Great Lakes Mud
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    • 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
      • Slip 3 and Slip C - St. Louis River AOC
      • SLR Interlake/Duluth Tar - St. Louis River AOC
      • U. S. Steel 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...
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Polluted mud

Millions of pounds of heavy metals, oils, chemicals, and other contaminants remain in our river and lake beds.

Dioxins
Heavy Metals
NAPL
Oil & Grease
PAHs
PCBs
TBT
TPH

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An abandoned industrial facility on the banks of the Buffalo River in 2011
Before modern-day regulations, Great Lakes municipalities and industries discharged heavy metals, toxic chemicals, and more into nearby rivers and harbors. Although discharges have greatly decreased, many of these contaminants still remain in the sediment at the bottom of our lakes and rivers. ​

Historic pollutants still pose a threat to public health and the environment. They harm wildlife and can leave fish unsafe to eat and the water unsuitable for drinking or swimming.  
​

Contamination also prevents communities from performing routine dredging needed to keep waterways open to vessel traffic, resulting in underutilized waterfronts and stunted economic growth. 
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Oil contamination in the sediment creates a sheen.

Studying pollution 

Local and state entities work with the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency to identify places that may be contaminated based on historic uses of the site and previous studies of the waterbody.

​EPA's boat, the RV Mudpuppy II, takes samples to tell us what kind of contamination is in the sediment, the amount of contamination present, how deep the pollution is, and where that pollution is located.

​Scientists use many sources of data to understand pollution in the Great Lakes. An example of biological data is the U. S. Geological Survey's research on tree swallows. 

From the water to your dinner plate

Picture
Photo provided by Michigan Department of Health and Human Services

Advice for eating safe fish and wildlife from the Great Lakes

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Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant. ​Chicago, IL 60604.
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Webpage last updated July 18, 2020 due to staffing change.