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Otter Creek

Maumee Area of Concern

The sediment cleanup of Otter Creek is complete!

Otter Creek is a small stream that flows into south Maumee Bay.  The lower two miles run through highly industrial areas. Railroads, oil refineries, closed landfills, and terminals are located nearby. Many municipal and industrial stormwater outfalls discharge directly into the creek. Before modern environmental laws were in place, industrial practices like oil wells in the 1800s and early 1900s discharged contamination in the creek. Environmental protections are in place today to limit or prevent ongoing sources into the creek. Despite the setbacks of legacy pollution, the Maumee Bay is used by walleye, perch, and bass for spawning.
Extensive sampling and site characterization were performed in Otter Creek and nearby Duck Creek, which led to a feasibility study to determine the cleanup needs in the creeks. PAHs and DROs were found to be present in the sediment in lower Otter Creek and the confluence of Otter Creek and Maumee Bay. The project team found that surface sediment concentrations were lower and sediment toxicity was generally not observed in Duck Creek and upper Otter Creek. The project team did not include these areas in the project. 

Location

Otter Creek extends approximately seven miles through Toledo and Oregon, OH before flowing into Maumee Bay. Otter Creek is in the Maumee Area of Concern. The project area begins about a quarter-mile downstream of Millard Avenue and continues to the mouth of Maumee Bay.
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The Legacy Act project targets sediment in the confluence of Otter Creek and Maumee Bay as well as Otter Creek downstream of Millard Avenue. Samples were collected along both Otter Creek and Duck Creek.

Cleanup Process

Schedule

Sediment remediated: 50,400 cubic yards
Contaminants:
PAHs, DROs
Method: Hydraulic dredging and sand cover
When: 2020-2021
Partners: U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, BP-Husky Refining LLC, Chevron U.S.A., Inc., and Legacy Refining Operations, 
a series of Evergreen Resources Group, LLC​
Cost: TBD
Note: The sediment will be stored indefinitely at the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority's confined disposal facility (CDF).
The environmental cleanup of contaminated sediment in Otter Creek was performed under a voluntary partnership through the Great Lakes Legacy Act. Habitat improvements in the lower 0.5 miles of the creek will reduce erosion and support aquatic species. In spring 2023, Otter Creek will be repopulated with freshwater mussels.

More Information

Documents and Resources
  • Otter Creek November 2021 Fact Sheet (PDF, 2p, 1.7MB) November 2021
  • Otter Creek March 2021 Fact Sheet (PDF, 2p, 588KB) March 2021
  • Stakeholder Meeting Presentation (PDF, 21p, 1MB) January 2019
  • Site Sampling Technical Memorandum (PDF, 234p, 10.3MB) January 2017
  • Duck and Otter Creeks Final Focused Feasibility Study (PDF, 72p, 15.6MB) August 2013
  • Final Focused Feasibility Study Appendix A Supplemental Data Evaluation
  • Final Focused Feasibility Study Appendix B Source Control Review
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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: [email protected]
© 2025 Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant, All Rights Reserved.
Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant strives to ensure equal access and an
​inclusive environment.
  • 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
  • Community Revitalization
    • Ashtabula
    • Buffalo
    • Duluth
    • Muskegon
    • Sheboygan
  • 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
      • Thomson Reservoir - 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