Duck and Otter Creeks Partnership
Improving our creeks from yesterday for a better community tomorrow
Facts
About the Creeks
The Past:
Duck Creek and Otter Creek are important creeks in Northwest Ohio. They run east of Toledo and are directly linked to Lake Erie. Therefore, the health of these creeks directly affects the health of Lake Erie. The creeks flow through an area that the early pioneer settlers nicknamed "The Great Black Swamp." Today, both creeks flow through urban, industrial, and residential areas to the Maumee River and Maumee Bay. At the turn of the twentieth century the swamp was drained for agrarian and industrial uses. Factories and refineries were built along the creeks. It was common practice for many years to discharge waste products into the creeks. Fortunately, the industrial residents have ceased discharging, so that the primary source of new pollution in these creeks comes from non-point source pollution and from accidental spills. Non-point source pollution means debris, oils and dissolved chemicals that are carried into creeks by rainwater runoff. Over the years, the sediments have collected contaminants, such as metals and PCBs, that settled out of the water. This accumulation of toxins has impacted wildlife in this watershed. The small creatures at the bottom of the food chain are not able to thrive. The reduced numbers of these “benthic” organisms mean that there is less food for other species. Another threat to the ecology of these creeks is that some contaminants found in the sediments are persistent bioaccumulative toxins or PBTs. These PBTs, such as lead and PCBs, are passed up the food chain from prey to predator. Apex predators in watersheds impacted with these and other PBTs can have concentrated amounts of these chemicals stored in their fat tissue.
The Present:
Duck and Otter Creeks Partnership is using a carefully planned approach to deal with the pollution in the creeks and promote the improvement of the habitat of the watershed to benefit the whole community. Our hypothesis is that the sediment pollution is having the greatest impact on the ecosystem at this time. In 2004, we received funding from the Great Lakes National Programming Office (GLNPO) of the US EPA to perform a “Modified Risk Assessment” of both Duck Creek and Otter Creek. The results of this assessment indicated a need for further study. In 2006, we partnered with GLNPO again to conduct an extensive Sediment Characterization* for both creeks. In April 2007, the sediments were sampled at locations approximately 1/4 mile apart along the entire lengths of both creeks. The results of this sampling showed that PCBs, PAHs, metals and pesticides are chemicals of potential concern in both creeks. The sampling data was used to produce Human Health* and Ecological* risk assessments.
The Future:
The Human Health* and Ecological* risk assessments were complete in December of 2008. These risk assessments will be used to help determine whether action is necessary to protect human health or the environment. Defining the priority of impacts on the watershed will aid our decision-making process.
*If you do not have high speed internet, you might not be able to view the above documents. Please contact us at 419-367-2576 if you have any problems.
The Past:
Duck Creek and Otter Creek are important creeks in Northwest Ohio. They run east of Toledo and are directly linked to Lake Erie. Therefore, the health of these creeks directly affects the health of Lake Erie. The creeks flow through an area that the early pioneer settlers nicknamed "The Great Black Swamp." Today, both creeks flow through urban, industrial, and residential areas to the Maumee River and Maumee Bay. At the turn of the twentieth century the swamp was drained for agrarian and industrial uses. Factories and refineries were built along the creeks. It was common practice for many years to discharge waste products into the creeks. Fortunately, the industrial residents have ceased discharging, so that the primary source of new pollution in these creeks comes from non-point source pollution and from accidental spills. Non-point source pollution means debris, oils and dissolved chemicals that are carried into creeks by rainwater runoff. Over the years, the sediments have collected contaminants, such as metals and PCBs, that settled out of the water. This accumulation of toxins has impacted wildlife in this watershed. The small creatures at the bottom of the food chain are not able to thrive. The reduced numbers of these “benthic” organisms mean that there is less food for other species. Another threat to the ecology of these creeks is that some contaminants found in the sediments are persistent bioaccumulative toxins or PBTs. These PBTs, such as lead and PCBs, are passed up the food chain from prey to predator. Apex predators in watersheds impacted with these and other PBTs can have concentrated amounts of these chemicals stored in their fat tissue.
The Present:
Duck and Otter Creeks Partnership is using a carefully planned approach to deal with the pollution in the creeks and promote the improvement of the habitat of the watershed to benefit the whole community. Our hypothesis is that the sediment pollution is having the greatest impact on the ecosystem at this time. In 2004, we received funding from the Great Lakes National Programming Office (GLNPO) of the US EPA to perform a “Modified Risk Assessment” of both Duck Creek and Otter Creek. The results of this assessment indicated a need for further study. In 2006, we partnered with GLNPO again to conduct an extensive Sediment Characterization* for both creeks. In April 2007, the sediments were sampled at locations approximately 1/4 mile apart along the entire lengths of both creeks. The results of this sampling showed that PCBs, PAHs, metals and pesticides are chemicals of potential concern in both creeks. The sampling data was used to produce Human Health* and Ecological* risk assessments.
The Future:
The Human Health* and Ecological* risk assessments were complete in December of 2008. These risk assessments will be used to help determine whether action is necessary to protect human health or the environment. Defining the priority of impacts on the watershed will aid our decision-making process.
*If you do not have high speed internet, you might not be able to view the above documents. Please contact us at 419-367-2576 if you have any problems.
