NORTH SHORE OF LAKE SUPERIOR NORTH SHORE OF LAKE SUPERIOR NORTH SHORE OF LAKE SUPERIOR REMEDIAL ACTION PLANS REMEDIAL ACTION PLANS REMEDIAL ACTION PLANS NORTH SHORE OF LAKE SUPERIOR NORTH SHORE OF LAKE SUPERIOR NORTH SHORE OF LAKE SUPERIOR REMEDIAL ACTION PLANS REMEDIAL ACTION PLANS REMEDIAL ACTION PLANS THUNDER BAY REMEDIAL ACTION PLAN UPDATE 2009-2012 UPDATE THUNDER BAY REMEDIAL ACTION PLAN < I I > THUNDER BAY REMEDIAL ACTION PLAN UPDATE Photo by Zack Kruzins by Photo MESSAGE FROM THE COORDINATOR On behalf of those involved with the Thunder Bay Remedial Action Plan, I am pleased to provide you with a copy of the 2009 to 2012 program update. We have made great progress over the last four years and I am happy to report that science and monitoring information is beginning to reveal signs of ecosystem recovery. Our progress-to-date and the major environmental improvements to the Thunder Bay harbour can be attributed to all the hard work from our community volunteers and public service representatives. It is truly an achievement to implement such a large-scale collaborative program. I would like to personally thank all of the people who have dedicated their lives and careers to helping improve the environmental health of this area. I would also like to acknowledge the financial support of the Canada Ontario Agreement Respecting the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem and the Great Lakes Sustainability Fund. We are grateful for the continued commitment from both our federal and provincial governments. The intent of this report is to provide a summary of our progress to a wider community audience. My hope is that the document reflects the integrated and collaborative nature of the RAP. SINCERELY, AARON A. NICHOLSON REMEDIAL ACTION PLAN COORDINATOR THUNDER BAY AREA OF CONCERN UPDATE THUNDER BAY REMEDIAL ACTION PLAN < I I REMEDIAL ACTION PLAN PROGRAM MEMBERS THUNDER BAY PUBLIC ADVISORY COMMITTEE Ashleigh Nicholson Gordon Van Fleet Resolute Forest Products Confederation College Bruce Pritchard Guy Jarvis Lake Superior Discovery Place Thunder Bay Port Authority Carl Taylor Heidi Strobl ERCO Worldwide General Public Chris Walton Ian Dew General Public General Public David Spackman Jane Todd General Public Ontario Power Generation Duncan Hutchison Jean Hall-Armstrong (Co-Chair) General Public Thunder Bay Field Naturalists Frank Edgson (Co-Chair) Matt Roy Northshore Steelhead Association General Public Gerry Heinrichs Samuel Pegg Richardson International General Public THUNDER BAY RAP IMPLEMENTATION COMMITTEE Aaron Nicholson Michelle McChristie RAP Coordinator Ministry of the Environment Abby Mackie Neville Ward Thunder Bay District Health Unit Department of Fisheries and Oceans Davis Viehbeck Paul Fayrick Ministry of Natural Resources City of Thunder Bay Ellen Mortfield Robert Stewart EcoSuperior Environmental Programs Lakehead University Jim Vukmanich Tammy Cook City of Thunder Bay Lakehead Region Conservation Authority Kate Taillon Troy Sampson Environment Canada Thunder Bay District Health Unit Kerri Marshall Werner Schwar City of Thunder Bay City of Thunder Bay Marilee Chase Ministry of Natural Resources I I I > THUNDER BAY REMEDIAL ACTION PLAN UPDATE Photo by Zack Kruzins by Photo EXECUTIVE SUMMARY In July of 2009, government agencies involved with the Thunder Bay Remedial Action Plan (RAP) approached faculty members at Lakehead University to assist with implementation of the program. This new relationship resulted in the creation of a full-time RAP Coordinator position housed out of Lakehead University. The primary focus of the RAP Coordinator was to facilitate public involve- ment and coordinate of the RAP Implementation Committee. The purpose of this report is to summarize the progress made since the beginning of this position and to illustrate the future direction of the Thunder Bay RAP. The Thunder Bay Area of Concern is one of 43 Great Lakes Areas of Concern (AOCs) identified by the governments of Canada and the United States under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA, 1978). These areas are locations where environmental quality is significantly degraded and Remedial Action Plans (RAPs) have been implemented to guide restoration efforts and ecosys- tem recovery. The Thunder Bay AOC has experienced ecosystem impairments as a result of waterfront development, industrial and municipal wastewater discharge, and the hydroelectric development of urban tributaries. The Thunder Bay RAP has completed both Stage 1 (Definition of Problem) and Stage 2 (Remedial Strategies) as outlined by the 1987 amendments to the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. Since the early 1990’s, the Thunder Bay RAP has contributed significantly to improving the environmental health of Thunder Bay and its sur- rounding watershed. Nearly $100M has been spent on wastewater infrastructure upgrades, over $22M on aquatic habitat enhancement, and $68M on wastewater treatment technology. Science and monitoring information is showing that the Thunder Bay Area of Concern is begin- ning to recover from its industrial legacy. Although there has been much progress towards restoring beneficial uses, many issues still remain. Agencies and public representatives involved with the RAP program have been working over the last four years (2009-2012) to successfully complete remedial actions and identify any remaining issues that require resolution before delisting could occur. Major remaining remedial actions include the development of a management plan for contaminated sediments at the North Harbour site, implementation of manage- ment plans to remediate non-point sources of pollution, management of bacterial sources at recreational swimming areas, and improvement of access to historical spawning grounds for native fish populations. In collaboration with partner agencies and community members those invoved with the RAP program will work towards implementing the identified remaining remedial actions and finalizing an updated status of ecosystem health. UPDATE THUNDER BAY REMEDIAL ACTION PLAN < I V TABLE OF CONTENT S MESSAGE FROM THE COORDINATOR..................................II RAP PROGRAM MEMBERS..................................................III EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.......................................................IV 1.0 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................... ...........1 1.1 Thunder Bay Area of Concern................................................................................................. ..1 1.2 Status of Environmental Impairments ................................................................................ ..2 1.3 Completed Remedial Projects......................................................................3 1.4 Community Involvement...............................................................................5 1.5 Delisting Criteria...........................................................................................5 2.0 SCIENCE & MONITORING ..................................................................................... 6 2.1 Fish Health ....................................................................................................................................... 6 2.1.1 Dynamics of Fish Populations ................................................................................. 6 2.1.2 Loss of Fish Habitat.........................................................................9 2.1.3 Fish Consumption Restrictions .............................................................................11 2.1.4 Body Burdens of Fish ................................................................................................11 2.1.5 Fish Tumours and Other Deformities .................................................................12 2.2 Sediment Contamination ........................................................................................................13 2.2.1 Degradation of Benthos ..........................................................................................13 2.2.2 Restrictions on Dredging...............................................................17 2.3 Water Quality ................................................................................................................................17 2.3.1 Beach Advisories ........................................................................................................17 2.3.2 Degradation of Phytoplankton & Zooplankton..............................................19 2.3.3 Degradation of Aesthetics .....................................................................................19 2.4 Wildlife. 20 2.4.1 Dynamics of Wildlife Populations ........................................................................20 2.4.2 Loss of Wildlife Habitat ............................................................................................21 2.4.3 Contaminant Levels in Wildlife .............................................................................22 2.5 Science & Monitoring Summary. ...........................................................................................23 3.0 REMAINING REMEDIAL ACTIONS.. .................................................................... 25 3.1 Contaminated Sediment at North Harbour Site........................................25 3.2 Remaining Non-Point Sources of Contaminants........................................25 3.3 Beach Advisories - Chippewa Beach & Boulevard Lake............................25 3.4 Recovery of Native Fish Species................................................................26