Geo-feasibility of in situ sediment capping in a Great Lakes urban estuary: a sediment budget assessment |
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| Authors: | Anthony M Foyle Kevin P Norton |
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| Institution: | (1) School of Science, Penn State Erie – The Behrend College, Station Road, Erie, PA 16563, USA;(2) Institute for Mineralogy, University of Hannover, Hannover, Germany |
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| Abstract: | Presque Isle Bay is one of 40 remaining environmental areas of concern (AoCs) on the North American Great Lakes that have
one or more water, habitat, or sediment quality impairments as defined by the International Joint Commission. In situ natural
capping using sediment from to-be-remediated watersheds and other potential sources is being considered as the most feasible
means of remediating an existing contaminated sediment problem at this site. A multi-decade (∼40 year) sediment budget shows
that, when localized anthropogenic effects (dredging, reclamation) are discounted, the bay net-accumulated sediment over time.
Sediment was supplied from three major sources: bank erosion and bluff retreat (41%), streams (25%), and the Lake Erie littoral
system (20%). The non-stream sources supply environmentally clean materials from ancient beach and glacio-lacustrine deposits
along the shoreline, and from the modern littoral system. Organic and metallic contaminants supplied primarily by streams
and run-off remain a remediation challenge for the AoC. Geologically, natural capping of contaminants over the next several
decades is a viable solution for most of the bay. The mechanism may not work effectively in all areas because approximately
25% of the bay floor is moderately net-erosional while several localized areas accumulate sediments very slowly at decadal
timescales. |
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| Keywords: | Sediment budget Remediation Presque Isle USA |
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