The Eighteenmile Creek AOC is located in Niagara County, New York. The creek flows generally north through central Niagara County and discahrges via Olcott Harbor into Lake Ontario, approximately 18 miles east of the mouth of the Niagara River. The AOC includes Olcott Harbor and extends upstream to the farthest point at which backwater conditions exist during Lake Ontario's highest monthly average
lake level. This point is located just downstream of Burt Dam, approximately 2 miles south of Olcott Harbor. Eighteenmile Creek was designated as an AOC becasue of water quality and bottom sediment issues associated with past industrial and municipal discharge practices, the disposal of waste, and the use of pesticides. Over the years, numerous contaminants have been identified in creek sediments which have a detrimental effect to the AOC and Lake Ontario. These contaminants include but are not limited to; Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs); Mercury; Dioxins and Furans; Dieldrin; Mirex; DDT; Lead; and Copper. Sediments contaminated with these substances have contributed to 5 beneficial use impairments (BUIs)
-Restrictions on Fish and Wildlife Consumption
-Degradation of Fish and Wildlife Populations
-Bird or Animal Deformities or Reproduction Problems
-Degradation of Benthos
-Restrictions on Dredging Activities
The Eighteenmile Creek is now listed under the National Priorities List (NPL) also known as a Federal Superfund Site. The site has been divided into two parts: the Eighteenmile Creek Corridor, which extendeds from the Creek's headwaters at the Barge Canal to Harwood Street to Lake Ontario. The Creek Corridor includes approximately 4,000 feet of the creek, as well as properties located along Mill Street, Water Street, and Clinton Street in the city of Lockport. The northern portion of the main channel of the Creek extends from Harwood Street to the Creek's discharge into Lake Ontario and includes numerous contaminated depositional areas.
