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 Scanlon Reservoir

St. Louis River Area of Concern

Site History

Scanlon Reservoir is located downstream of Cloquet, Minnesota and east of Scanlon, Minnesota. Approximately 40 acres in size, the site contains low-energy pools of water, a variety of habitat zones, and the Scanlon hydroelectric dam. Investigations have found elevated concentrations of dioxins and furans widely distributed throughout the reservoir sediments. The sediment remediation project includes a 13.5-acre remedial footprint and will address 55,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment. 
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Location

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The Scanlon Reservoir project site is located east of Scanlon, MN and downstream of Cloquet, MN. It is within the St. Louis River Area of Concern. 

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Schedule

The sediment remediation project is being performed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency through a Great Lakes Legacy Act voluntary partnership. The project will involve new remediation technologies, which include applying a thin layer of activated carbon over contaminated sediments. The activated carbon will bind the contaminants and reduce contaminant uptake by bottom-dwelling organisms, which form the base of the food chain. A 4-6 inch thin-layer of pelletized activated carbon amended with sand will be placed over contaminated sediments in deeper waters of the remedial footprint. A broadcast pelletized activated carbon amendment will be applied in shallower waters. It is anticipated for construction to begin Spring 2022. 
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Remediation Process

Sediment to be remediated: 13.5 acres (55,000 cubic yards)
Contaminants: Dioxins/Furans
Method: Enhanced Monitored Natural Recovery with Thin-Layer Amended Cover and Broadcast Amendment
When: 2022
Partners: U. S. Environmental Protection Agency and Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
Cost: $10.5 million


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This map describes the 13.5-acre Scanlon Reservoir remedial footprint. (Source: Scanlon Reservoir Focused Feasibility Study)

Short-term Disruptions

Due to project construction, Scanlon River Park and the St. Louis River Recreational Trail, parking area, and road will be closed to vehicle and pedestrian traffic through 2022.

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Community Involvement

Contact U.S. EPA project manager, Meaghan Kern, or MPCA project manager, Steve Schoff, to ask questions about the project.

More Information

Documents
Scanlon Reservoir Sediment Project Fact Sheet  (PDF, 2p, 1.4MB) May 2022
Scanlon River Park & Trail Closure Alert
(PDF, 1p, 37.6MB) July 2021
Environmental Assessment Worksheet (PDF, 167p, 43.3MB) May 2021
Decision Summary for Scanlon Reservoir (PDF, 11p, 329KB) November 2020
Focused Feasibility Study for Scanlon Reservoir (PDF, 1027p, 40.2MB) June 2020

Stakeholders
​U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
Minnesota Power
St. Louis River Alliance
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers



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