Overview Torch Lake Superfund Remediation Project

Torch Lake Superfund Site Remediation Monitoring: Fall, 2002 Sampling Overview and Results: 

Torch Lake Superfund Site Remediation Monitoring: Fall, 2002 Sampling Overview and Results Presented by: Brenda R. Jones United States Environmental Protection Agency 77 West Jackson Blvd (SR-6J) Chicago, Illinois 60604 (312) 886-7188 Jones.brenda@epa.gov

Objectives: 

Objectives Brief intro to Superfund Overview of fall 2002 sampling efforts Summary of results

What is Superfund?: 

What is Superfund? Superfund: Program to clean up hazardous waste sites to protect human health and the environment. Superfund is managed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency MDEQ Project Mgr: Mary Schafer

Torch Lake Clean-Up Objectives: 

Torch Lake Clean-Up Objectives Reduce/minimize: risks from inhaling airborne stamp sands risk from contact with or ingestion of slag. risk of contaminants getting into groundwater risk of stamp sands released to sediments or surface water

Reduced risk of stamp sands released to sediments or surface water: 

Reduced risk of stamp sands released to sediments or surface water Protection of benthic orgs Benthic orgs are part of the aquatic food chain Stamp sands can interfere with ecological function of the site

Torch Lake Superfund Site Locations: 

Torch Lake Superfund Site Locations 1 = Calumet Lake 2 = Calumet Poor Rock 3 = Boston Pond 4 = North Entry 5 = Michigan Smelter 6 = Quincy Smelter 7 = Isle-Royale 8 = Dollar Bay 9 = Gross Point 10 = Gross Point 11 = Baltic/Atlantic Stamp Mills 12 = Adventure/Trimountain/ Champion Stamp Mills 13 = Torch Lake: Lake Linden, Hubbell/Tamarack Mason sites 13

Blowing Stamp Sands: 

Blowing Stamp Sands Soil and plant cover over mine waste piles to stop continued erosion of stamp sands into the lake. Thereby speeding up natural recovery of lake’s sediments.

Torch Lake Remedy: 

Torch Lake Remedy Objective: prevent further erosion of stamp sands into lake(s) 6 inches soil with vegetative cover Vegetation consists of legumes and grasses Most not native to U.S. or Michigan Legumes Grasses Red clover ryegrass Alfalfa fescue (2 sp) trefoil

Cover layer: 

Cover layer

Superfund Work Completed: 

Superfund Work Completed 13

Has the habitat been improved due to the remediation?: 

Prior to implementation, the stamp sands were: poor habitat (fertility, moisture, surface temp) mostly devoid of vegetation Has the habitat been improved due to the remediation?

Devoid of vegetation or low quality habitat: 

Devoid of vegetation or low quality habitat Bad news

Good news: 

Good news Adjacent potential source areas

Ecological Study: 

Ecological Study Implemented in 2002 to address the following question: What impact is the remedy having on terrestrial habitats?

2002 Ecological Study: 

2002 Ecological Study Small mammal survey Plant survey Bird survey GPS - whole site and all sampling locations

Five Study Areas: 

Five Study Areas

Remedy Completion of Four Study Areas: 

Remedy Completion of Four Study Areas

Gay Sands Map: 

Gay Sands Map

Lake Linden Map: 

Lake Linden Map

Hubbell/ Tamarack Map: 

Hubbell/ Tamarack Map

Mason Map: 

Mason Map

Point Mills Map: 

Point Mills Map

Mammal survey: 

Mammal survey 80 sherman live traps at each location (400 traps) 3 – 4 habitats at each location

Mammal survey: 

Mammal survey Checked 2x daily for 2 days Variety of habitats sampled (remediated and unremediated)

Plant Community Survey: 

Plant Community Survey Biomass Root penetration Fertility Coverage Species ID

Plant Community Survey: 

Plant Community Survey At each of the 5 locations: 20 random sampling points and 5 biased sampling point 3 – 4 distinct habitats Total = 125 sampling points

Bird Community Observations: 

Bird Community Observations Qualitative Visual Auditory

Results of 2002 surveys: 

Results of 2002 surveys

Slide29: 

Time Zero Site – Gay Sands

Point Mills Area - Before Remedy in Fall: 

Point Mills Area - Before Remedy in Fall

Point Mills Area – Year 1 Spring: 

Point Mills Area – Year 1 Spring

Tamarack and Hubbell sites before and after : 

Tamarack and Hubbell sites before and after Before Photos: Gary Aho, NRCS

Slide33: 

Tamarack and Hubbell sites before and after

Mason area before remedy: 

Mason area before remedy Photo credits: Gary Aho, NRCS

Mason area after remedy: 

Mason area after remedy

Lake Linden site after remedy: 

Lake Linden site after remedy

2002 Results – Bird Survey: 

2002 Results – Bird Survey # of bird species Lake Linden – 19 Tamarack – 13 Mason – 11 Point Mills – 15 Gay - 15

Results – Plant Survey: 

Results – Plant Survey Remember we only planted 6 species # plant species Lake Linden – 17 Tamarack – 13 Mason – 19 Point Mills – 5 Gay – 7 Total = 76 species ??

Soil Fertility - Calcium: 

Soil Fertility - Calcium Low: 690 – 1130, Med: 1130 – 1570, High: 1570 – 2000, Very High: >2000 From Table 6

Soil Fertility - Magnesium: 

Soil Fertility - Magnesium Low: 53 - 93, Med: 94 – 160, High: 161 - 330, Very High: >330 From Table 6

Soil Fertility - Phosphorous: 

Soil Fertility - Phosphorous Low: 28 - 50, Med: 51 - 80, High: 80 - 153, Very High: >153 From Table 6

Soil Fertility - Potassium: 

Soil Fertility - Potassium Low: 46 - 91, Med: 92 - 162, High: 164 - 310, Very High: >310 From Table 6

Soil Fertility - Copper: 

Soil Fertility - Copper Low: 0.5, Med: not determined, High: 20, Very High: not determined From Table 6

Results –Mammal Survey: 

Results –Mammal Survey At least 15 species (7 trapped) ~ 15 % trap success Observed directly or saw signs of: red fox, skunk, deer, black bear, squirrel, raccoon # mammal captures Lake Linden – 15 Tamarack – 35 Mason – 20 Point Mills –0 Gay – 0 Gay surrounding area - 55

Biodiversity Summary: 

Biodiversity Summary

What does this all mean?: 

What does this all mean? Remedial action created diverse habitat where none existed before.

Increased Biodiversity: 

Increased Biodiversity Biodiversity (number of species) much greater than expected Biomass (numbers of individuals) much greater than expected Soil fertility increased after remedy