Grand Calumet Feasibility Study
Project Manager: Kirston Buczak

Introduction:
 
Welcome to the web site for the Grand Calumet Feasibility Study. The purpose of the study is to investigate and recommend alternatives for management of the contaminated sediment in the Grand Calumet River and the non-Federal portions of the Indiana Harbor Canal; and to identify areas for habitat restoration and other authorities in which restoration can be accomplished.

Authority:

Section 312, Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) 1990, as modified by Section 205, WRDA 1996

Project Description:

The study area covers an area of approximately 15.5 river miles. It includes:

  • The Grand Calumet River from the Indiana-Illinois state line eastward to the end of the U.S. Steel cleanup
  • The Grand Calumet River headwaters lagoons, excluding the western half of the western lagoon
  • The Indiana Harbor Ship Canal from the confluence north to Columbus Drive
  • The west end of the Lake George Branch of the Indiana Harbor Ship Canal
The eastern-most five miles of the river and the western half of the west lagoon are included in U.S. Steel’s cleanup projects and will not be covered in this study. This study also does not include the Indiana Harbor Ship Canal navigational dredging project, which is being addressed by the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers and the East Chicago Waterway Management District.
 
The feasibility study is a partnership between the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. We will evaluate ways to address contaminated sediment and restore habitat in and along the Grand Calumet River and non-federal portions of the Indiana Harbor Canal. The Grand Calumet River is one of the most polluted waterways in the Great Lakes basin. High levels of pollutants in the river have prompted health officials to warn against swimming or fishing. Wildlife and recreation in the area are also significantly impacted. In the coming months, we will be compiling information about the river’s water, banks and sediment. We will be evaluating:
  • Options for cleaning up the contaminated sediments in the river and restoring habitat along the river and canal
  • The potential effect of contaminants on the health of people and wildlife living along the river
  • Costs for various types of cleanup
The agencies will complete the study, which includes preparing a Feasibility Report and an Environmental Impact Statement, around Spring 2009. These reports will document our evaluation process and potential effects on the human health and the environment.

Costs:

Total Project Cost:   $ 6,500,000
Federal Cost:   $ 3,400,000
Non-Federal Cost:   $ 3,100,000

Additional Study Partners:

Indiana Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and local agencies and groups.

Current Status:

The current status for Grand Calumet Feasibility Study is to continue work on the feasibility study.

Study Sponsors:

Indiana Department of Environmental Management