Cleaning Up Toxic Substances and Restoring the Degraded Areas of Concern

Continuing sources of toxic substances include releases from contaminated sediments; industrial and municipal point sources; nonpoint sources including atmospheric deposition, agricultural and urban runoff, and contaminated groundwater; and cycling of these substances within the ecosystem. The most contaminated rivers, lakes and bays in the Great Lakes – the “Areas of Concern” designated under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement – are undergoing costly cleanups to remove toxic sediments and other pollution.