Remediation

Grand Calumet River

The Grand Calumet River and Indiana Harbor and Canal (Calumet waterways) contain 5 to 10 million cubic yards (3.9 to 7.7 million cubic meters) of contaminated sediment up to 20 feet (6 m) deep (EPA, 2008). Contaminants include toxic compounds (e.g., PAHs, PCBs and heavy metals) as well as more conventional pollutants from industrial and urban runoff (e.g., phosphorus, nitrogen, iron, magnesium, solids, oil and grease). Historically, the Grand Calumet River supported highly diverse, unique ecological communities. The urban and industrial land uses and associated pollution have degraded the environment and impaired many desired uses of the area, including many identified beneficial uses.

Many agencies and stakeholders are working in the Calumet waterways region to study, assess, plan, and implement restoration and remediation plans in an attempt to restore many of the beneficial uses of the area by remediating the many contamination issues. Below, a few links are provided to available resources and information available from those working to restore the Grand Calumet River and Indiana Harbor and Canal.