Extension - Ecosystem Stewardship
Presque Isle Bay Area of Concern

In January 1991, the International Joint Commission (IJC) declared Presque Isle Bay the forty-third Area of Concern (AOC). The IJC uses a list of fourteen beneficial-use impairments to determine if a water body or area should be listed as an AOC. The use impairments listed for Presque Isle Bay in determining its status were fish tumors or other deformities, and restrictions on dredging. In 2002, Presque Isle Bay became the first AOC to be listed as an Area of Recovery, signifying a change in effort from remediation to monitoring of the bay's health.

Pennsylvania Sea Grant staff have been instrumental in the remediation of Presque Isle Bay, including: serving as a member of the Presque Isle Bay Advisory Committee (PAC), assisting in the development of Remedial Action Plans (RAP), sponsoring multiple workshops to answer questions in regard to brown bullhead tumor rates (view workshop proceedings) and contaminated sediment, and have participated in various studies to address Presque Isle Bay's status as an AOC (see research section to learn more about studies addressing the health of Presque Isle Bay).

To learn more about the Presque Isle Bay Area of Concern, visit EPA's Presque Isle Bay AOC Web site, or contact Eric Obert.