Contaminated Sediment Studies — Mississippi River

• Investigation of the Vertical Distribution of Sediment Contaminants in Pool 2 and Lake Pepin of the Upper Mississippi River after the 1993 flood. [tdr-fg05-06]
For further information, contact Judy Crane at 651-757-2293.

• Occurrence of Endocrine Active Compounds and Biological Responses in the Mississippi River—Study Design and Data, June through August 2006 (prepared by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the MPCA and St. Cloud State University)
  • Project Description:  This report presents environmental data collected and analyzed as part of an integrated biological and chemical study of endocrine disruption in fish in the Mississippi River. Data were collected from water, bed sediment, and fish at 43 sites along the river from the headwaters at Lake Itasca to 14 miles downstream of Brownsville, MN during June through August 2006.
  • Forty individual compounds were detected in bed-sediment samples. The most commonly detected compounds (in at least 50 percent of the samples) were indole, beta-sitosterol, cholesterol, beta-stigmastanol, 3-methyl-1H-indole, p-cresol, pyrene, phenol, fluoranthene, 3-beta coprostanol, benzo[a]pyrene, acetophenone, and 2,6-dimethylnaphthalene. The total number of detections in bed sediment (at a site) ranged from 3 to 31.
  • For further information about the study results, visit the U.S. Geological Survey website or contact Angela Preimesberger at 651-757-2656.

• Assessment of Legacy and Emerging Contaminants in Pigs Eye Lake Sediments (In Progress)

• Project Description: Restoration activities have been proposed which would enhance the environmental value and public recreation opportunities of the Pig's Eye Lake Area. The MPCA, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service collaborated on this project to determine whether contaminant concentrations in sediments in Pigs Eye Lake would limit or affect envisioned habitat restoration actions. Twelve 45 cm deep sediment cores, and deeper cores at three locations, were collected and analyzed for metals, PCBs, PAHs, PFCs, PBDEs and pesticides. In addition, benthic invertebrates were collected in sediment grab samples. Resulting information will be used to address issues such as the suitability of lake sediments for dredging or use as island construction material, or the need for remediation or containment measures for dredged material and water.
• For further information, contact Steve Hennes at 651-757-2426.