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Remedy effectiveness and restoration effectiveness at Ponds behind Erie and Pickle Pond in the St. Louis River AOC
Citation:
Peterson, G., G. Ankley, A. Balz, G. Beaubien, M. Gordon, J. Hoffman, D. Krabbenhoft, S. Janssen, Jim Lazorchak, T. Luxton, M. Mills, T. Newcomer-Johnson, M. Pearson, D. White, AND R. Yeardley. Remedy effectiveness and restoration effectiveness at Ponds behind Erie and Pickle Pond in the St. Louis River AOC. St. Louis River Virtual Summit, Duluth, MN, March 01 - 03, 2021. https://doi.org/10.23645/epacomptox.14120516
Impact/Purpose:
Our goal is to evaluate restoration success at contaminated sites. Remedy effectiveness and restoration effectiveness are approaches to measure the progress and success of remediation or restoration projects. In this presentation, we will describe initial data collection efforts undertaken at two remediation and restoration sites at a Great Lakes Area of Concern to document both baseline and reference conditions at both sites prior to project construction. These data include sediment, pore water, and surface water quality; contaminant bioaccumulation in invertebrates and fish; industrial mercury contribution to sediment, water, and biota; and indices of biotic integrity based on benthic invertebrates and fish.
Description:
Remedy effectiveness and restoration effectiveness are approaches to measure the progress and success of remediation or restoration projects. Here, success is defined by project-specific physical, chemical, and biological objectives. Multiple lines of evidence based on a combination of physical, chemical, and biological variables are used to measure project effectiveness. Two case studies in the St Louis River Area of Concern will be discussed. The Ponds behind Erie Pier (PBEP) are two small embayments receiving principally stormwater that are hydrologically connected to the Minnesota side of the St. Louis River estuary. Pickle Pond is a small embayment receiving stormwater that is hydrologically connected to the Wisconsin side of the estuary. PBEP is a priority remediation site due to a wide array of contaminants of concern, including both organic and metal contaminants. Pickle Pond is a remediation and restoration site that is contaminated and is ecologically degraded. Both sites are sheltered coastal wetlands, and for both the goal is to improve both environmental condition and ecological health. To measure remedy and restoration effectiveness, it is necessary to document both baseline and reference conditions prior to the start of the project. In this presentation, we will describe initial data collection efforts undertaken to document both baseline and reference conditions at both sites. These data include sediment, pore water, and surface water quality; contaminant bioaccumulation in invertebrates and fish; industrial mercury contribution to sediment, water, and biota; and indices of biotic integrity based on benthic invertebrates and fish.
URLs/Downloads:
DOI: Remedy effectiveness and restoration effectiveness at Ponds behind Erie and Pickle Pond in the St. Louis River AOC