xvEPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Great Lake
RESTORATION
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Cleanup possible through GLRI
Tlie Otter Creek cleanup project is made
possible through the Great Lakes
Restoration Initiative, or GLRI.
GLRI is the largest investment in the
Great Lakes in two decades. Sixteen
federal departments or agencies are
working together on five priorities:
• Cleaning up Great Lakes Areas of
Concern.
• Preventing and controlling invasive
species.
• Reducing nutrient runoff that
contributes to harmful/nuisance algal
blooms.
• Restoring habitat to protect native
species.
• Laying the foundations for future
restoration actions with education
and outreach.
The GLRI's Great Lakes Legacy Act, or
GLLA - under which the Otter Creek
work is being done - provides up to 65
percent of the cost of sediment cleanup
with a non-federal entity contributing the
balance. Legacy Act partnerships have
cleaned up 24 sites in six Great Lake
states and remediated 4.3 million cubic
yards of contaminated sediment.
Project Point of Contact
Ashley Binion-Zuccaro
419-726-9121
Ashley. R. Binion-
Zuccaro @usace. army .mil
For more information on the project
Visit: www.epa.gov/great-lakes-
aocs/otter-creek-legacv-act-cleanup
Otter Creek Cleanup Gets
Started
Otter Creek and Confluence Sediment Cleanup
Toledo and Oregon, Ohio March
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, along with federal and non-federal
partners, are working to remove contaminated sediment from Otter Creek in
Oregon, Ohio. Sediments in the lower 1.7 miles of Otter Creek and its
confluence within Maumee Bay are contaminated with elevated levels of
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs, and diesel range organics, or DROs.
Extensive investigations of the Otter Creek sediment, stream conditions, and
ecological conditions were conducted by EPA from 2006 through 2019. These
investigations identified the project limits based on the distribution of
contaminants which then further facilitated the evaluation of cleanup
alternatives.
Clean up approach
Approximately 57,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment will be removed
from the creek and its confluence within Maumee Bay by hydraulic dredging.
Hydraulic dredging involves using a vacuum-type device to remove sediment by
suction. The dredged sediment will then be pumped through a submerged
pipeline to the nearby Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority's confined disposal
facility, where it will remain indefinitely.
A one-foot sand cover mixed with organic material will be placed in the creek
after dredging to provide a barrier to any remaining residuals and a new surface
for organisms to re-establish their populations.
Cleanup objective and goals
The cleanup objective for the site is to reduce potential harm from exposure to
chemicals accumulated in the sediment. The goals are to reduce PAH and DRO
exposure to organisms and fish that live and feed on the bottom of the creek, and
to reduce associated toxicity below levels of concern.
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Otter Creek project area
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Frequently Asked Questions
~ How will boaters be impacted during the cleanup?
Will the hydraulic dredging pipe obstruct navigation?
The pipeline carrying the contaminated sediment to the
confined disposal facility will be submerged or floated
depending on its location. In areas where boat traffic
may be present, such as going into the Walleye
Power/Harbor View Channel, the pipeline will be
submerged and is not expected to restrict recreational
boating or any other navigation. The work areas where
the pipeline is floating will be clearly marked to ensure
that potential recreational boaters do not enter work
zones. Dredging of the confluence is not expected to
result in any navigational issues for boaters.
~ What is a confined disposal facility?
A Confined Disposal Facility (CDF) is a stmcture that
is specifically engineered to contain dredged material.
A dike is built above the high water level and sediment
is placed behind it. CDFs can be an efficient and cost-
effective way to dispose of large amounts of contami-
nated sediment.
~ Will disposal of contaminated sediment at the Port
Authority's confined disposal facility cause an odor?
The contractor will comply with all local laws and
ordinances as they apply to the cleanup work being
performed to reduce the potential for odors in nearby
areas. The City of Toledo has established local
ordinances which may be applicable to construction
activities on land and in waterways .
~ Will the cleanup include habitat restoration?
Yes. After contaminated sediment is removed,
additional measures will be taken to restore and
improve the habitat. Habitat improvements, including
the placement of logs, large woody material, root wads
and locked brush piles in the creek will further enhance
the ecosystem for organisms and fish.
How will water quality be affected during the
cleanup?
Containment measures like silt curtains are commonly
used to prevent suspended sediment from washing
downstream during dredging.
How was the cleanup plan chosen?
The cleanup plan was chosen from among a set of
alternatives, or cleanup options, developed in the
feasibility study. The alternatives were evaluated based
on considerations like effectiveness in reducing
contaminant levels, technical feasibility, and cost.
When are construction activities expected to begin and
how much will the cleanup cost?
Constaiction activities are expected to start spring 2021
and be completed in fall 2021. This cleanup will cost
approximately $12 million and will be shared between
EPA and the non-federal partners.
How can a citizen learn more?
To learn more about the project, please use this link:
www. epa. gov/great-lake s-aocs/otter-creek-le gacv-act-
cleanup.
Where can a citizen submit a question or comment
about the project?
Citizens can send an email with questions or
comments to OtterCreekCleanup@usace.armv.mil.
Aerial view of Otter Creek, looking south.
Aerial view of Otter Creek, looking north.
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