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. 

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.

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