Cleaning Up Peninsula Harbour

Written by Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources on 09 January 2012

Peninsula Harbour Photo Environment Canada

“This is good news for Marathon, and good news for the Great Lakes. The funding Ontario has secured from the former mill owner, together with our own funding, and our collaboration with the federal government is going to help us restore the health of this ecosystem.” Michael Gravelle, Minister of Natural Resources

McGuinty Government Supporting Clean, Healthy Great Lakes

Clean-up of Lake Superior’s Peninsula Harbour near Marathon will start this spring.

Ontario, the federal government, and Ball Packaging, a former owner of the community’s now closed pulp and paper mill, are financing the clean-up project. The work will improve water quality and help ensure the health of the harbour’s natural habitat by capping leftover waste from past polluters. This is the last step in the plan to restore the harbour to a safe, healthy state.

The Great Lakes enhance the quality of life for Ontario families by providing drinking water as well as recreation, environmental and economic benefits in our communities. Protecting our Great Lakes is part of the McGuinty government’s plan to become North America’s water innovation leader.

QUICK FACTS

The federal government will coordinate the contracts and work to finish the sediment capping. Work is expected to begin this spring and be completed in the fall.
Peninsula Harbour was designated an Area of Concern in 1987. The area includes the Marathon waterfront and extends four kilometres into Lake Superior.
An Area of Concern is an area where the environment has been harmed, resulting in problems that may include: beach closures; loss of fish and wildlife habitat; negative effects on fish and wildlife populations; restrictions on fish consumption; and effects on drinking water.
The Guide to Eating Ontario Sport Fish advises people to eat fewer fish from Peninsula Harbour than most other areas of Lake Superior.
Ontario and Canada share responsibility in cleaning up 43 Areas of Concern under the Canada-Ontario Agreement Respecting the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem.
The pulp and paper mill at Marathon closed in 2009.