News

(Oct. 15, 2018) U.S. EPA, in partnership with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, today announced the completion of a $16 million sediment cleanup at the former Zephyr Oil Refinery in Muskegon Township, Mich.

(Oct. 15, 2018) On September 27, 2018, pursuant to a GLRI Economy Act Agreement with EPA, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers awarded a $15.7 million contract for the dredging of contaminated sediments from the Lower Rouge River – Old Channel (LRROC).

(Oct. 4, 2018) The Superior Watershed Partnership has taken steps to permanently protect two high quality coastal habitats including wetlands and forests along Lake Superior shorelines adjacent to Munising and Marquette, Mich. This long-term protection was made possible using GLRI funding provided by the US. Forest Service for acquisition and development of long-term management plans.

(Oct. 1, 2018) To address the gradual loss of a historic barrier beach and the erosion of over 100 acres of wetlands at Lake Ontario’s Braddock Bay, a GLRI project team has implemented Engineering With Nature principles to provide a sustainable restoration solution. This project completed the last management action necessary for the future delisting of the Rochester Embayment Area of Concern.

(Sept. 28, 2018) The Great Lakes National Program office announces the removal of the 80th “Beneficial Use Impairment” from the U.S. Areas of Concern. The removal of the “degradation of aesthetics” BUI from the Buffalo River AOC is a significant milestone because it is the first BUI at this AOC to be removed.

(Sept. 27, 2018) GLRI funding will help protect the Buffalo Reef fish spawning grounds in the Keweenaw Peninsula in Lake Superior. This project will remove an estimated 80,000 cubic yards of stamp sands that are negatively impacting the reef. An additional estimated 27,500 cubic yards of stamp sands will be removed from the harbor area to prevent the stamp sands from moving down current.

(Sept. 26, 2018) Overnight on Sept. 21-22, the retired freighter SS William A. Irvin was moved from the Minnesota Slip in Duluth to make room for a Great Lakes Legacy Act sediment cleanup in the Slip starting the first week of October. The sediment remediation project is one of many projects under way in the St. Louis River Area of Concern in Duluth, Minn.
The 610-foot freighter was moved from its home in the Slip through the opening of the pedestrian drawbridge with only 7 inches of clearance on each side. The retired freighter, now serving as a museum, was temporarily relocated to the Fraser Shipyard in Superior, Wis. for maintenance in preparation for the sediment remediation project.

(Sept. 25, 2018) New York State Parks and Department of Environmental Conservation receive GLRI grants to preserve wildlife and natural resources at the Niagara River Area of Concern. Work to restore, enhance and protect coastal and in-river wetlands will take place at Beaver Island State Park, Buckhorn Island State Park and DEC's Spicer Creek Wildlife Management Area.

(Sept. 24, 2018) “A Seat at the Table: Great Lakes Legacy Act” is a new video that explains what it means to be a cost-share partner with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Great Lakes Legacy Act (GLLA). The GLLA is a component of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative that addresses sediment remediation and habitat restoration in Great Lakes Areas of Concern.