What was accomplished
By the close of 2008, the Little Lake Cleanup Team had concluded all in-water dredging work associated with the project (the removal of approximately 370,000 cubic yards of PCB-impacted sediment) and completed work to address approximately 90 percent of the area designated to receive sand cover and approximately 70 percent of the area designated to receive an armored cap.
Beginning in mid-March 2009, equipment returned to the water and actual in-water work to place the remaining sand cover and armored cap began in mid-April 2009. That work, and thus all cleanup work for the project, was completed in May 2009. Approximately 260 acres of lake bottom with low-concentrations of PCBs were remediated with sand cover or armored caps.
Restoration of the staging areas was completed following completion of in-water remediation. In 2010, final site grading work and site landscaping occurred in areas that were disturbed during the remedial activities performed at the site during 2004 through 2009. The landscaping work included an additional herbicide treatment of the invasive reed canary grass population, seeding native mixes and nurse crops throughout the site, and planting of native shrubs in the wetland areas. While this work was completed on June 25, 2010, maintenance activities continued to ensure and enhance the establishment of the desired grasses and shrubs.
On February 9, 2024, WDNR submitted the final case closure for the project with continuing obligations to maintain integrity of the armored caps and long-term monitoring of surface water and fish tissue must continue until acceptable levels of PCBs are achieved, with approval by USEPA and DNR, as set forth in the long-term monitoring plans for OU1.
Beginning in mid-March 2009, equipment returned to the water and actual in-water work to place the remaining sand cover and armored cap began in mid-April 2009. That work, and thus all cleanup work for the project, was completed in May 2009. Approximately 260 acres of lake bottom with low-concentrations of PCBs were remediated with sand cover or armored caps.
Restoration of the staging areas was completed following completion of in-water remediation. In 2010, final site grading work and site landscaping occurred in areas that were disturbed during the remedial activities performed at the site during 2004 through 2009. The landscaping work included an additional herbicide treatment of the invasive reed canary grass population, seeding native mixes and nurse crops throughout the site, and planting of native shrubs in the wetland areas. While this work was completed on June 25, 2010, maintenance activities continued to ensure and enhance the establishment of the desired grasses and shrubs.
On February 9, 2024, WDNR submitted the final case closure for the project with continuing obligations to maintain integrity of the armored caps and long-term monitoring of surface water and fish tissue must continue until acceptable levels of PCBs are achieved, with approval by USEPA and DNR, as set forth in the long-term monitoring plans for OU1.