funding for the samplE collection and
analysis was provided by GLNPO.
(Demaree Collier, 312-886-0214, collier.
demaree@epa.gov).
Reeling in Asian Carp
Two species of Asian carp, the bighead and
silver, were imported by catfish farmers in
the 1970's to remove algae and suspended
matter out of the water column. During the
flood of 1993, many of the catfish farm
ponds overflowed their banks and got re-
leased into the local waterways in the Mis-
sissippi River basin. These carp directly
compete with native fish for food and can
grow to over 80 pounds. The fish are cur-
rently found in the Illinois River near Mor-
ris, Illinois, about 55 miles from Lake
Michigan. They seem to prefer temperature
ranges similar to those preferred by perch,
salmon and trout and appear to be well
suited to invade the Great Lakes. If the big
carp were to enter the Great Lakes, it is
feared they would wreak irreversible havoc
within the Great Lakes ecosystem. The one
mechanism in place to stop their movement
toward Lake Michigan is an experimental
electrical barrier currently in place in the
Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal near
Romeoville, Illinois.
Bighead carp.
(Photo from USDA Agricultural Research Service
Sci4Kids Web Site.)
On July 18th, GLNPO scientists participated
in a meeting of the Aquatic Nuisance Spe-
cies Dispersal Barrier Advisory Panel held
in Chicago, Illinois. The electrical dispersal
barrier on the Chicago Sanitary and Ship
Canal near Romeoville, Illinois was ener-
gized in April 2002 to help reduce the
spread of aquatic nuisance species between
the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River
systems. Among the topics discussed at the
meeting were the need for a back-up gen-
erator and a second barrier site with a sec-
ondary control zone between the barriers.
Bighead carp have been found as far north
as Morris, Illinois. Preliminary reports on
the response of bighead carp to a simulated
electrical barrier in a fish hatchery, with an
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electrical field much lower than the barrier
itself, showed that 99 percent were repelled.
Field monitoring of tagged fish will also
take place to track movements of individual
carp near the barrier. (Contact: Duane
Heaton, 312-886-6399, heaton.duane@epa.
gov; or James Schardt, 312-353-5085,
schardt.james@epa.gov)
On August 16th, Asian carp were the subject
of a focus group meeting hosted by the In-
ternational Joint Commission to discuss the
immediate actions that should be advocated
to ensure that Asian carp are kept from en-
tering the Great Lakes. (The Commission is
responsible for issues that come up in the
boundary waters between the U.S. and Can-
ada, including the Great Lakes.) Much of
the discussion focused on the need to aug-
ment the electrical barrier both with backup
power, and with a second barrier, possibly
incorporating an acoustic/bubble screen.
The cost of a second barrier is estimated at
approximately $7 million, (Contact: Marc
Tuchman; 312-353-1369, tuchman.
marc@epa.gov).
Floating Classroom
This Summer, GLNPO's research ship, the
R/VLake Guardian was turned into a float-
ing classroom. The ship hosted three
groups of students during June and July.
From June 23rd to 29th, classes were held
onboard the Lake Guardian on Lake Erie
with ports of call including Put-In Bay,
South Bass Island, and Cleveland.. Students
included ten graduate students and five high
school science teachers. Subjects taught by
GLNPO and Ohio State instructors included
the dynamics of the Lake Erie ecosystem,
including the interactions of water quality,
biology, and physical properties
(temperature, currents). The students were
also informed about current problems and
research on Lake Erie.
The next course was taught on Lake Supe-
rior from July 7th to 13th. Ports of call in-
cluded Houghton, Michigan; Isle Royale;
Duluth, Minnesota; the Apostle Islands; and
Washburn, Wisconsin. Instructors from
Michigan Technological University taught
sixteen middle school and high school
teachers about many facets of Lake Supe-
rior, including geology and shoreline ero-
sion, the importance of the atmosphere as a
source of chemical loadings to the lake, as
well as the many natural and archaeological
features of this great water body.
•!:!•»•::'
•i it ii ii it i if ii
a a a a a n n
R/V Lake Guardian arrives at Houghton, Michigan.
(Photo by Emil Groth, Michigan Technological U.)
The last course of the Summer was held
from July 26th to 30th on Lake Michigan.
GLNPO and Grand Valley State University
instructors taught 38 elementary school,
middle school, and high school teachers
about water quality monitoring techniques,
and the unique features of Lake Michigan.
This course also included some live video
imaging of a shipwreck from the early
1900's. Port of call on this course included
the Port of Indiana, Indiana; St. Joseph,
Michigan; and Chicago, Illinois.
Each of these courses included both class-
room instruction and hands-on field sam-
pling and laboratory analysis in order to re-
inforce the lessons learned. Feedback from
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Students get some hands-on experience
in collecting sediment samples using a box-corer
sampler aboard the R/V Lake Guardian.
(Photo by Dean Woodbeck, Michigan Tech. U.)
the students was very positive, with many
of them not wanting to leave the Lake
Guardian at the end of the courses.
GLNPO's George Ison, Todd Nettesheim,
and David Rockwell provided classroom
lectures on GLNPO research, monitoring,
and mission. (Contact: David Rockwell,
312-353-1373, rockwell.david@epa.gov; or
George Ison, 312-353-1669, ison.
george@epa.gov)
Lessons Shared with World
GLNPO scientists worked with the
USEPA's Office of International Activities
to prepare a briefing document for staff at-
tending an August 28th session titled
"Trading Risks - How to Combat the Spread
of Invasive Species?" at the World Conser-
vation Union (IUCN) meeting in Johannes-
burg, South Africa. The paper provided a
summary of major efforts in the Great
Lakes to reduce the spread of aquatic inva-
sive species, including the electric dispersal
barrier (see previous story) and pilot-studies
in ballast water treatment technologies. The
paper also described national (Coast Guard)
and international (International Maritime
Organization) efforts to address ballast wa-
ter. Founded in 1948, The World Conserva-
tion Union brings together States, govern-
ment agencies and a diverse range of non-
governmental organizations in a unique
world partnership that encourages and as-
sists societies to conserve the integrity and
diversity of nature and to ensure that any
use of natural resources is equitable and
ecologically sustainable. (Contact: James
Schardt, 312-353-5085, schardt.james@epa.
gov)
Are the Fish Safe to Eat?
On September 5th, GLNPO's Melissa
Hulting met with the Delta Institute in Chi-
cago, Illinois to discuss progress on the
"Lake Erie Fish Consumption Advisory and
Public Outreach" project. This project,
funded by GLNPO under a cooperative
agreement, was conducted under the guid-
ance of the Lake Erie Forum.
The project included an outreach campaign
that distributed an educational brochure and
recipe cards that alerted at-risk families in
Fisherman with walleye, a prized Lake Erie sport fish.
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the Lake Erie basin to the dangers of con-
taminated fish consumption and highlighted
preventative behaviors, such as methods for
cleaning and cooking fish, that will help to
reduce risks. Brochures were distributed in
Ohio, in the Buffalo, New York area, and in
the Southeast Michigan/Detroit, Michigan
vicinities. Brochures were also created for
pregnant women (who, along with their un-
born children, are especially at risk from
eating contaminated fish) and physicians for
distribution at WIC clinics, hospitals, etc.
Nurses who conduct prenatal classes were
taught how to educate pregnant women
about fish consumption advisories. The
Delta Institute and the Lake Erie Forum are
going to pursue expanding the outreach to
other areas and facilities, including a possi-
ble effort to convince local health depart-
ments to distribute the materials as a regular
part of their efforts. (Contact Melissa
Hulting, 312-886-2265, hulting.
melissa@epa.gov)
Springfield Township Wins Awards
Springfield Township is located in north
Oakland County, in southeast Michigan, at
the headwaters of four rivers: the Huron,
Shiawassee, Clinton and Flint. The Town-
ship has long had a strong commitment,
through its evolving land use policies and
practices, to protect and preserve its natural
resources, which are highly valued by
Township residents and add to their quality
of life. This commitment led to the Shia-
wassee & Huron Headwaters Resource
Preservation Project, which included devel-
oping a method to identify and rank natural
resource systems; conducting field invento-
ries of selected sites; reviewing land use
planning documents of participating mu-
nicipalities; and conducting a national lit-
erature search of natural resource protection
tools and techniques. The result was the
identification of the existence within the
Blazing star, a wildflower native to wet meadows.
Township of rare, high quality natural re-
source systems of global significance.
Based on the findings of the Headwaters
project, a second project developed a data-
base consisting of photos, descriptions, and
information on more than 230 plants native
to the area. The database was intended to
provide a good starting point for those inter-
ested in obtaining commercially available
native plants in order to enhance the area's
natural resources. The database was incor-
porated into an interactive CD-ROM and
has been widely distributed. This product
can be viewed on the Internet at: http://
www.epa.gov/glnpo/ecopage/
springfieldtwp/index.html.
Both projects also included a review of
Township zoning ordinance requirements
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September - October 2002
Significant Activities Report
Solomon-seal, a wildflower that can tolerate a variety
of soil and moisture conditions.
on design and construction standards and
the development of model ordinances. Poli-
cies relating to the use of native landscaping
and retention of native vegetation were
drafted and incorporated into a revised Mas-
ter Plan. New Storm water Management/
Impervious Surface Mitigation ordinance
provisions were drafted to incorporate use
of native vegetation and are now being im-
plemented for all development site plans
submitted.
Springfield Township's natural resource
preservation planning tools and practices
served as an example for development of
open space planning legislation initiated by
the State House Environment and Land Use
Committee Chair and was recently enacted
into law. The tools have also been models
for actions elsewhere. For example, an envi-
ronmental planner with the Mid-America
Regional Council in Kansas City, Missouri
saw the Internet version of the database and
is preparing a proposal to create a similar
CD for the Kansas City Metro region. And a
Champaign County, Illinois planner is mod-
eling her county's landscaping provisions on
zoning language drafted by Springfield.
The Township has received several prestig-
ious awards:
• In 2000, the Headwaters project re-
ceived the Michigan Society of Planning
"Outstanding Planning Award."
• The CD-ROM database received the
"Outstanding Planning Project for a
Project/Program Tool" Award from
the Michigan Society of Planning in
2001.
• In 2002, the CD-ROM received the
Michigan Chapter of the American
Society of Landscape Architects'
"Honor Award "
• The Township is also being awarded a
"SOLEC Success Story Award" for its
Great Lakes natural resource protection
work at the 2002 State of the Lakes
Ecosystem Conference in Cleveland,
Ohio in October.
The Shiawassee & Huron Headwaters Re-
source Preservation Project was funded by
Oakland County, Springfield Township and
partnering communities, the Community
Foundation for Southeastern Michigan, and
a grant from Region 5 of USEPA. The
Springfield Township Native Vegetation
Enhancement Project was funded by
Springfield Township and a grant from
GLNPO. Additional information is avail-
able from the Charter Township of Spring-
field: 248-846-6510. USEPA Contacts:
Thomas Glatzel, 312-886-6678, glatzel.
thomas@epa.gov; and Danielle Green, 312-
886-7594, green.danielle@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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