URBANA – Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant (IISG) sediment specialist Susan Boehme and her colleagues at the U.S. EPA Great Lakes National Program Office (GLNPO) have won the National Association of Environmental Professionals 2009 National Environmental Excellence Award for their remediation project on the Tannery Bay/Wetland in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.

In response to the 2002 Great Lakes Legacy Act, which authorized $270 million to remove contaminated sediments from local waterways, EPA identified 31 Areas of Concern in the U.S. portion of the Great Lakes. Boehme and GLNPO worked closely with communities that went through the restoration process.

“It is wonderful when our Great Lakes Legacy Act projects receive recognition,” said Boehme, who assisted with technical support and community outreach. “Although this is a relatively new program, we have made great progress in cleaning up contamination in the rivers and waterways of the Great Lakes.”

The community saw the removal of 44,000 cubic yards of impacted sediment, containing approximately one million pounds of chromium and 70 pounds of mercury from St. Mary’s River, a local waterway.

“There is still much to be done,” said Boehme. “But when these sites are recognized, I think it helps spread the word to other communities that there is hope for their waterways.”

Along with IISG and GLNPO, the award will be presented to Phelps-Dodge Mining Company, environmental consultants Conestoga-Rovers and Associates, and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, which helped fund the project.

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The IISG program, in cooperation with the @nationalparkservice at @indianadunesnps and @UrbanRivers in Chicago, is offering two internship opportunities to support conservation policy efforts. Sea Grant’s national Community Engaged Internship (CEI) program aims to broaden participation in coastal, ocean, Great Lakes, and marine sciences providing training and mentorship to the next generation of scientists, decision-makers, and citizens. The program will do so by recruiting, retaining and engaging students in place-based research, extension, education, and/or communication that respects and integrates local ways of knowing.Applications due March 17.Learn more at the link in bio.
Happy International Women’s Day! A special thank you to the incredible members of our IISG community who inspire, lead, and drive change every day. 🎉
It’s almost our favorite time of the year...Rain Garden Rumble!This will be our 6th annual competition where 28 native plant species go head-to-head (or bloom-to-bloom?) in a fierce competition. But the best part? YOU determine who is crowned champion.There are a few ways to participate. First, fill out a bracket* (steps below). Then, vote in our daily Instagram polls or Facebook posts from March 18th through April 4th. The person who submits the most accurate bracket wins a sweet set of Illinois Extension "rain-care" merch (an umbrella and rain gauge)!👀*You do NOT have to fill out a bracket to vote in the polls!1. Click the link in our bio to open our official blog with more information regarding the event.2. Scroll down and click our bracket.3. In the tab that pops up, click the “download” icon.4. Fill it out with your picks and save the document. Please include your name! Note that you can learn more about the plants by clicking their names in the bracket.5. Submit your completed bracket to RedOakRainGarden@illinois.edu by Monday, March 17. Matches begin the following day on Facebook and Instagram.May the best plant win...🌿🏆#RainGardenRumble2025
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