George Lake & Lead Contamination - The Calumet Wilderness

A visit to the third body of water in Lake County, IN named “George” and the chance for an impromptu and very general overview about lead contamination in the area around the old Federated Metals site near the Hammond/Whiting border.
For more in depth sources:
I would first recommend Walk-able Ride-able Robertsdale and Whiting by resident David Dabertin.
Links to recent journalism:
Dead Swans With High Lead Levels Found In Hammond | Indiana Public Media
indianapublicmedia.org/news/d...
Tragedy At Federated Metals In 1949 - Whiting-Robertsdale Historical Society
www.wrhistoricalsociety.com/t...
Federated Metals property designated a Superfund site (NWI TIMES)
www.nwitimes.com/news/local/l...
Residents living near superfund site share frustrations (NWI TIMES)
www.nwitimes.com/news/local/l...
Pride and Pollutants: Federated Metals
blog.history.in.gov/pride-and...
The Politics of Pollution in “The Region”
blog.history.in.gov/tag/lake-...

[@pantsandashirt777]

Thoroughly enjoyed this one. Especially working in East Chicago, I constantly see the health impact of industry in the area. I hadn't seen George lake, thanks for sharing!

[@SamuelLove]

Thanks for watching! If you know anyone looking to start a garden up that way, especially if children will be involved, please let them know I can test their soils.

[@michaelwhite6676]

This was a fantastic video! It's a difficult topic to discuss, but it's so incredibly important. Lake County and the Calumet Region have such magnificent landscapes and unique environments. It's hard to think about all the damage that's been done, but inspiring to see and hear about people trying to change things and make a difference. Thanks for the video and all the rad work you do!!! 🤘

[@SamuelLove]

The first cut was 30 minutes! Had to ask myself, is this ranting or is this analysis…

[@QAlba1074]

Always got an eerie feeling when I go out that way, like something's amiss. Still do :/

[@SamuelLove]

Same. Ive barely scratched the surface here no pun intended. Dabertin’s book goes into more details and Belt Magazine published an article called NW Indiana’s Slow Burn that dives deeper with EJ issues but there are still more ecological dangers around the area. Thanks for watching as always

[@gr9798]

My friend and I were inspired by your videos when you kayaked south of Lake George and various parts of Deep River - we bought kayaks and plan to go explore in a few weeks. I didn’t know about the lead poisoning around Lake George. Is that something we should be concerned about kayaking there?

[@SamuelLove]

Awesome! And thanks for the comment! The Lake George/Deep River of Hobart is fine, tho this time of year the southern part (where it meets with Turkey Creek) will be plant-logged and murky. The George Lake in Hammond I’m not sure. The water might be fine while the lakebed may be contaminated. It’s really hard to get straight facts, as I say in the video. Happy paddling!

[@richardkoerner6305]

Have you ever looked at the Scharf map. Your area was a huge encampment by indigenous pre Iron Age tribes.

[@SamuelLove]

Yes! In fact I made a short video of the “bottom” of the Scharf map (the Calumet part.) Wish we here in NW Indiana had something like Scharf’s map, so much information is scattered around. Thanks for watching. The Scharf Map of Chicagoland Indian Trails and Villages - The Calumet Wilderness kzbin.info/www/bejne/epicn6OMaZyIaKs