![[logo] US EPA](http://www.epa.gov/epafiles/images/logo_epaseal.gif){kind=logo}
Underway and Completed Projects
Ruddiman Creek/Pond Project
Ruddiman Creek and Ruddiman Pond are part of the designated Muskegon Lake “Areas of Concern” or AOCs. Contaminants are present at high enough concentrations that they can affect human health, wildlife and aquatic life. Currently the main branch of Ruddiman Creek is posted as a no swimming, fishing or recreation area due in part to contaminated sediment. EPA and Michigan DEQ, in partnership with a local public advisory council, have developed a contaminated sediment removal and site cleanup project for the creek and the pond. The project got underway in August of 2005.
 This is an aerial view of the area where contaminated sediment will be removed from Ruddiman Creek and Ruddiman Pond. |
The main contaminants of concern include cadmium, found in the sediment with a maximum level of 25 parts per million; chromium, found at 5,900 ppm; polychorinated biphenyls, usually called PCBs, found at 6 ppm; and lead, found at 1,200 ppm. This project will remove a substantial amount of these contaminants: an estimated 2,800 pounds of cadmium, 320 pounds of PCBs, 204,000 pounds of chromium and 126,000 pounds of lead.
 |
|
This graph plots the swift progress of contaminated sediment removal from Ruddiman Creek and Pond on a weekly basis. Each bar is the estimate of the amount of sediment removed during that week added to the amount removed in the previous weeks. Approximately 90,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment were removed from the site (cubic yard = think about a square box that is 3 feet on each side). All sediments were treated at the site with a drying agent to remove water and then trucked to a nearby landfill. The last of the dredging was completed in early May 2006. |
Report
- Remediation of the Ruddiman Creek Main Branch and Pond Muskegon County, Michigan, March 2011 (PDF, 125 pages, 7.8Mb)
News releases
- May 15, 2006: Ruddiman Creek cleanup finished on schedule
- August 25, 2005: Ruddiman Creek sediment cleanup underway
- August 5, 2005: Ruddiman Creek cleanup receives Great Lakes Legacy Act funds
- June 14, 2005: Public can learn more about proposed Ruddiman Creek cleanup at June 21 meeting
Fact Sheets
- May 2006: Great Lakes Legacy Act Cleanup of Ruddiman Creek Finished on Schedule
- May 15, 2006: Ruddiman Creek cleanup finished on schedule News Release
- May 15, 2006: Statewide Public Advisory Council Press Advisory
- April 27, 2006: Habitat Restoration Begins
- April 10, 2006: Public Walk Through
- February 17, 2006: New Earth Moving Equipment at Ruddiman Creek and Pond Clean Up Project
- Engineering drawings
Three aerial-view images showing the locations of the sediment remediation (site divisions A-F) and major streets (Lakeshore Drive, McGrath Park Road, Glenside Blvd) - January 12, 2006: Post Remediation Condition
- Ruddiman Creek Sediment Cleanup
Project - A Photo Journal
(PDF 1.02Mb, 30 pages) - January 9, 2006: Public Meeting
- Presentation: Ruddiman Creek/Pond Updated (PDF 546Kb, 7 pages)
- December 5, 2005: Site Tour
- October 2005: Site Tour
- August 24, 2005: Site Tour
- July 2005: Fact Sheet: Ruddiman Creek/Pond
Dredging Project Will Remove Contaminants
(PDF 1.07Mb, 2 pages)