In 2011, a Great Lakes Legacy Act (GLLA) sediment site characterization sampling project to assess the sediment in the lower 2 miles of Swan Creek was conducted. In 2013, a follow-up sampling event was conducted in the lower 4 miles of the creek. Contaminants include oil and grease, mercury, heavy metals, Diesel Range Organics (DRO), Oil Range Organics (ORO), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds (SVOC), and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH).
A Data Gap Investigation is expected to be completed in 2021, followed by a Focused Feasibility Study in 2022.
Project Location
The Swan Creek Contaminated Sediment Project Area is approximately 4 miles of lower Swan Creek and extends from the fish passage project at Highland Park downstream to the Maumee River. Two studies indicated that Swan Creek sediments were contaminated by oil and grease, mercury, heavy metals, Diesel Range Organics (DRO), Oil Range Organics (ORO), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds (SVOC), and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH).
Project Benefits
- Reduce or remove impairments negatively affecting aquatic fish and bug communities.
- Improve overall environmental health and usability of this area.
Project Objectives
- Determine if the cleanup of contaminated sediment is warranted and if so, clean up/removal of contaminated sediments.
- Improve water quality, habitat, and biological communities.
- Encourage economic redevelopment and reuse of the area.
Project Links
Project Partners
Ohio EPA and U.S. EPA are working with community partners and other federal, state, and local governmental agencies to evaluate and cleanup any contaminated sediments (as appropriate) utilizing the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) and other non-federal funding.