Great Lakes Fishery and Ecosystem Restoration Program Project ...

GAy STAMP SAnDS
Habitat Restoration
Keweenaw County, MI
ProjECt DESCriPtion
As a result of extensive copper mining, contaminated
stamp sands (coarse sand left over from the processing of
ore) cover a large portion of the Keweenaw Peninsula. The
stamp sands deposit of particular concern is estimated by the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Detroit District
to cover 1,426 acres of shoreline and lake bottom lands.
The deposit’s movement along the southeast shoreline of
the Keweenaw Peninsula to Grand Traverse Bay Harbor is
threatening the nearby Buffalo Reef, a productive lake trout
and whitefish spawning area, and the shoreline south of the
Traverse River. In addition, toxicity testing indicates that the
stamp sands have an injurious effect on aquatic organisms.
The Lakewide Management Plan 2000 identified stamp sands
as a principal stress to the aquatic habitat of Lake Superior.
nonfEDErAl PArtnEr
TBD
Funding
CongrESSionAl intErESt
Senator Carl Levin (D-MI)
Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)
Representative Dan Benishek (R-MI-1)
CUrrEnt StAtUS
A preliminary restoration plan has been initiated and will
be completed by March 2011. Upon approval, the District
will initiate a feasibility study using Great Lakes Restoration
Initiative (GLRI) funds. The Corps Waterways Experiment
Station has partnered with Michigan Technological University
to map the extent and movement of the stamp sands. The
USACE will be collecting samples of the stamp sands in the
spring to conduct tests of methods to stabilize and reduce
toxicity of the stamp sands.
Total Federal Nonfederal
current working estimate $7,200,000 $4,680,000 $2,520,000
funding to date $150,000 $150,000 $0
funds required to complete project $7,050,000 $4,530,000 $2,520,000
gay stamp sands
Project Manager:
Carl A. Platz
(616) 842-5510 x25521
carl.a.platz@usace.army.mil
Great Lakes Fishery & Ecosystem Restoration (GLFER) Program
updated February 2011 www.glfer.org