Developing an Ecological Restoration Blueprint for Hog Island/Newton Creek

Working in partnership with various stakeholders, USEPA hired a contractor to develop a master plan to guide ecological restoration projects in Hog Island/Newton Creek. Stakeholders include Douglas County and City of Superior representatives, Wisconsin and Minnesota state staff, members of advocacy groups and industry. During the course of this project, public input will help define land use priorities. The final Hog Island/Newton Creek Ecological Restoration Master Plan, based on existing conditions analysis, data synthesis and two public meetings, is anticipated to be complete by May 2007. The Master Plan will contain an assessment of current conditions, specific restoration goals and objectives, specific restoration actions, cost estimates, and an implementation schedule and timeline.

The ecological restoration master plan project follows sediment remediation completed under the Great Lakes Legacy Act. Ultimately this project will identify ecological restoration opportunities in Hog Island/Newton Creek to facilitate delisting of the habitat related Beneficial Use Impairments identified for the St. Louis River Area of Concern.

Hog Island - Newton Creek Kickoff Meeting

On September 12, 2006, Douglas County, Wisconsin hosted the kick off meeting to develop an ecological restoration blueprint for Hog Island/Newton Creek. Stakeholders at the kickoff meeting included USEPA Great Lakes National Program Office, Wisconsin and Minnesota state staff, Douglas County and City of Superior representatives, members of the Citizens Advisory Committee and a local land trust.

Hog Island-Newton Creek 1st Public Workshop

The first of two public workshops aimed at developing an ecological restoration blueprint was held on January 10, 2007 in Superior, Wisconsin. Attendees included representatives from the city, county and state governments, the Citizen Action Committee, a land trust and corporations. Participants reviewed ecological information for Hog Island – Newton Creek and talked about the challenges, opportunities and vision for the site. The second public meeting will be held in April 2007. Next steps include organizing information from the public workshop, following up on some new sources of information discussed at the workshop, and integrating it all into the framework for the Draft Hog Island / Newton Creek Ecological Restoration Master Plan.

During the meeting, participants viewed 13 draft posters that synthesized existing ecological information about Hog Island/Newton Creek. Participants added to the information that needs to be included in the final version of these posters.

Synthesized existing ecological information

As part of this project, we have taken many photos of Hog Island/Newton Creek.

Background

St. Louis River Area of Concern

Hog Island/Newton Creek is part of the St. Louis River Area of Concern (AOC). As part of work in the AOC, the Lower St. Louis River Habitat Plan was completed in 2002. The Citizens Advisory Committee worked with several partners from city, county, state, and federal agencies and entities on this document. The Plan is being used to protect and restore the river. The plan classifies specific areas of the entire estuary into habitat types and recommends what actions are needed to restore, protect or enhance the river. The Plan has been embraced by all levels of government and by other groups and organizations.

Information on the St. Louis River Area of Concern, including the Lower St. Louis River Habitat Plan

Sediment Clean Up

Sediment cleanup of Newton Creek and Hog Island Inlet, a joint project of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Great Lakes National Program Office and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is underway was completed in November 2005. The $6.3 million project involved digging up and disposing of over 50,000 cubic yards of petroleum-contaminated sediment (mud) and soil from Newton Creek and parts of Hog Island Inlet.

Hog Island/Newton Creek Legacy Act Project Site

Pathway for Delisting

Information on the Pathway for Delisting the Habitat Related Beneficial Use Impairments. (PDF 28pp 281Kb)