Geology topics

Research about Grand Calumet River

Source-linked reports with geographic coverage including Grand Calumet River.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

USGS2020

Inﬂuence of remediation on sediment toxicity within the Grand Calumet River, Indiana, USA

The Grand Calumet River (GCR), located in northern Indiana, is contaminated due to a wide range of historical industrial activities. This study was conducted to determine the influence of sediment remediation within the GCR on concentrations of chemical contaminants and toxicity to sediment-dwelling organisms. Between 2005 and 2016, sediments with high concentrations of metals and toxic organic compounds were remediated through a combination of removal, addition of activated carbon and organoclay amendments, and capping with sand or relatively uncontaminated sediment. Short-term and long-term sediment toxicity tests with the amphipod Hyalella azteca, the midge Chironomus dilutus, and the mussel Lampsilis siliquoidea were conducted with samples collected in 2013, 2015, and 2017, from 29 sites, including both remediated and non-remediated sites. Sediment chemistry and toxicity data for three groups of remediated sites (US Steel, West Branch, and East Branch) were compared to samples from contaminated but unremediated sites and to relatively uncontaminated reference sites. In general, remediated sediments had lower levels of PAHs, PCBs and metals, although sediments from the US Steel area still had elevated levels of PAH, PCB and chromium. Sediments from the three remediated sites and from reference sites showed significantly reduced toxic effects in short-term sediment bioassays, compared to unremediated sites. Variation in the long-term success of remediation may reflect site-specific factors such as the type of remediation and the potential for recontamination from uncontrolled sources.

Indiana↗

USGS1996

Hydraulic conductivity of the streambed, east branch Grand Calumet River, northern Lake County, Indiana

Horizontal and vertical hydraulic conductivity of the Streambed were estimated from results of hydraulic tests along four transects across the east branch Grand Calumet River in northern Lake County, Indiana. Tests were done in two types of temporary wells installed in the Streambed 2-inch-diameter wells that had a 1- or 2-foot length of wire-wrapped screen and 3-inch-diameter wells that were open at the ends. When possible, the hydraulic tests included monitoring both falling- and rising-water levels. A total of 47 tests for horizontal hydraulic conductivity and 20 tests for vertical hydraulic conductivity were done. Data collected during the tests were analyzed by use of methods developed by earlier investigators. Horizontal hydraulic conductivity of the streambed was varied and ranged from 1.Ox1O -2 to 1.2x1O +3 feet per day. Compared to the previously reported range of horizontal hydraulic conductivity for the Calumet aquifer, 6.5X10 -1 to 3.6x1O +2 feet per day, results of 24 hydraulic tests in the streambed of the east branch Grand Calumet River were within the reported range, 18 were less than the lowest reported value, and 5 were greater than the highest reported value. Vertical hydraulic conductivity of the streambed was less varied than horizontal hydraulic conductivity and ranged from 3.Ox1O -1 to 7.3x1O +1 feet per day. The ratio between horizontal and vertical hydraulic conductivity calculated for each transect ranged from 1:0.09 to 1:8.5. The hydraulic conductivity of the streambed generally was dependant on the type of sediments in the part of the streambed that was tested. Although most of the streambed contained soft, fine-grained sediments, parts of the streambed also contained fill materials including coal, cinders, and concrete and asphalt rubble. The highest values of horizontal hydraulic conductivity generally were calculated from data collected at locations where the streambed contained fill materials, particularly concrete and asphalt rubble. Horizontal hydraulic conductivities determined for 11 hydraulic tests in predominantly fill materials ranged from 1.2x1O +1 to 1.2x1O +3 feet per day and averaged 5.6x1O +2 feet per day. The lowest values of horizontal hydraulic conductivity were calculated from data collected at locations where the streambed contained fine-grained sediments. Horizontal hydraulic conductivities determined for 36 hydraulic tests in predominantly fine-grained sediments ranged from 1.Ox1O -2 to 2.4x1O +2 feet per day and averaged 1.5x1O +1 feet per day.

Indiana↗

USGS1987

Streamflow and water quality of the Grand Calumet River, Lake County, Indiana, and Cook County, Illinois, October 1984

A diel (24-hour) water-quality survey was done to investigate the sources of dry-weather waste inputs attributable to other than permitted point-source effluent and to evaluate the waste-load assimilative capacity of the Grand Calumet River, Lake County, Indiana, and Cook County, Illinois, in October 1984. Flow in the Grand Calumet River consists almost entirely of municipal and industrial effluents which comprised more than 90% of the 500 cu ft/sec flow observed at the confluence of the East Branch Grand Calumet River and the Indiana Harbor Ship Canal during the study. At the time of the study, virtually all of the flow in the West Branch Grand Calumet River was municipal effluent. Diel variations in streamflow of as much as 300 cu ft/sec were observed in the East Branch near the ship canal. The diel variation diminished at the upstream sampling sites in the East Branch. In the West Branch, the diel variation in flow was quite drastic; complete reversals of flow were observed at sampling stations near the ship canal. Average dissolved-oxygen concentrations at stations in the East Branch ranged from 5.7 to 8.2 mg/L and at stations in the West Branch from 0.8 to 6.6 mg/L. Concentrations of dissolved solids, suspended solids, biochemical-oxygen demand, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and phosphorus were substantially higher in the West Branch than in the East Branch. In the East Branch, only the Indiana Stream Pollution Control Board water-quality standards for total phosphorus and phenol were exceeded. In the West Branch, water-quality standards for total ammonia, chloride, cyanide, dissolved solids, fluoride, total phosphorus, mercury, and phenol were exceeded and dissolved oxygen was less than the minimum allowable. Three areas of significant differences between cumulative effluent and instream chemical-mass discharges were identified in the East Branch and one in the West Branch. The presence of unidentified waste inputs in the East Branch were indicated by differences in the chemical-mass discharges at three sites. Elevated suspended solids, biochemical-oxygen demand, and ammonia chemical-mass discharges at Columbia Avenue indicated the presence of a source of what may have been untreated sewage to the West Branch during the survey. (Author 's abstract)

Illinois, Indiana↗