The sediment at the bottom of many Great Lakes tributaries stores historic contaminants that take a long time to break down. Toxins like heavy metals, PCBs, PAHs, and dioxins persist, harming benthic macroinvertebrates. These are small, aquatic animals living at the bottom of our waterways that form the foundation of the food web. Sediment cleanup removes and isolates this pollution from the ecosystem, creating a healthier environment.

Habitat restoration gives the ecosystem an additional boost, allowing fish and wildlife populations to flourish once again. Remediation and restoration benefit people, too. Fishing and swimming become safer, the shoreline gets a makeover, and quality of life improves. With the rust belt stigma fading, many communities are undergoing revitalization with businesses and individuals returning to the waterfront to enjoy the new, blue economy.

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