EPA/600/F19/054
Mud Lake Future Alternatives Community Values and
Health Impact Analysis
The goal of this analysis was to utilize elements of the
systematic and science-based health impact assessment
(HIA) methodology to conduct a community values analysis
to compare the health impacts and ecosystem services
associated with four different alternatives selected by the
City of Duluth, Minnesota, for the restoration of habitat at
Mud Lake on the St. Louis River,
This approach was chosen because the process objectively
and transparently considers the best-available qualitative
and quantitative evidence to identify potential direct and
indirect health impacts and help assess the trade-offs
inherent in the decision process.
Ecosystem Services
Ecosystem services are products of nature that when used,
consumed, or experienced by people provide some sort of
direct benefit (Boyd and Banzhaf 2007). In conjunction with
this analysis, a separate ecosystem services analysis was
conducted to compare the amount of ecosystem services
associated with the alternatives under consideration (see
Angradi and Hoffman 2019).
Health Impact Assessment
Community health and well-being are a product of one's
environment and the social and environmental conditions
that exist there. These social and environmental
determinants of health (i.e., factors or conditions that can
directly or indirectly influence human health) include access
to public services and infrastructure; adequate living and
working conditions; and social, economic, and political
factors (Figure 1).
Social, Economic
& Political Factors
Living & Working
^ Conditions
BJJ Public Services «
& Infrastructure enf
Individual
¦to Behaviors u
***#& Ed**"1 D*
Individual
paiVs &erCise ^ ^
'Hie
Figure 1. Determinants of health, from Human Impact
Partners (2011)
HIA is a science-based approach that considers input from
stakeholders and uses a variety of analytical tools and
methods to determine the potential effects of a proposed
project on the health of a population. An HIA is neutral to
the decision result; its purpose is to advocate for health and
wellness through the consideration of potential health
impacts.
The HIA process is a systematic, six-step process that
includes screening, scoping, assessment, recommendations,
reporting, and monitoring and evaluation (Human Impact
Partners 2011; National Research Council 2011).
Screening for an HIA
Decision context. The design alternatives focus on Mud
Lake; however, the site is connected to overlapping
decision contexts, including the:
Comprehensive approach to the Si. Louis River Corridor
Options for extending the Western Waterfront Trail
from its current terminus to Chambers Grove Park
Initiatives to improve options for outdoor recreation
and create or enhance regional amenities
Other plans, including:
- St. Louis River Water Trail
- Duluth Natural Areas Plan
City of Duluth Comprehensive Plan
- Green space
- Economic development
- Housing
St. Louis River Area of Concern
Habitat restoration plans
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Research and Development
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Decision alternatives. The City of Duluth identified six
potential alternatives for Mud Lake1:
Alternative 1 (Alt 1) - Causeway retained in current
state for rail use
Alternative 2 (Alt 2) - Causeway retained for rail
with a southern opening and a new northern
opening to optimize water flow. Trail located on the
mainland.
o Alternative 2 v2 (Alt 2 v2) -Causeway
retained for rail with a southern opening
and a new northern opening to optimize
water flow, with an added levee. Trail
located on the mainland. The alternative
was considered for habitat metrics only.
Alternative 3 (Alt 3) - Causeway retained for trail
with a southern opening and a new northern
opening to optimize water flow.
o Alternative 3 v2 (Alt 3 v2) -Causeway
retained for trail with a southern opening
and a new northern opening to optimize
water flow, with an added levee. The
alternative was considered for habitat
metrics only.
Alternative 4 (Alt 4) - Causeway eliminated to
maximize water flow, vestiges retained on ends for
public fishing, and trail located on the mainland.
These alternatives focus on the section of the rail through
Mud Lake, from Boat House Point to Boy Scout Landing.
Feasibility and Value of an HIA
EPA's Mid-Continent Ecology Division (MED) evaluated
whether an HIA was feasible and would add value to the
project. It was decided that elements of an HIA could be
used to scope the problem, identify the social and
environmental determinants of health and populations
potentially impacted by the alternatives, and assess the
impact of the decision alternatives on health, but not all six
steps of the HIA process would be conducted.
To facilitate the analysis, the research team made several
assumptions:
It is feasible to remediate and restore Mud Lake to
a standard that would allow people to safely use
the area.
The rail will continue to operate from their station
near the Lake Superior Zoo to Boat House Point.
If left in place, the railroad would continue to run
and maintain the causeway and tracks to a working
condition that meets operational standards.
The City of Duluth would adequately maintain any
infrastructure or features built as a result of the
Western Waterfront Trail extension.
Scoping the Problem: Community Values, Pathways of
Impact, and Impacted Populations
The scoping phase of the analysis included identifying the
social and environmental determinants of health most
important to the community, the pathways through which
the decision could impact health, and the impacted
populations.
Social and environmental determinants of health. A
stakeholder meeting was held on March 4, 2019 at the
Goodfellowship Community Center in the Morgan Park
neighborhood to identify the social and environmental
determinants of health most valued by the community.
Twenty-nine people attended the meeting representing
environmental nonprofit organizations, community groups,
natural resource agencies, and businesses.
The comments collected through stakeholder input
exercises were analyzed to identify what services Mud Lake
provides to the participants and what Mud Lake means to
them (Table 1). Several potential Mud Lake user groups
were identified that were not in attendance at the meeting,
including organized outdoor recreation groups. It was
important to identify the values of this group of users
because they too will be impacted by the City's decision.
To fill this gap, a content analysis was conducted of Duluth
news articles related to outdoor recreation (Table 2).
Pathways of Impact. The dimensions identified as
significant to the community represent three distinct
pathways that were analyzed to understand how changes
at Mud Lake will impact health (USEPA 2019):
Social and Cultural
Water Quality and Habitat
Recreation, Aesthetics, and Engagement with Nature
1 In the original stakeholder consultation exercise, there were
six alternatives which were numbered differently. This reflects
the current numbering and list of alternatives. The current
VS U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
¦¦ Office of Research and Development
(old) alternatives are: Alternative 1 (same); Alternative 2
(2A/2Av2); Alternative 3 (2B/2Bv2); Alternative 4 (Alternative
3).
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Impacted populations. The populations that will be
impacted by decisions at Mud Lake are diverse and include
residents, organizations, and other groups:
Current users of Mud Lake area
Train passengers
Morgan Park residents
Gary-New Duluth residents
Indigenous community
Businesses
Others (i.e., user groups, including outdoor recreation
groups)
A baseline health assessment for the impacted populations
indicates that these populations have distinct connections
to Mud Lake.
Current users. Some users volunteer to run a passenger
train that travels to the Mud Lake area, while others forage,
trap, fish and use it as a natural area. Mud Lake serves as a
site for personal and organizational identity and has
historical and cultural value. Furthermore, Mud Lake is a
site important for social cohesion and historical
preservation.
The rail on the causeway is a remnant of the Lake Superior
and Mississippi Railroad (LSMR), which was completed in
1870 and provided the first transportation link between St.
Paul and Duluth. It served as an important economic link to
expand the mining, fishing, manufacturing, and timber
industries. The rail is currently preserved by a nonprofit
that provides historical information about the surrounding
neighborhoods.
Train passengers. According to a brief analysis of social
media about the LSMR passenger train, the train is valued
because of the experience it provides. There was an
emphasis on the scenic views, natural experience, and the
dedication of the volunteers. Riders also noted the
affordability and accessibility of the train.
Morgan Park and Gary-New Duluth residents. These are
two of the neighborhoods surrounding the Mud Lake area
that would be impacted by decisions made at the site. The
health status of residents in the Morgan Park and Gary-New
Duluth neighborhoods was examined in comparison to the
health of residents in the City of Duluth as a whole:
Residents in the adjacent neighborhoods report better
well-being behaviors (i.e., >7 hours of sleep and leisure
time activity) than the City of Duluth as a whole;
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Research and Development
Poverty in Morgan Park is higher than the City of Duluth,
but in Gary-New Duluth is lower than the rate for the
City as a whole;
Rates of diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity are
higher in these neighborhoods than rates for the City of
Duluth (CDC 2016).
Indigenous community. The St. Louis River estuary is the
ancestral home of the Anishinaabe people. Spirit Island, just
downstream from Mud Lake, is the sixth stopping place on
their westward migration. It was the first place they
encountered the food that grows on water - wild rice (Fond
du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa 2018). The St. Louis
River is also an important place to exercise treaty rights
(1854 Treaty Authority 2017). Maple sugar camps and
burial grounds are found on Spirit Mountain, the hill that
runs parallel to the St. Louis River.
The large hill that extends for several miles along the far
western end of Duluth was called Manitouahgebik (Spirit
Mountain) by the Ojibwe Indians. They believed that the
Great Spirit resided within the forest at the top of Spirit
Mountain (Turnstone Historical Research 2015, p. 49).
Businesses and other user groups. The scoping exercise
revealed that other potentially impacted groups not
present at the meeting include hikers, bikers, berry pickers,
and nearby businesses. Moreover, this site was identified to
be important for the extension of the Western Waterfront
Trail and development of Duluth as an outdoor recreation
destination and economic engine (Cities of Duluth and
Superior 2017). A media analysis was conducted to better
understand the general values of the outdoor recreation
group (Table 2).
The outdoor recreation groups valued access to open
spaces to pursue recreation and valued Duluth as a "real"
outdoor recreation city (Chandler 2017). Social cohesion for
this group of people means joining together to advocate in
the City's decision process to expand recreation in the city.
The values analysis for this group suggests their interest is
less about their relationship to a particular place, but
generally access to green space.
Assessing the Health Impacts of the Decision Alternatives
A rapid analysis of the impact of each alternative on the
three dimensions of health determinants - Social and
Cultural; Water Quality and Habitat; and Recreation,
Aesthetics, and Engagement with Nature - was conducted.
Table 3 summarizes the connection between these
dimensions and health; the full literature reviews
documenting these connections can be found in the
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background research for USEPA (2019), which was
conducted in Duluth as well.
Impacts of the alternatives on Water Quality and Habitat
are documented in Angradi and Hoffman (2019). Table 4
summarizes the potential impacts of the alternatives on the
Social, Cultural, and Recreation dimensions and on health
overall.
Discussion and Summary
The proposed project has the potential to impact the health
of several populations - current users of Mud Lake and the
LSMR, other user groups and the outdoor recreation
community, Morgan Park and Gary-New Duluth
neighborhoods, and the indigenous community. The
Anishinaabe are the first inhabitants of the Mud Lake area.
At the same time, this site has contributed greatly over the
last 150 years to the current wealth and economic base of
Duluth. There is a shared and linked history to this site and
those around it; thus, all populations will be affected by the
decision about the future of Mud Lake.
In addition to outdoor recreational opportunities, all
alternatives have the potential to offer social, historical,
and cultural opportunities (e.g., spaces for socialization,
social capital through rail and/or trail volunteer
opportunities, maintaining the sense of place and history,
cultural expression, etc.). These social and cultural
dimensions can result in more positive perceptions of
health, particularly mental health and stress (Kitchen et al.
2012).
Improving cultural or historical amenities can contribute to
community development. However, there are cautions, as
some enhancements of cultural amenities and green spaces
might lead to gentrification (Gunay and Dokmeci 2012;
Smiley et al. 2016) and unequal distribution of benefits
(Foster et al. 2016). Policy interventions and work with
community groups is likely required to prevent
displacement of low-income residents (Ellen 2018).
Generally, inclusivity and shared benefits of environmental
renewal are created through inclusive processes (Daigneau
2015).
This analysis demonstrates that every alternative produces
a different mix of ecosystem services and benefits. The
realization of positive health outcomes from the ecosystem
services produced is less certain because it is dependent on
individual behaviors and details not contained in the
alternatives (e.g., the presence of gathering spaces to
encourage diverse communities to utilize natural spaces).
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Research and Development
Moreover, given uncertainty regarding water flow through
Mud Lake under the various alternatives (Angradi and
Hoffman 2019), the habitat and water quality
improvements may not be extensive enough for the
Anishinaabe people to adequately pursue treaty rights of
fishing, hunting, and gathering.
The only group positively impacted in almost all alternatives
is the outdoor recreation community. But, several
alternatives have the potential to result in negative impacts
to other groups, such as those associated with the LSMR
and indigenous groups.
Recognizing that there is an attachment to place, as well as
claims on the space by multiple groups, it would positively
impact the mental health and social cohesion of all
communities to participate in collaborative decision-making
to ensure that health impacts are maximized for all
communities. The City has already employed such a model
in other St. Louis River Corridor projects (e.g., Quarry Park).
Limitations
This assessment is a rapid analysis of how the proposed
Mud Lake future alternatives might impact the health of
the community. The assessment is based on identifying the
valued determinants of health and describing how those
determinants will subsequently change for different
populations.
The abbreviated timeframe limited the amount of
community consultation. In a complete health impact
assessment, considerable effort would be devoted to
reaching out to community members to ensure
participation. Outreach to the community was limited to a
single stakeholder meeting. Despite this limitation, other
impacted populations were identified and considered in the
assessment through media analysis.
There were other limitations:
Although the project alternatives do have impacts to
personal and community economics, the project team
did not have the time or resources to conduct an
independent assessment of economic impacts. Given
this limitation, we did not address several publicly-
available economic studies about western Duluth, the
train, or surveys conducted in relation to the expansion
of the Western Waterfront Trail.
We were unable to determine the feasibility of berry
picking/jelly-making and dog training as potential uses
in the future alternatives. It is plausible that the site
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could continue to be used for these activities, but there
is not enough information available in the alternatives
to determine how the infrastructure and vegetative
changes could impact the suitability of the site for
these uses.
References
Angradi, T. and Hoffman, J., 2019. Mud Lake Futures
Alternatives Ecosystem Services Analysis. Technical Brief.
United States Environmental Protection Agency.
EPA/600/F19/043
Anton, C.E. and Lawrence, C., 2014. Home is where the heart
is: The effect of place of residence on place attachment and
community participation. Journal of Environmental
Psychology, 40, pp.451-461.
Boyd, J., S. Banzhaf, 2007. What are ecosystem services? The
need for standardized environmental accounting units. Ecol.
Econ. 63:616-626.
Casiday, R., Kinsman, E., Fisher, C. and Bambra, C., 2008.
Volunteering and health: what impact does it really have.
London: Volunteering England, 9(3), pp.1-13.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National
Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health
Promotion, Division of Population Health, 2016. 500 Cities
Project Data [online], https://www.cdc.gov/
500cities/index.htm.
Chandler, E. 2017. Hansi Johnson on Duluth: This is Real.
Northern Wilds Magazine, [online],
http://northernwilds.com/hansi-iohnson-duluth/.
Cities of Duluth, MN and Superior, Wl, 2017. St. Louis River
Estuary National Water Trail Master Plan, [online],
http://www.duluthmn.gov/media/542220/final-water-trail-
master-plan.pdf.
Daigneau, E., 2015. Just Green Enough. Governing, [online],
https://www.governing.com/topics/transportation-
infrastructure/gov-green-gentrification-series.html.
1854 Treaty Authority. 2017. The Right to Hunt and Fish
Theirin: Understanding Chippewa Treaty Rights in
Minnesota's 1854 Ceded Territory. Report [online],
http://www.1854treatvauthoritv.org/images/The-Right-to-
Hunt-and-Fish-Therein.final.pdf.
Ellen, I.G., 2018. "What would it take... For cities experiencing
gentrification pressures to foster inclusion rather than
replacement?" Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies
Symposium. Can Gentrification Be Inclusive? April 2017.
Cambridge, MA. [online],
https://www.ichs.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/a shared
future can gentrification be inclusive O.pdf.
Fond du Lake Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. 2018.
Expanding the Narrative of Tribal Health: The Effects of Wild
Rice Water Quality Rule Changes on Tribal Health. Report,
[online],
http://www.fdlrez.com/RM/downloads/WQSHIA.pdf.
Foster, N., Grodach, C. and Murdoch III, J., 2016.
Neighborhood diversity, economic health, and the role of
the arts. Journal of Urban Affairs, 38(5), pp.623-642.
Gunay, Z. and Dokmeci, V., 2012. Culture-led regeneration of
Istanbul waterfront: Golden horn cultural valley project.
Cities, 29(4), pp.213-222.
Human Impact Partners. 2011. A Health Impact Assessment
Toolkit: Handbook for Conducting HIA, 3rd Edition. Oakland,
CA: Human Impact Partners. February 2011.
Jenkinson, C.E., Dickens, A.P., Jones, K., Thompson-Coon, J.,
Taylor, R.S., Rogers, M., Bambra, C.L., Lang, I. and Richards,
S.H., 2013. Is volunteering a public health intervention? A
systematic review and meta-analysis of the health and
survival of volunteers. BMC public health, 13(1), p.773.
Kitchen, P., Williams, A. and Chowhan, J., 2012. Sense of
community belonging and health in Canada: A regional
analysis. Social Indicators Research, 107(1), pp.103-126.
National Research Council, 2011. Improving Health in the
United States: The Role of Health Impact Assessment.
Washington, DC: National Academies Press.
Smiley, K.T., Rushing, W. and Scott, M., 2016. Behind a
bicycling boom: Governance, cultural change and place
character in Memphis, Tennessee. Urban Studies, 53(1),
pp.193-209.
Turnstone Historical Research. An Ethnographic Study of the
Indigenous Contributions to the City of Duluth. A report to
the Indigenous Commission. July 2015. [online],
http://www.duluthmn.gov/media/461501/Duluth-
Ethnographic-Studv-Final-Julv-2015.pdf.
USEPA, 2019. Kingsbury Bay and Grassy Point: A Health Impact
Assessment. Report, (in preparation).
Contacts
Katie Williams, USEPA Mid-Continent Ecology Division
williams.kathleen@epa.gov
Joel Hoffman, USEPA Mid-Continent Ecology Division
hoffman. ioel@epa.gov
Disclaimer
The views expressed in this brief are the authors' and do
not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S.
Government. Mention of trade names does not constitute
endorsement or recommendation for use.
5
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Research and Development
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Table 1. Dimensions or Themes Identified Through the Analysis of Input and Discussion Gathered at the Stakeholder Meeting on March 4, 2019
(The numbers in parenthesis indicate the number of comments received related to each theme. Many comments reflected more than one theme, so results should be interpreted
as representing a pattern of the relative importance or significance of each theme for those stakeholders who participated.)
Social and Cultural (157)
Table 2. Dimensions or Themes Identified Through an Analysis of Duluth Media Articles About the Organization of Stakeholder Groups and
Development of an Outdoor Recreation Economy in Duluth
(The articles examined are related to the outdoor economy, not Mud Lake specifically. The numbers in parenthesis indicate the number of statements found related to each
theme. Results should be interpreted as representing a pattern of the relative importance or significance of each theme.)
Social and Cultural (237)
Identity and Place Attachment (Duluth as a "real" outdoor recreation city; the outdoor recreation economy; down-to-earth; enjoy outdoors)
Participation and Self-Determination (Actions and measures taken to influence decision-making; voice opinion on topics)
Social Cohesion (Groups or individuals coming together to advocate for a decision)
Governance (Decisions made by City of Duluth that impact the city and natural spaces)
Water Quality and Habitat (5)
Biophysical Environment (Presence of green space in the environment; Feasibility of new mountain bike trails)
Recreation, Aesthetics, and Engagement with Nature (62)
Parks and Trails (Parks trails and outdoor recreation; future outdoor recreation spots)
6
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Research and Development
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Accessibility (Barriers to overcome: demographics, geographic proximity, income, ability, or other structural barrier)
Sustainability ("To make citizens healthier and happier")
Table 3. Description of Assessment Dimensions and How They Impact Health (Modified from USEPA, 2019)
Determinant of
Health/Pathway
Connection to Health
Social and
Cultural
Parks and green spaces provide space for socialization, which builds social capital and cohesion (the formation of social bonds and
connections), spiritual reflection, and cultural resource use. The ability of the public to enjoy parks and green spaces in these capacities has
been shown to improve health and well-being and reduce stress. The opportunity for public input during the planning of these spaces can also
build social capital and lead to improved community health. Parks and green spaces are an important site for volunteering which can provide
mental health benefits, including self-rated health, mental health, life satisfaction, social interaction, healthy behaviors and coping ability
(Casiday et al. 2008; Jenkinson et al. 2013). Furthermore, people who are attached to a local area will volunteer to preserve it (Anton and
Lawrence 2014).
Water Quality
and Habitat
Improving water, sediment and habitat quality can potentially improve nutrition and decrease disease incidence in anglers, as well as decrease
illness and skin and eye ailments in those who have contact with the water, including waders. However, at this time, it is uncertain how legacy
contamination might impact fish, wildlife, or human health. Broadly, improving water quality can reduce stress, as well as improve social
capital and recreational opportunities. Subsequent to improvements in water, sediment, and habitat quality, designated recreational amenities
such as boat launches, canoe landings, and fishing piers can contribute to health by providing safe access to the river for the community.
Recreation,
Aesthetics, and
Engagement with
Nature
Access to outdoor recreation areas is an important component to individual and community mental and physical well-being. Parks provide
opportunities for physical activity, which is known to reduce stress, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and other chronic disease. Activities such
as fishing can further impact health through consumption of the catch. Parks and aesthetically-pleasing green spaces also promote
engagement with nature, which has been shown to reduce stress and improve mental and overall health and well-being. The value of these
spaces can be a product of on-going contact with them.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Research and Development
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Table 4. Health Impact Characterization Table Summarizing Potential Impacts to Health for Each Future Alternative
Alternative
Alternative 1:
No Change
Recreational Access Uses
Alternative 2 and
Alternative 2 v24:
Retain Rail
LSMR passenger
train
Causeway is an
informal trail2
Parking lot (on
private land)
LSMR passenger
train
Trail on land
Parking lot
Designated outlook
New bridge
Bird and wildlife
watching
Kayaking3
Jelly making (berry
picking)
Dog training
Fishing
Trapping
Bird and wildlife
watching
Kayaking3
Fishing
Trapping
Hiking and biking
Description of Impacts
This is the baseline alternative. This
alternative would result in no change
to the health determinants. Current
users will continue to enjoy running or
riding the railroad, using the rail as an
informal trail, and other uses (bird and
wildlife watching, kayaking, fishing,
etc.). This alternative is the least
protective for water quality, which will
impact indigenous communities who
wish to exercise treaty rights.
Current users will continue to enjoy
running or riding the railroad and other
uses (bird and wildlife watching,
kayaking, fishing, etc.). These
alternatives have the potential to
improve habitat, which might
positively impact bird and wildlife
watchers, and anglers. The alternatives
will also positively impact hikers and
bikers through the addition of a trail on
land.
Impacts to Health
The LSMR would continue to run and
provide opportunities for social cohesion to
its volunteers and cultural experiences for
passengers. Existing opportunities for
recreation and engagement with nature
would continue for recreational users, bird
and wildlife watchers, anglers, and others,
although formal recreational access would
remain limited. While these aspects would
have a positive impact on health for current
users, the habitat would remain impacted
and could have potential negative impacts
to birds, fish, and other wildlife (USEPA,
2019), as well as impact indigenous
communities' rights.
These alternatives would have a positive
impact on health for most impacted
populations. The LSMR would continue to
run and provide opportunities for social
cohesion to its volunteers and cultural
experiences for passengers. There would be
potential improvements in water habitat
and quality. Existing opportunities for
recreation and engagement with nature
would be preserved for recreational users,
bird and wildlife watchers, and anglers, and
additional recreational opportunities could
be added through trail use.
2 An informal trail is by definition an unsanctioned use. We include it here not as an endorsement, but as input offered by participants.
3 Kayaking is limited. Stakeholders reported portaging over the tracks into West Mud Lake.
4 The levees in the v2 alternatives provide more sheltered bay habitat (Angradi and Hoffman 2019).
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
¦il Office of Research and Development
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Alternative
Alternative 3 and
Alternative 3 v24:
Rail to Trail
Recreational Access
Trail on causeway
Parking lot
Designated outlook
New bridges with
kayak and canoe
access
Two new shore
fishing structures
Bird and wildlife
watching
Kayaking with canoe
launch
Fishing
Trapping
Hiking and biking
Alternative 4:
Remove
Causeway
Trail on land
Parking lot
Designated outlook
Fishing on
causeway
remnants and new
fishing pier
Canoe launch and
kayak landing
Bird and wildlife
watching
Canoeing and kayaking
Fishing
Trapping
Hiking and biking
Power boating
9
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Research and Development
Description of Impacts
These alternatives will result in great
loss for the railroad organization in
terms of social cohesion and sense of
purpose and a loss for rail riders. These
alternatives have the potential to
improve habitat, which might
positively impact bird and wildlife
watchers and anglers. These
alternatives will also positively impact
hikers and bikers through the addition
of a trail on land, and the addition of a
tall bridge would provide improved
access for kayakers and canoers to all
of Mud Lake.
This alternative will result in great loss
for the railroad organization in terms
of social cohesion and sense of
purpose. This alternative has the
potential to improve habitat more than
the other alternatives through the
creation of a high-quality coastal
wetland, which will likely positively
impact indigenous communities who
wish to exercise treaty rights, along
with brid and wildlife watchers and
anglers. The alternative will also
positively impact hikers and bikers
through the addition of the trail.
Impacts to Health
These alternatives would have a positive
impact on health for recreational users, bird
and wildlife watchers, and anglers through
trail use and other added amenities, as well
as potential improvements in water habitat
and quality. They would have a negative
impact on the social cohesion and place
attachment for the LSMR, the neighborhood
that identifies with the train, and train
passengers.
This alternative would have a positive
impact on recreational users given the trail
and other amenities; the Anishinaabe
people as the bay is returned closer to its
original state to allow for the exercise of
treaty rights; anglers through more shore
and boat fishing access; and boaters through
more deep water. This alternative would
have a negative impact on the social
cohesion and place attachment for the
LSMR, the neighborhood that identifies with
the train, and train passengers, and bird
watchers who will lose highly-sheltered
shallow-water habitat and the access to the
river that the causeway provides.
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