Grand Calumet River AOC

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View a boundary map of the Grand Calumet River AOC

On this page:

• Latest News
• Overview
• Beneficial Use Impairments
• Remediation and Restoration Work
• Partners

Latest News

• EPA and Partners Announce More Than $200 Million to Clean Up Grand Calumet River Area of Concern
• Grand Calumet River Restoration Interactive Map 

Overview

The Grand Calumet River is in one of the most heavily industrialized areas in the United States, flowing mainly through northwestern Indiana. Beginning in the 20th century, the area began experiencing an influx of steel mills, foundries, chemical plants, oil refineries, meat packing industries, and pharmaceutical industries. Prior to the 1972 Clean Water Act, industries released industrial waste, and some nearby cities discharged untreated sewage into the river. In addition, potential nonpoint sources of contaminants, such as industrial runoff, urban runoff, and groundwater inputs may have affected water quality in the river.  

The river was designated an Area of Concern (AOC) under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement of 1987, largely due to legacy pollutants. These pollutants were released before they were regulated or their toxicity was widely understood, but they remain in the environment. Legacy pollutants are often found in the bottom sediments of the Grand Calumet River and the Indiana Harbor and Ship Canal. These pollutants include:  

• Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)  
• Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)  
• Heavy metals including but not limited to mercury, cadmium, chromium, and lead
• Oil and grease

In addition to the legacy pollutants listed above, routine monitoring indicates that there is high biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) in the Grand Calumet River, meaning the river water does not have enough oxygen for microorganisms to decompose organic matter efficiently. The AOC also includes a number of Superfund sites and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act hazardous waste sites.  

Beneficial Use Impairments

Beneficial Use Impairments (BUIs) are designations overseen by the International Joint Commission that indicate significant environmental degradation in AOCs. Removing BUIs demonstrates progress in cleanup and restoration. Up to 14 BUIs may be designated for an AOC; as cleanup actions are completed and monitoring confirms environmental improvements, BUIs are removed over time. The original Remedial Action Plan for the Grand Calumet River AOC identified all fourteen BUIs. The list below shows which BUIs have been removed, and which remain. Once all BUIs are removed, the delisting process can begin.  

• Restrictions on Fish and Wildlife Consumption
• Eutrophication or Undesirable Algae
• Tainting of Fish and Wildlife Flavor
• Restrictions on Drinking Water Consumption or Taste and Odor Problems (pdf) (396 K) - Removed March 2012 
• Degradation of Fish and Wildlife Populations 
• Beach Closings
• Fish Tumors or Other Deformities 
• Degradation of Aesthetics 
• Bird or Animal Deformities or Reproduction Problems 
• Added Costs to Agriculture or Industry (pdf) (651 K)- Removed September 2011 
• Degradation of Benthos 
• Degradation of Phytoplankton and Zooplankton Populations 
• Restrictions on Dredging Activities 
• Loss of Fish and Wildlife Habitat

Remediation and Restoration Work

To delist the Grand Calumet River AOC, EPA and partners identified 12 sediment remediation and five habitat restoration projects or “management actions”. To date, six of the sediment remediation and two of the habitat restoration management actions have been completed. The goal of sediment remediation is to address sediments severely contaminated with PCBs, PAHs, and heavy metals. Sediment may be addressed by dredging and/or capping to prevent further release of contaminants.  

Habitat function in the AOC has suffered due to urbanization. Over 1,000 acres of habitat in the AOC will be restored, including globally rare dune and swale habitat. To delist this AOC, partners must meet habitat-related BUI removal criteria (pdf) (164 K).  Restoration and cleanup at this AOC will improve one of the most heavily polluted areas in the Great Lakes watershed and allow the surrounding communities to benefit more fully from the river and surrounding ecosystems. 

• Documents on Restoring the Grand Calumet River AOC
• View Remediation and Restoration Projects for this AOC 

• Remediation Project Highlight

  

  Remediate nearly 190,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment through dredging and capping, preventing contaminants from entering the food chain.

  Lake George Canal Middle and East

• Restoration Project Highlight

  

  Restore globally rare dune and swale habitat and riverine wetlands through the control of woody and herbaceous invasive species.

  Dune, Swale and Shelf Wetlands Restoration

Partners