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Tannery Bay

St. Marys River Area of Concern

The sediment cleanup at Tannery Bay is complete!

The sediment cleanup in Tannery Bay is complete! The project finished dredging operations in 2007 after removing 45,600 cubic yards of contaminated sediment. As a part of this project, the shoreline was stabilized to prevent further erosion. Sediment was transported by barge to the sediment processing area on shore, where it was loaded into trucks and taken to a nearby landfill for disposal.

The sediment cleanup in Tannery Bay was the fourth project funded under the Great Lakes Legacy Act since its inception in 2002. The cleanup is part of an ongoing, bi-national effort to restore the St. Marys River Area of Concern. 

Location

The Tannery Bay cleanup took place along the south shore of the St. Marys River, upstream of the City of Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan. 
Picture
Tannery Bay sediment cleanup site
Tannery Bay is located near Sault Ste. Marie, MI, on the U.S. side of the St. Marys River Area of Concern.

Cleanup Process

Sediment remediated: 45,600 cubic yards
Contaminants: Heavy metals
Method: Mechanical dredging
When: 2006-2007
Partners: U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, Phelps Dodge Corporation
Cost: $8 million
Notes: The project included shoreline restoration and seeding to prevent erosion and improve the habitat.
Picture
Diagram explaining the dredging process for the Tannery Bay cleanup (Image Credit: Envirocon)

Long-term Benefits

  • Sediment removal created a healthier habitat foundation for sediment-dwelling critters that form the base of the river's food chain.
  • The cleanup in Tannery Bay reduced mercury in the St. Mary's River food chain, which reduces exposure for people who eat fish from the river.
  • The restored shoreline habitat improved landscape views, provided a natural habitat for wildlife, and prevented further erosion into the bay.

More Information

Documents
Tannery Bay fact sheet (PDF, 2p, 2.6MB) September 2007
Tannery Bay site layout plans (PDF, 1p, 14MB) September 2006
Bi-National Public Advisory Council presentation (PDF, 24p, 36MB) July 2005
Stakeholders
Bi-National Public Advisory Council for the St. Marys River Area of Concern
Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
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