The federal government is going to spend $250,000 over the next three years on the first step of addressing mercury-contaminated sediment in three areas of the St. Clair River.
The money will be spent on detailed engineering design work.
The sediment, believed to have come from the former Dow Chemical plant in Sarnia, is located along a nine kilometre long stretch of the riverbed from Sarnia to Stag Island.
Four years ago, it was estimated it would cost $28-million to remove the sediment. A report recommended the mercury be hydraulically dredged from the area, involving basically vacuuming up the sediment.
It's one of 43 areas of concern by the International Joint Commission. Its report says it does not pose an immediate health threat to humans but could accumulate in fish.
The most recent funding announcement also includes $60,000 for the Rural Lambton Stewardship Network to develop a two-hectare coastal wetland, as well as improve 70 hectares of coastal wetlands by removing invasive plants and planting native plants.
The project would also see the establishment of habitat structures to improve conditions for fish and wildlife.
