Posted on March 24, 2019
GREEN BAY (WLUK) — Those working on the Fox River Cleanup Project were honored for their work in reducing the impact of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) on the river.
The NEW Watershed Champion award was presented Wednesday by NEW Water and Green Bay Water Utility at the Jack Day Environmental Education Center.
The annual event commemorates World Water Day.
Launched in 2004, the Fox River Cleanup Project includes dredging, capping and sand covering operations on a 39-mile stretch of the river from Little Winnebago to the bay. The goal is to reduce the risk to human health and the environment by cleaning the water of PCBs, chemicals which were dumped into the waterways by area paper companies.
“It’s great to see the tremendous progress as the project has moved downstream toward the bay,” said Tom Sigmund, NEW Water Executive Director. “This is such an important project for the entire region.”
Since the start of the project, crews have dredged and processed more than 6 million cubic yards of sediment. More than 3.3 million tons of processed sediment was hauled to landfills and about 975 acres of river bottom was capped or sand covered.
Oversight of the project is provided by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Officials remind boaters on the Fox River to be aware of barges, buoys and piping used to dredge PCB’s from the river, May 22, 2018. (WLUK)
The annual award is given to a person or organization promoting clean water in their communities. Past Watershed champions include a local dairy farm, high school teacher and a politician.
Source: fox11online.com
