| Ottawa
River Remediation
_____________________________________
The Ottawa River
A Report to the Community /
Public Meeting
May
22, 2007
The Ottawa River, a Maumee
Bay tributary at Toledo Ohio,
is severely impacted by contaminated sediments. High concentrations of PCBs and
metals in the lower river pose unacceptable risks to human and ecological health.
Contaminated sediments, especially in the Ottawa River, were a primary reason
for designating the Maumee River as an Area of
Concern. Remediating the Ottawa River and its
sediments is one of the Maumee RAP's
top priorities. Over the past fifteen years several dozen stakeholders
have invested tens of millions of dollars to restore the river. TMACOG, the City
of Toledo, the Maumee RAP, US EPA, Ohio EPA, and
many other stakeholders are developing a sediment remediation program for the
Ottawa River intended for funding through the
Great Lakes Legacy
Act. A number of steps are required to develop a sediment remediation project.
Briefly, past work has included assessment of the river, led by Ohio EPA in its
MAOC Project, and
control of sources of contaminants. Download presentations from the May 22nd
2007 meeting
Since 2000 TMACOG has coordinated a series
of studies with a Project Management Team of stakeholders to assess the river
sediment quality better, and set remediation priorities. These studies are available,
below. TMACOG is requesting qualifications/proposals for the next step. The scope
and RFQ-P are also available for downloading, below.
Whole Sediment Toxicity Studies for Ottawa
River and other Maumee
River Area of Concern Streams
Whole Sediment Toxicity: Hyalella azteca,
Ohio EPA 1995 large download Appendices for 1995 study
are available on request.
Whole
Sediment Toxicity: Hyalella azteca and Lumbriculus
variegatus, Ohio EPA/GLNPO 1998
Ottawa River Sediment Data (1999)
Apparent Soft-Sediment Distribution
near “Unnamed Tributary,” upstream of Stickney
Ave Deposition Zone investigation Area. Hull & Associates, 1999.
Ottawa River Risk Assessments (2001)
Ottawa_River_Risk_Assessment
— the entire
document This document evaluates the risks for human and
ecological health due to contamination in the Ottawa River.
It includes:
Synthesis Memo, Limno-Tech, Inc..
Screening-Level Human Health Risk Assessment for the Lower Ottawa River, Ohio
Intertox, Inc.
Ecological Screening-Level Risk Assessment of the Lower
Ottawa River, Parametrix Ottawa River Priorities Report (2004)
This document
identifies and prioritizes hotspots of contaminated sediments in the Ottawa
River and recommends “Remedial Target Areas.” The report identifies
five RTAs between Stickney Avenue (River Mile 4.9) and Lagrange Street
(River Mile 6.5) as top priorities. These RTAs have been submitted to US EPA for
potential “Legacy Act” remediation. This report was prepared by Hull & Associates
and Blasland, Bouck, and Lee, Inc. (BBL). Ottawa River Priorities Report — the main report
Ottawa
River Priorities Report Tables —
all the tables
Ottawa
River Priorities Report Figures —
all the figures large download
Ottawa River Sediment Investigation Report:
Stickney Avenue Depositional Zone (2007)
In
2007 the team of Hull and Associates and Limno-Tech
completed an investigation study of the Ottawa River
immediately downstream of Stickney
Avenue. As this river widens out and flows slow down,
sediment has a tendency to settle in this area. Hence, it is referred to as the
Stickney Avenue Depositional Zone, or SADZ. The area studied covers river miles
4.2 to 4.9. he project goals were to: ·
To collect bathymetric and topographic elevation data to support
hydrodynamic modeling of the SADZ, for purposes of valuating bed stability. ·
To collect data on soft sediment thickness in the SADZ to
support evaluation of sediment removal as a remedial alternative. ·
To collect supplemental sediment quality data to better define
the nature, extent, and distribution of chemical impacts to sediments in the SADZ.
Ottawa River: Stickney Avenue Depositional
Zone large download (80
MB)
For questions or more information, please contact
Kurt Erichsen, P.E.
Vice President of
Environmental Planning
419-241-9155 extension 126 | 
