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Hog Island Inlet

St. Louis River Area of Concern

The sediment cleanup of Hog Island Inlet is complete!

Hog Island Inlet and the mouth of Newton Creek were cleaned up in 2005! Approximately 46,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment were removed. It is the second sediment remediation project performed under the Great Lakes Legacy Act, and its completion marks the environmental renewal of 17 acres of shallow, protected waters for fish, wildlife, and humans. The area is an important recreational asset for activities like bird watching, biking, and hiking. Upon completion of the project, Douglas County removed a "No Swimming" sign for the inlet. Many other projects are a part of Hog Island's recovery story. The headwaters of Newton Creek underwent a cleanup by Murphy Oil Refinery, and the Wisconsin DNR performed further remediation downstream.

Location

The cleanup of Hog Island Inlet and the mouth of Newton Creek took place in Superior, WI. Hog Island is connected to Superior Bay by a 50-foot channel. The approximate location of the sediment cleanup is outlined in orange in the image below.
Hog Island Inlet is located in the St. Louis River Area of Concern in Superior, Wisconsin.
Picture
Approximate location of sediment cleanup

Cleanup Process

Contaminated sediment in the creek and inlet was excavated "in the dry." This means that the creek was diverted, the inlet was walled off with temporary dams, and the water was pumped out of both areas. A dry bed of sediment was dug, up to 10 feet in some areas of the inlet. The contaminated sediment was segregated and stockpiled at a staging area before being disposed of at Moccasin Mike Landfill. 
Sediment remediated: 46,000 cubic yards
Contaminants: PAHs and lead
Method: Dry excavation
When: 2005
Partners: U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Cost: $6.3 million

Long-term Benefits

  • The cleanup removed contaminated sediment from the mouth of Newton Creek and Hog Island Inlet. This reduces ecological and human health risks for the the St. Louis River system.

  • Removing the stigma of legacy pollution makes Hog Island a more enjoyable place to recreate.
 
  • The cleanup jump-started a habitat restoration effort at Hog Island by NOAA, the Great Lakes Commission, and Douglas County, resulting in the removal of invasive species, the planting of native vegetative buffer, and the addition of 30 underwater habitat structures for fish, turtles, and birds.

More Information

Documents
Hog Island Inlet Remedial Action Project Report (PDF, 45p, 1.4MB) November 2006
Hog Island completion fact sheet (PDF, 2p, 260KB) November 2005
Hog Island kick-off fact sheet (PDF, 2p, 57KB) June 2005
Stakeholders
St. Louis River Alliance
Lake Superior National Estuary Research Reserve
University of Wisconsin-Superior

City of Superior
Douglas County
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
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