St. Marys River AREA OF CONCERN Canadian Section – 2013 Update Past pollu*on from industrial sources, par*ally treated municipal and private sewage, untreated stormwater, and physical altera*ons to the river and its shoreline are factors that have contributed to the degrada*on of the St. Marys River. In 1987, the St. Marys River was recognized as an Area of Concern under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement between Canada and the United States. A commitment was made to develop and implement a remedial ac*on plan to restore the health of the river. Why are we concerned about the St. Marys River? While environmental quality has improved in recent decades, there are some longMterm issues that need to be addressed. In the 1990s, the federal government passed environmental legisla*on for pulp and paper mill effluents, and the provincial government introduced regula*ons under the Environmental Protec*on Act. Today, all industrial effluents must meet strict requirements and cannot be lethal to fish or aqua*c insects. There are a number of loca*ons around the Great Lakes where historical pollu*on and habitat degrada*on have caused nega*ve environmental impacts. The St. Marys River is one of these Areas of Concern. This project has received funding support from the Government of Ontario. Such support does not indicate endorsement by the Government of Ontario of the contents of this material. ! ( ¢ ! ( ¢ ! ( D ! ( D St. Joseph Island S t. J o se ph C h a n n e l St. Joseph Lake Lake George Sugar Island Neebish Island S t . M a r y s R ive r Whitefish Bay Quebec Bay Point aux Pins Gros Cap Potagannissing Bay Bi g C ar p R . B e n n ett C r. W . D av ig n o n C r. F o r t C r. R o o t R . G a r de n R. Ec h o R . Ba r R. Echo Bay MICHIGAN Echo Lake Desbarats Lake Lonely Lake Gordon Lake S T 17 L i t tl e C ar p R . E . D a v i g n o n C r . Sault Ste. Marie Hay Point Disclaimer: This map is intended for illustrative purposes only. Digital Mapping Sources: Base mapping features - Ministry of Natural Resources and NPCA. ³ 0 2.5 5 7.5 10 1.25 Kilometres Legend Airport AOC Hydrology Wetlands Forest Cover ! ( D Steel Mill ! ( ¢ Wastewater Treatment Plants ! ( D Pulp Mill Major Highways Roads International Boundary North American Datum 1983, Universal Transverse Mercator, Zone 17 North, Central Meridian -81.0 Great Lakes Areas of Concern St. Marys River Area of Concern Humbug Point b Lime Island
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St.$Marys$River$ AREA OF CONCERN - Algoma Universitybpac.algomau.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/SMR-AOC-Fact-Sheet-J… · *%Algoma%Steel%Inc.%since%renamed%to%Essar%Steel%Algoma%
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Disclaimer: This map is intended for illustrative purposes only.Digital Mapping Sources: Base mapping features - Ministry of Natural Resources and NPCA.
4$FOR MORE INFORMATION: Please%contact%Corrina%Barrea%at:%[email protected]$For%informa*on%on%Areas%of%Concern%please%visit:%www.ec.gc.ca/rapsXpas/
Canadian St. Marys River Remedial Action Plan Milestones $$1987$–$St.%Marys%River%is%iden*fied%as%an%AOC%under%the%Canada6U.S.&Great&Lakes&Water&Quality&Agreement.%%%1988$–$The%Bina*onal%Public%Advisory%Council%(BPAC)%is%formed%–%a%stakeholder%group%with%members%from%Canada%and%
Is water quality improving? Yes!%%Due%to%stricter%environmental%regula*ons%and%considerable%improvements%made%by%the%City%of%Sault%Ste.%Marie%and%local%industry,%the%water%quality%of%the%river%has%improved%substan*ally%since%first%being%designated%an%AOC%in%the%1980s.%%%%The%City%improved%its%wastewater%quality%by%reducing%biochemical%oxygen%demand%(BOD)%by%over%96%,%suspended%solids%by%over%89%,%and%phosphorus%levels%have%dropped%by%more%than%91%.%%Essar%Steel%Algoma%reduced%the%amount%of%oil%and%grease%entering%the%river%via%wastewater%by%more%than%96%;%suspended%solids%by%over%94%,%phenols%by%more%than%99%,%and%ammonia%by%over%95%.%%%Prior%to%being%decommissioned%in%2012,%St.%Marys%Paper%Ltd.%reduced%the%output%of%suspended%solids%by%over%91%,%(BOD)%by%more%than%97%,%and%phenols%by%over%95%.%%%