April 23, 2007

The Department of Environmental Quality, Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Environment Canada, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Great Lakes National Program Office will be hosting a Sugar Island and Lake George Channel Public Symposium on May 15, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the Anchor Room at the Cisler Center, Lake Superior State University, in Sault Ste. Marie.

The purpose of this symposium is to provide information about water quality impairments observed on the north shore of Sugar Island and in the Lake George Channel. Topics that will be discussed include: 2006 water quality monitoring results, 2007 Sugar Island/Lake George Channel Coordinated Monitoring Plan, and event response procedures.

In 2006, Sugar Island residents reported periodic episodes of floating material washing up on beaches along the Sugar Island reach in the Lake George Channel of the St. Marys River. In addition, elevated bacteria levels in the water caused the closure of the Sugar Island beach and the issuance of a no body contact advisory in Michigan waters. As a result, a number of United States and Canadian agencies convened work groups, conducted independent investigations, and shared and discussed results.

In early 2007, a binational Sugar Island Monitoring Work Group was formed to investigate the floating material and bacteriological contamination issues. The work group consists of representatives from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Environment Canada, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Chippewa County Health Department, Algoma Public Health, Health Canada (invited), Inter-Tribal Fisheries and Assessment Program, Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, and Bay Mills Indian Community. Representatives of the work group will be giving presentations at the symposium and will be available to answer any questions.

Editor's note: DEQ news releases are available on the department's Internet home page at www.michigan.gov/deq.

"Protecting Michigan's Environment, Ensuring Michigan's Future"

Revised April 23, 2007 by Pat Watson