Years of industrial activity and development have left many lakes and rivers contaminated with nitrogen, heavy metals, PCBs, and other toxic pollutants. Many rivers and streams have been dammed, channelized, or diverted to suit local needs. The result is that many aquatic ecosystems are stressed and degraded—unsafe for people and unsuitable for some wildlife. Sea Grant is working to restore these waterbodies through development and implementation of restoration techniques that will improve coastal health and ensure continued enjoyment and use of coastal resources by the public.
The Great Lakes Legacy Act
This congressional act provides matching funds to communities to speed up the pace of cleanup of contaminated sediments within Great Lakes Areas of Concern.
River Restoration: Practices and Concepts
This workshop series brings together experts from around the United States and Canada to discuss the successes and failures of current river restoration technologies.
Multi-site Economic Benefits of Sediment Remediation of Great Lakes Areas of Concern
John Braden, University of Illinois
Urban Stream Naturalization - A System Context for Practice Implementation
Edwin Herricks, University of Illinois
More Coastal Restoration research
Great Lakes Legacy Act Fact Sheets
Great Lakes Legacy Act Ecological Restoration Master Plans Hog Island and Newton Creek (Superior, WI)
Great Lakes Legacy Act Ecological Restoration Master Plans Muskegon Lake and Ruddiman Creek (Muskegon, MI)
River Restoration: Practices and Concepts Workshop Proceedings
Great Lakes Restoration
National River Restoration Science Synthesis
U.S. EPA Great Lakes Ecological Protection and Restoration
Leslie Dorworth
Aquatic Ecology Specialist
219-989-2726
dorworth@calumet.purdue.edu
Susan Boehme
Coastal Sediments Specialist
312-353-4383
boehme.susan@epa.gov
Jacqueline Adams
Water Quality Extension Associate
312-353-7203
adams.jacqueline@epa.gov
Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant College Program
University of Illinois
1101 W. Peabody Drive
350 National Soybean Research Center, MC-635
Urbana, IL 61801
Ph: 217.333.6444 | Fax: 217.333.8046 | iisg@illinois.edu