Eighteenmile Creek AOC Boundary MapsThe Eighteenmile Creek Area of Concern is located in the town of Newfane in western New York State. The creek flows from the south, just below Burt Dam. It discharges through Olcott Harbor into Lake Ontario approximately 18 miles east of the mouth of the Niagara River. It was named an Area of Concern under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement of 1987.

• post-industrial and municipal discharges degrading water quality and producing bottom sediment problems
• the disposal of waste and the use of pesticides
• many contaminants identified in creek sediments, which include PCBs, mercury, dioxins and furans, dieldrin, mirex, DDT, lead, and copper
• weakened benthitic organisms

• The Eighteenmile Creek watershed downstream of the Burt Dam
• Olcott Harbor at the mouth of the creek, extending upstream to the farthest point.
• Downstream of the Burt Dam, approximately 2 miles south of Olcott Harbor

Beneficial Use Impairments

• Restrictions on fish and wildlife consumption
• Degradation of benthos
• Restriction on dredging activities
• Degradation of fish and wildlife populations
• Bird or other deformities or reproduction problems

Learn more about BUIs Exit

In 1987 Eighteenmile Creek was declared an Area of Concern and a combined RAP Stage 1 and 2 was completed in 1997.

Restoring the Eighteenmile Creek AOC (timeline)