About Clinton River AOC
The Clinton River, located just north of Detroit in southeastern Michigan, flows 80 miles from its source to Lake St. Clair near the city of Mt. Clemens. It became an Area of Concern under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement of 1987.
The area was considered highly degraded because of:
- conventional pollutants including high fecal coliform bacteria and nutrients
- high total dissolved solids
- sediment contamination caused by heavy metals, PCBs, oil and grease
- impacted biota
The areas of concern include the entire Clinton River watershed as well as a portion of Lake St. Clair immediately downstream.
- Restrictions on fish and wildlife consumption
- Eutrophication or undesirable algae
- Degradation of fish and wildlife populations
- Beach closings
- Degradation of aesthetics
- Degradation of benthos
- Restriction on dredging activities
- Loss of fish and wildlife habitat
In 1988, a year after the Clinton River was declared an Area of Concern, the first remedial action plan document was completed.