Deer Lake River Area of Concern

Background 

Early fall in South Basin looking toward the Narrows.

Sunset view of the South Basin of Deer Lake looking toward the Narrows.

Deer Lake is a 1,000-acre impoundment in central Marquette County near Ishpeming, Michigan. The Area of Concern (AOC) boundary is considered to be Carp Creek from the discharge point of the old Ishpeming Township A Wastewater Treatment Plant flowing downstream to the south basin of Deer Lake. The AOC also includes Deer Lake, and the Carp River flowing downstream through the dam from the north basin of Deer Lake about twenty miles to Lake Superior near Marquette. International Joint Commission, Environmental Protection Agency, and Michigan Department of Environmental Quality guidance materials describe that AOCs should be considered on a watershed basis. In most AOCs the watershed is considered a potential source area to that AOC. Contaminant sources to Beneficial Use Impairments (BUIs) that are identified within the watershed, even if not located within the defined AOC boundaries, would be given every consideration for remedial actions, when meeting all federal and state guidance. 

In 1981 fish in Deer Lake were discovered to have concentrations of mercury that exceeded the 1.5 mg/kg "ban on total consumption" by the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH). Mercury concentrations in Deer Lake fish also exceeded the mercury levels found in fish from similar lakes at that time. 

There were two known industrial sources of mercury to the Deer Lake AOC. The first industrial use of mercury occurred in the 1880s in the northwestern portion of the Deer Lake AOC watershed by the Ropes Gold and Silver Company. Liquid (elemental) mercury was used to recover gold from ore between 1882 and 1897 at a location west of the north basin of Deer Lake.

The second industrial use of mercury occurred in the Carp Creek watershed. Mercury salts were used in iron ore assays in laboratories of The Cleveland-Cliffs Iron Company (CCIC). Mercury-containing wastewater from the CCIC laboratories was discharged to the City of Ishpeming wastewater treatment system between 1929 and 1981. During that time the City wastewater treatment plant discharged primary-treated municipal wastewater into Carp Creek which then flows into the south basin of Deer Lake. 

From 1929 to 1963 all wastewater generated in the City of Ishpeming and Ishpeming Township discharged without treatment through combined sanitary and storm sewers into Carp Creek. From 1964 to 1985 three Primary Treatment Plants treated municipal wastewater before it was discharged into Carp Creek. In 1970 these primary treatment systems were determined to be inadequate by the State Water Resources Commission. The combined sewers were separated into sanitary sewers and storm sewers by 1985. An Enhanced Secondary Wastewater Treatment Plant replaced the three Primary treatment plants in April 1986. The new wastewater treatment system significantly decreased nutrient loading into Deer Lake; for example, phosphorus loading decreased by 86%.

Beneficial Use Impairments 

• Restrictions on Fish and Wildlife Consumption
  Some fish sampled from Deer Lake contain mercury concentrations that exceed the 1.5 mg/kg “do not consume” threshold that has been established by the MDCH. Currently, there is a possession ban for all fish from Deer Lake. There is no fish consumption advisory for brook trout in Carp Creek and the Carp River, however, consumption of other species in these streams is not advised. There are no consumption advisories for wildlife in the Deer Lake AOC.
  
  
• Bird or Animal Deformities of Reproductive Problems
  Bald eagles maintained a nest at Deer Lake between 1963 and 1980, but did not successfully rear young during that time. Eagles were documented to be reproducing successfully again beginning in 1998.
  
  
• Eutrophication or Undesirable Algae
  Deer Lake was characterized as eutrophic (nutrient-rich) by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) during a national lake survey in 1972. A 1974-75 study by Northern Michigan University concluded that Deer Lake was hypereutrophic (excessively nutrient-rich). Dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations have been used to assess and monitor the trophic (nutrient) status of the AOC.

Delisting Criteria/Restoration Targets

The Deer Lake AOC Public Advisory Council has requested that the State of Michigan and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) begin the delisting process for the AOC. An AOC Technical Committee was developed comprised of staff from state and federal agencies and the PAC’s technical committee. The technical committee determined to use delisting criteria based on the January 2006 Guidance for Delisting Michigan’s Great Lakes Areas of Concern (PDF 508Kb, 61 pages) document. The AOC Technical Committee is initiating the development of a Delisting Determination Document based on the State of Michigan delisting guidance. This document will determine the status of the BUIs. The Technical Committee will develop a timeline to set goals and track progress. The timeline will use elements from the PAC’s delisting checklist.

RAP Development and Status

A Remedial Action Plan (RAP) for Deer Lake Area of Concern (PDF 5.19Mb, 168 pages) was published by the MDEQ in 1987. The Deer Lake PAC drafted a RAP Update in 2002 that is being reviewed by the MDEQ.

The Deer Lake RAP Update is currently in draft form and will be used as the basis for the Deer Lake Delisting Determination Document.

Significant RAP Milestones  

RAP Implementation

A goldeneye duck swimming during Autumn. From Fred Minnich’s Wildlife Survey conducted July 2004 - June 2005

Eaglet in tree near nest on Deer Lake North Basin, hatched and fledged 2004. From Fred Minnich’s Wildlife Survey conducted July 2004 - June 2005

Mink on Rocky shore. From Fred Minnich’s Wildlife Survey conducted July 2004 - June 2005

Recent Progress and Achievements

• 2006: The AOC Technical Committee was developed with representatives from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, the Deer Lake PAC, and U.S. EPA to investigate BUI status and potential for delisting individual BUIs or the entire AOC.
• 2005: The Deer Lake PAC requested that the State of Michigan and U.S. EPA begin the AOC delisting process for the AOC based on the 2006 MDEQ Guidance for Delisting Michigan’s Great Lakes Areas of Concern.
• 2003: Valve operation in the Deer Lake dam was resumed to minimize methylation of mercury within the reservoir. The PAC water quality monitoring program provided data that were used to monitor hypolimnion water withdrawals evaluate the valve settings and monitor lake conditions relative to mercury methylation.
• 2002: The Deer Lake PAC drafted a Remedial Action Plan Update. The PAC developed a delisting goal for the fish consumption BUI, recommended remedies to decrease fish mercury concentrations, and began monitoring Deer Lake water quality on a weekly basis.
• 2001: A study by Michigan State University concluded that there is evidence of natural attenuation of sediments in Deer Lake, although natural attenuation is presently arrested. If natural attenuation again starts, and if the rates are similar to historical patterns, 21 to 24 years are estimated for recovery (based on accumulation of six inches of clean sediment). The report indicated that some natural attenuation had occurred in both basins of Deer Lake, with slightly faster recovery in the south basin.
• 2000: MDEQ determined that small fish in Deer Lake have mercury concentrations that are equal to comparable fish from reference (Day 2000) lakes, but the mercury content of large fish in Deer Lake remained elevated.
• 1998-2005: Bald eagles are reproducing successfully at Deer Lake.
• 1997: Deer Lake PAC was formed.
• 1994: Mercury content of “standard” (24-inch) northern pike decreased below 1.5 mg/kg, which is the MDCH trigger for “no consumption.” The fish consumption advisory for brook trout in Carp Creek and Carp River was removed.
• 1993: Mercury content in brook trout collected from the Carp River is well below 0.5 mg/kg, which is the MDCH trigger for restricting consumption.
• 1989: MDEQ monitoring determined that the dissolved oxygen content of Deer Lake during the winter had improved, only three years after the improvements in wastewater treatment were implemented.
• 1987: MDEQ published the RAP for Deer Lake AOC (PDF 5190Kb, 168 pages).

Current Projects and Outlook

The Technical Committee is initiating the development of a Delisting Determination Document which will be based on the Guidance for Delisting Michigan’s Great Lakes Areas of Concern (PDF 508Kb, 61 pages) . This document will evaluate the status of the BUIs in the AOC. The Technical Committee is currently developing a timeline for the document’s development.

RAP-Related Publications

• 2002: Draft RAP update developed by PAC, work continues on this document.
• 1999: Updated AOC brochure produced.
• 1987: Remedial Action Plan for Deer Lake Area of Concern completed.

Community/Local RAP Group Involvement 

A Public Advisory Council (PAC) was formed for the Deer Lake AOC in 1997. The formation of the PAC was a very positive step, with strong community support from a large stakeholder base. The PAC has 21 voting members, plus three non-voting state agency representatives who serve in an advisory capacity. PAC membership represents a broad cross-section of interests, including:

• City of Ishpeming 
• Cleveland-Cliffs Iron Company 
• Education
• Environmental Organizations
• Fishing (2 members)
• Human Health Resources
• Lakeshore Residents (4 members)
• Local Businesses (2 members)
• Marquette County 
  • Board of Commissioners
  • Drain Commissioner
  • Road Commission
• Native Americans
• Recreation
• Township of Ishpeming 
• Wastewater Treatment
• Watershed residents at large

• Yearly water quality monitoring provided by the PAC.
• Local community and PAC members continue monitoring Carp Creek to control beaver populations to maintain the coldwater fisheries by removal of beaver dams. PAC supplied waders to support these efforts.
• Ongoing volunteer streambank, lakeshore, public access site, and island cleanup projects.
• Water quality signage related to fish consumption advisories maintained by PAC.
• Fish spawning bed established by PAC pass-through grant.

Partners and Stakeholders

• Deer Lake Public Advisory Council
• Michigan Department of Community Health 
• Michigan Department of Environmental Quality 
• Michigan Department of Natural Resources 
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Great Lakes National Program Office

Deer Lake River AOC Contacts

State RAP Contact:
Sharon Baker
Michigan Department of Environmental Quality – Water Bureau
525 W. Allegan Street
P.O. Box 30273
Lansing, MI 48909-7773
Tel:  (517) 335-3310
Fax: (517) 373-9958
Email: bakersl@michigan.gov

Deer Lake Public Advisory Council:
Jerry Ely, Chair
13 Ely Drive
Negaunee, MI 49866
Tel:  (906) 475- 7797
Email: gely@nmu.edu

Local Coordinator:
Diane Feller
Deer Lake SPAC Representative
490 Deer Lake Road
Ishpeming, MI 49849
Tel:  (906) 486-9967
Email: dkfeller@aol.com