In 2011, a Great Lakes Legacy Act (GLLA) sediment site characterization sampling project to assess the sediment in the lower two (2) miles of Swan Creek was conducted. In 2013, a follow-up sampling event was conducted in the lower four (4) miles of the creek. Primary contaminants include polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH).
Project Location
The Swan Creek Contaminated Sediment Project Area is approximately two (2) miles of lower Swan Creek and extends from downstream of Hawley Street to the Maumee River and its river mouth banks. 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 affected aquatic 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
•From Ohio EPA: Lower Maumee River & Swan Creek Contaminated Sediments Remediation (February 2023)
• From U.S. EPA: Swan Creek Site Characterization Report (August 2022)
• From U.S. EPA: Swan Creek Phase 2 Sediment Assessment Report (Oct 2014)
• From U.S. EPA: Swan Creek Phase 1 Sediment Assessment Report (August 2012)
• GLLA Proposed Maumee River AOC Site Characterizations (December 2010)
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.
Photo credits:
All page photos: Ohio EPA