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Grand Calumet River

The Grand Calumet River, originating in the east end of Gary, Indiana, flows 13 miles (21 km) through the heavily industrialized cities of Gary, East Chicago and Hammond. The majority of the river's flow drains into Lake Michigan via the Indiana Harbor and Ship Canal, sending about one billion gallons of water into the lake per day. Today, 90 percent of the river's flow originates as municipal and industrial effluent, cooling and process water and storm water overflows. Although discharges have been reduced, a number of contaminants continue to impair the area of concern (AOC).

Table of contents
1 Problems with the urban river
2 Effects of Pollution
3 Progress and Improvements
4 Source

Problems with the urban river

Problems in the area of concern include contamination from polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBss), polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heavy metals, such as mercury, cadmium, chromium and lead. Additional problems include high fecal coliform bacteria levels, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and suspended solids, oil and grease. These contaminants originate from both point and nonpoint sources.

Nonpoint sources

Point sources of contaminants

Historically, the Grand Calumet River supported highly diverse, globally unique fish and wildlife communities. Today, remnants of this diversity near the AOC are found in the Gibson Woods and Pine nature preserves. These areas contain tracks of dune and swale topography and associated rare plant and animals species, such as Franklin's ground squirrel, Blanding's turtle, the glass lizard and the black crowned night heron, among others. The problems mentioned above, however, have impaired many desired uses of the AOC, including the 14 beneficial uses listed below.

Effects of Pollution

Progress and Improvements

Recent achievements and other projects:

Source

This public domain government
website.