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Ashtabula River

Ashtabula River Area of Concern

The sediment cleanup of the Ashtabula River is complete!

A Great Lakes Legacy Act (GLLA) sediment cleanup removed 497,000 cubic yards of PCB-contaminated sediment from the Ashtabula River in 2006 and 2007. Contaminants were transported to a landfill by a pipeline for disposal. The landfill was constructed to dispose of contaminated sediment from the Ashtabula River. The GLLA project was funded by the U. S. EPA and the Ashtabula City Port Authority, with contributions from the State of Ohio and a number of local industries. 

The Ashtabula River gets its name from the Iroquois word Hash-tah-buh-lah meaning "river of many fish."  More than a decade later, the Ashtabula River is once again a destination for recreational boaters and fishermen in northeast Ohio. 

Location

The GLLA sediment cleanup took place from the upstream side of the 5th street bridge to the Upper Turning Basin in Ashtabula, Ohio. The Ashtabula River is located in the Ashtabula River of Concern.

Cleanup Process

Sediment remediated: ​497,000 cubic yards
Contaminants: PCBs
Method: Hydraulic dredging
When: 2006–2007
Partners: U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Ashtabula City Port Authority
Cost: $57.6M

Long-term Benefits

  • Dredging provided sufficient water depth for commercial and recreational boating on the Ashtabula River.
​
  • The cleanup removed contaminated sediment from the Ashtabula River, reducing contaminant levels in fish and allowing for less restrictive fish consumption advisories. 

More Information

Documents
Ashtabula River sediment disposal facility (PDF, 1p, 916KB) September 2006
Ashtabula River sediment cleanup fact sheet (PDF, 2p, 260KB) December 2005
Stakeholders
City of Ashtabula Port Authority
Ohio Environmental Protection Agency
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
IISG and GLR logos
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Contact Us

Great Lakes Mud c/o Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant
Purdue University
195 Marsteller Street
West Lafayette, IN 47907-2033

​Email: abelle@illinois.edu
© 2019 Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant, All Rights Reserved.
Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant strives to ensure equal access and an
​inclusive environment.
Website last updated December 14, 2022
  • Home
  • Pollution
    • Dioxins
    • Heavy Metals
    • NAPL
    • Oil and Grease
    • PAHs
    • PCBs
    • TBT
    • TPH
  • Partnership
    • Great Lakes Legacy Act
    • Cost-Sharing
  • Cleanup Process
    • Project Stages
    • Dredging
    • Dry Excavation
    • Caps and Covers
    • Habitat Restoration
  • Waterbody
    • Indiana >
      • East Branch - Grand Calumet River AOC
      • East Branch Phase II - Grand Calumet River AOC
      • East Chicago Waterways - Grand Calumet River AOC
      • Indiana Harbor Canal TSCA - Grand Calumet River AOC
      • Lake George Canal Middle & East - Grand Calumet River AOC
      • Roxana Marsh - Grand Calumet River AOC
      • Stateline - Grand Calumet River AOC
      • West Branch - Grand Calumet River AOC
    • Michigan >
      • Black Lagoon - Detroit River AOC
      • Centennial Park - Detroit River AOC
      • Division Street Outfall - Muskegon Lake AOC
      • Former MGP Site - St. Marys River AOC
      • Lower Rouge River Old Channel - Rouge River AOC
      • River Raisin - River Raisin AOC
      • Riverwalk - Detroit River AOC
      • Ruddiman Creek - Muskegon Lake AOC
      • Ryerson Creek Outfall - Muskegon Lake AOC
      • Tannery Bay - St. Marys River AOC
      • Torch Lake - Torch Lake AOC
      • Upper Trenton Channel - Detroit River AOC
      • Zephyr Site - Muskegon Lake AOC
    • Minnesota >
      • Azcon/DSPA Slip - St. Louis River AOC
      • Minnesota Slip - St. Louis River AOC
      • Munger Landing - St. Louis River AOC
      • Scanlon Reservoir - St. Louis River AOC
      • Slip 3 and Slip C - St. Louis River AOC
      • SLR Interlake/Duluth Tar - St. Louis River AOC
      • Spirit Lake Site - St. Louis River AOC
    • New York >
      • Buffalo River - Buffalo River AOC
    • Ohio >
      • Ashtabula River - Ashtabula River AOC
      • Cuyahoga River Old Channel - Cuyahoga River AOC
      • Gorge Dam - Cuyahoga River AOC
      • Jack's Marine North Slip - Ashtabula River AOC
      • Ottawa River - Maumee AOC
      • Otter Creek - Maumee AOC
    • Wisconsin >
      • Greater Milwaukee Estuary - Milwaukee Estuary AOC
      • Hog Island Inlet - St. Louis River AOC
      • Howards Bay - St. Louis River AOC
      • Kinnickinnic River - Milwaukee Estuary AOC
      • Lincoln Park - Milwaukee Estuary AOC
      • Sheboygan River - Sheboygan River AOC
      • Tyco - Menominee River AOC
    • More coming soon...
  • Education
    • Grade School Curriculum
    • High School Curriculum
    • More Resources >
      • Indiana
      • Michigan
      • Minnesota
      • Ohio
      • Wisconsin
  • Contact