Sediment Characterization of Detroit River

As part of a comprehensive sediment characterization being performed for BASF Corporation by ARCADIS US, Inc., Germano & Associates, Inc. (G&A) performed a Sediment Profile Imaging (SPI) survey in portions of the Detroit River both upstream and directly off the BASF facility located on Biddle Avenue in Wyandotte, MI.

The survey objectives were to characterize sediment conditions in the Detroit River by collecting the following quantitative and qualitative information:

• Indications of aerobic and/or anaerobic conditions in surface sediments
• Indications of sediment physical conditions (e.g., sediment grain-size major mode and range, and relative shear strength)
• Indications of the composition of the benthic community and evidence (if any) of disturbance gradients in the community
• Evidence of the depth of sediment bioturbation

A total of 53 stations were sampled over two days and a complete analysis & report submitted within 60 days of the field study. The SPI data clearly indicated there were no areas of anaerobic conditions and sediment physical conditions were clearly delineated and mapped. The stations with fine-grained sediments appeared mixed to considerable depths in many locations, and even though some annelids were seen in the profile images at depths exceeding 10 cm, bioturbation was a minor contributor to the mixing process in Detroit River sediments; hydraulic physical forces were the main driver for particle mixing in the river bed sediments.

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE:
August – November, 2009

CONTRACT NUMBER:
B0042929.0000

PROJECT VALUE:
$35,000

Client Contact Information:

Ms. Lisa Tomlinson
Arcadis US, Inc.
10559 Citation Dr. Suite 100
Brighton, MI 48116

PHONE: (810) 225-1927