The Survival of Lake Erie Tony Bolton Brendan Carson

Introduction Late 50s and 60s almost lost Lake Erie Late 50s and 60s almost lost Lake Erie Government Action saved the lake Government Action saved the lake Recently pollution has increased Recently pollution has increased

Euthtrophication Natural Process Natural Process Humans accelerate process Humans accelerate process Runoff  phosphorous, nitrogen, and carbon Runoff  phosphorous, nitrogen, and carbon Yard chemicals Yard chemicals

Origins of the Pollution Detroit and Maumee rivers  11 million solid pollutants from steel mills Detroit and Maumee rivers  11 million solid pollutants from steel mills Poorly treated water  human waste but mostly detergents Poorly treated water  human waste but mostly detergents

Pollution lead to Algae Algae increased  takes oxygen out of water  fish died and beaches were ruined Algae increased  takes oxygen out of water  fish died and beaches were ruined Resort areas abandoned, property values and taxes dropped Resort areas abandoned, property values and taxes dropped

Treatment of Algae US and Canadian Water Plants opened US and Canadian Water Plants opened phosphate lower in detergents phosphate lower in detergents Enforcement of laws Enforcement of laws Approx. cost: $10 Billion Approx. cost: $10 Billion

The Dead Zone Mound of zebra mussels, quagga mussels and others that occurs every year and draws oxygen from the lake Mound of zebra mussels, quagga mussels and others that occurs every year and draws oxygen from the lake 1/4 th of the central basin 1/4 th of the central basin

Stratification Divide a lake into 3 parts: Epilimnion, Metalimnion, and Hypolimnion Divide a lake into 3 parts: Epilimnion, Metalimnion, and Hypolimnion Top 15 meters heats up, while bottom stays cold Top 15 meters heats up, while bottom stays cold Eastern and Western basins are not affected Eastern and Western basins are not affected

Botulism Over 50,000 birds and countless fish have died Over 50,000 birds and countless fish have died Decaying matter  bacteria  zebra muscles  goby fish  birds (red-breasted mergansers, seagulls, cormorants, and loons) Decaying matter  bacteria  zebra muscles  goby fish  birds (red-breasted mergansers, seagulls, cormorants, and loons) Gobies and muscles not native to lake Gobies and muscles not native to lake

Quagga Mussels are out competing Zebra Mussels Quagga Mussels are out competing Zebra Mussels Quaggas filter less phosphorus Quaggas filter less phosphorus This exacerbates the problem This exacerbates the problem Only solution is even more human cooperation Only solution is even more human cooperation

1952 Cuyahoga River Fire 1952 Cuyahoga River Fire 1972 Nixon signed Great Lakes Water Quality Act 1972 Nixon signed Great Lakes Water Quality Act Success led to lax enforcement Success led to lax enforcement

In 2001, E. Coli levels found to be above safe levels 70% of the time In 2001, E. Coli levels found to be above safe levels 70% of the time 10/10 streams had various pesticides, with 30 chemicals total in /10 streams had various pesticides, with 30 chemicals total in 1998 Endocrine inhibitors Endocrine inhibitors These findings have led to new regulations, but enforcement is always a problem These findings have led to new regulations, but enforcement is always a problem

Increased Phosphorus leads to bigger dead zone Increased Phosphorus leads to bigger dead zone human phosphorus input has gone down, and problem was solved for a while human phosphorus input has gone down, and problem was solved for a while But now the dead zone is back: Why? But now the dead zone is back: Why?

Quagga Mussels? Quagga Mussels? Relaxed Regulations? Relaxed Regulations? Unknown Factors? Unknown Factors? To answer questions, NOAA is conducting 2 years of experiments, lasting this summer To answer questions, NOAA is conducting 2 years of experiments, lasting this summer

The health of Lake Erie is important for the economic and physical health of people living around it The health of Lake Erie is important for the economic and physical health of people living around it Information about lake rehabilitation can one day be used to help the lakes people depend on throughout the world Information about lake rehabilitation can one day be used to help the lakes people depend on throughout the world

Works Cited Burns, Noel M. Erie: The Lake That Survived. Totowa, New Jersey: Rowman & Allanheld, Burns, Noel M. Erie: The Lake That Survived. Totowa, New Jersey: Rowman & Allanheld, CBC Archives. 22 Feb CBC Archives. 22 Feb Field Hearing before the Committee on Environment and Public Works, United States Senate: Second Session on Anoxia in the Central Basin of Lake Erie. Aug. 5, US Gov Printing Office, Washington, DC: Field Hearing before the Committee on Environment and Public Works, United States Senate: Second Session on Anoxia in the Central Basin of Lake Erie. Aug. 5, US Gov Printing Office, Washington, DC: Francy et al. “E Coli at Ohio Bathing Beaches—Distribution, Sources, Wastewater Francy et al. “E Coli at Ohio Bathing Beaches—Distribution, Sources, Wastewater Indicators, and Predictive Modeling.” US Geological Survey, Columbus, Ohio: 2003 Indicators, and Predictive Modeling.” US Geological Survey, Columbus, Ohio: 2003 Frey, Jeffrey. “Occurrence, Distribution, and Loads of Selected Pesticides in Frey, Jeffrey. “Occurrence, Distribution, and Loads of Selected Pesticides in Streams in the Lake Erie-Lake St. Clair Basin, ” US Geological Survey, Streams in the Lake Erie-Lake St. Clair Basin, ” US Geological Survey, Indianapolis, Ind: Indianapolis, Ind: Great-Lakes.net 8 March Great-Lakes.net 8 March Last Chance for a Great Lake. Toledo, Ohio: WSPD-TV, Last Chance for a Great Lake. Toledo, Ohio: WSPD-TV, Makarewicz, Joseph C. “Evidence for the Restoration of the Lake Erie Ecosystem.” BioScience 41 (1991): Makarewicz, Joseph C. “Evidence for the Restoration of the Lake Erie Ecosystem.” BioScience 41 (1991): NOAA Website: NOAA Website: Stewart, Walter. “A Great Lake?” Canadian Geographic 123 (2003): 36. Stewart, Walter. “A Great Lake?” Canadian Geographic 123 (2003): 36. Wikipedia. 22 Feb Wikipedia. 22 Feb