ST. LOUIS RIVER AREA OF CONCERN UPDATES (June 2022)
JUNE ST. LOUIS RIVER AREA OF CONCERN UPDATES
The St. Louis River (SLR) was designated as one of the 31 Areas of Concern (AOC) on the Great Lakes. It was designated as an AOC under the U.S. – Canada Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement in 1987 because of significant impacts that occurred before modern environmental laws were in place. Following the SLRAOC Remedial Action Plan, state and federal agencies have been implementing management actions to address the legacy impairments. If you look, you can now see the work in progress throughout the SLRAOC: contractors are busy each construction season, plant and animal populations are rebounding, water is cleaner, and lost habitat is being restored.
Here are some current project updates, continue reading for further details:
Munger Landing | Access will be open through July 4th holiday, closing July 5th for two years
Perch Lake Habitat Restoration Project | Construction is expected to begin around June 20th, 2022
What are your memories of the River? | Soliciting memories of St. Louis River before water quality improvements started
Munger Landing
Access will be open through July 4th holiday weekend, closing July 5th, 2022 for two years
Due to the start of the Munger Landing remediation project, the Clyde Avenue boat launch will be closed for two years starting July 5, 2022. The boat landing will be available for use through the July 4th holiday weekend.
Munger Landing, also known as Clyde Avenue Boat Launch, is located on a small channel separated from the main shipping channel by a long, narrow island on the St. Louis River. Located in western Duluth in the St. Louis River AOC, Munger Landing features one of three boat launches in Duluth and a fishing pier, making it a popular recreational location for fishing, birding, and boating activities. However, due to historical industrial activity, contaminated sediment containing lead, nickel, zinc, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and dioxins/furans has accumulated at the landing, within the channel, and in a nearby wetland, contributing to public and wildlife health concerns.
In 2022, EPA, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, and Wisconsin DNR, in partnership with industry, will remediate contaminated sediment at the Munger Landing site. The remediation project will dredge approximately 100,000 cubic yards of sediment and soil from the landing, channel, and wetland. Dredged areas will be covered with a clean layer of sand. The project will remove invasive species, install native plants, and restore underwater areas for fish spawning. The project will also replace the boat ramp and create a sandy paddle sport launch area north of the fishing pier. The dredging project will begin in summer 2022 and is anticipated to be completed in 2023. During this time, Munger Landing will be closed to the public.
After completing the remediation, the Munger Landing site will provide a cleaner and safer area for recreation and for fish and wildlife. There are additional plans by the City of Duluth to add trails and increase water access for boaters and paddlers.
Contact: MPCA Project Manager 1-800-657-3864
Perch Lake Restoration Project
Construction expected to begin July 2022
The contract for the dredging portion of the Perch Lake Habitat Restoration Project has been awarded to the J.F Brennan Company. Construction is expected to begin July of 2022. Mobilization to the site and other preconstruction activity may begin in late June.
Minnesota DNR and the Minnesota Land Trust are working together to restore fish and wildlife habitat at Perch Lake. Perch Lake was once a bay of the St. Louis River estuary. The construction of the railroad and U.S. Hwy 23 embankments nearly eliminated this connection. Now, only a shallow 4-ft wide culvert provides connection, drastically reducing water circulation, sediment transport and fish access. As a result, Perch Lake has low oxygen levels, shallow depths, and limited access for fish and wildlife.
To address these impairments, the project’s goals include:
Remove accumulated sediment
Increase circulation between the estuary and Perch Lake
Improve fish and wildlife passage
Restore and enhance coastal marsh wetland habitat
River Stories
Soliciting memories of St. Louis River before water quality improvements started
Photo courtesy of Minnesota Historical Society
Were you told “Don’t swim in the St. Louis River!” when you were young? How did the river smell? What did your grandparents say about fish kills? Did you see oil slicks in Stryker Bay? Could you harvest wild rice in places where it doesn’t grow anymore?
As efforts to restore habitat and improve water quality in the St. Louis River continue, people today are seeing a river that is different than others remember. We’d like to chronicle those earlier experiences to help people understand that history. If you have memories or stories from your elders that you are willing to share, please send them to Barb Huberty, MN Pollution Control Agency’s St. Louis River Area of Concern Coordinator, at barbara.huberty@state.mn.us. Stories and accounts from Minnesota, Wisconsin and the Fond du Lac Reservation are welcome, along with scans of pictures.
Here are some prompts that might help you tell your story in your own words:
Whose memory are you sharing? – give the name of the person that had the experience
What were they doing that created this memory? – fishing, swimming, hiking, working at a nearby business…
Describe how things looked, felt, smelled, or sounded to them – what caused those sensations?
How did the experience make them feel?
Where did they experience this? - from a fishing boat in Rask Bay, from the shore under the Oliver Bridge, at Boy Scout landing…
What year did this happen or how old was this person when they had this experience? – approximations are fine
What is the most noticeable difference that you see today?
What are your hopes for the future of the river?
How will this information be used? These memories will be compiled into one document, from which excerpts (e.g., quotes or pictures) can be shared in future documents or at presentations, such as a St. Louis River Area of Concern Celebration of Progress event. When you submit your memory, please note whether we can quote you and use your pictures (with credit given to the original photographer).
Please feel free to send this memory request to anyone else you know who might be willing to share their memories.
Thank you for sharing your memories with us!
(If sharing via computer isn’t an option, call Barb @ 218/302-6630 to schedule an interview instead.)
