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The objectives of the 1992 Great Lakes 5 Year Strategy are unlikely to be met in the Black River Area of Concern (AOC) unless there is a thorough evaluation of what role contaminated sediments are having on the system. The Black River Remedial Action Plan (RAP) Strategy Plan (1997 - 2001) and 1997 Draft Annual Plan state that contaminated sediments and related toxicity are a significant issue in the system, yet no studies have been developed for assessing sediment toxicity. The Black River’s infamous history of severe sediment contamination from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) below USS/Kobe Steel and associated impacts on the fish community, the land use and hydrologic characteristics which result in extensive sediment loading and deposition, and past and present pollution sources clearly suggest sediments may, in fact, be the dominant stressor in the system. Controls are being implemented (through the RAP process) to reduce sediment and contaminant loading. However, the effectiveness of any controls or past dredging, the contribution of existing sediment contamination to use impairment, or documentation for use impairment delisiting, cannot be accurately assessed without a comprehensive assessment of sediment toxicity.

Table of Contents (back to top)
Assesment of Sediment Quality in the Black River Watershed-Final Report
Executive Summary
Introduction
Project Description
Methods
Laboratory Toxicity Methods: Fall 1997
In Situ Toxicity Testing: Fall 1997
In Situ Toxicity Testing: Spring 1998
DNA Fingerprinting
Results and Discussion
Site Water Quality 1997
Fall 1997 Laboratory Testing
Fall 1997 In situ Exposures
Fall 1997 DNA Fingerprinting
Spring 1998 In situ Exposures
Literature Cited
Tables
Figures
Appendix-Available on request
Statistical analyses of toxicity data
Water chemistry from laboratory and in situ toxicity tests
GPS locations of stations
Hydrolab continuous monitoring data and figure, June 1998
RAPD genetic similarity analyses, Fall 1997