Lake Ontario... Why Has It Changed We have learned: That Lake Ontario has many problems.The problems are invasive species, invasive plants, pollution, dams, and people.

There is 183 different types of invasive species in Lake Ontario. Problems of Lake Ontario are many: invasive species, climate change, dams, pollution, and low water level. Invasive species started in the Erie Canal in early 1830’s. It was a huge impact. No one knew how huge! The Alewife was the first invasive species in the Great Lakes. It has a “poisonous” skin and when the predators eats them, it prevents them from reproducing.

] Curly Pondweed forms thick layers that don’t allow other plants to grow there. Purple loosestrife was brought from Urasa because they were so pretty. One theory is that global warming will cause less ice on the lake because the air gets warmer. Because of that, Lake Ontario will have a lower level of water because it will evaporate more quickly.

Water fleas eat small animals like Zooplankton which is an important food for Juvenile fish. Because they can reproduce quickly, the water flea reduces the population of juvenile fish and takes over the food supply. Asian Carp are fast-growing, mean, that are fighting native fish species for food and habitat. Zebra Mussels are very sharp. If you step on one, your foot will bleed a lot. Zebra mussels spread like crazy! The Zebra Mussel is a small freshwater clam, and has a cream colored striped shell. It is a invasive species. Zebra Mussels come from European ships traveling in the Great Lakes. Zebra Mussels were first found in 1958/59. Round goby arrived by international ships (like zebra mussel). Zebra mussels can filter the entire volume of water in Lake Ontario Faucet Snails can carry parasites that can injure or kill waterfowl such as ducks. Round Gobies are bottom dwelling fish. There are a lot of gobies because not a lot of fish go so deep in the lake. They are spreading to drainages and creating problems.

Plan We will go to Lake Ontario with the Upper school students to clean up the shoreline. There are beetles that eat purple loosestrife, and we will raise money to buy them. We made a sign up sheet to get more people to help us clean up Lake Ontario. We wrote to Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to express strong support for Lake Ontario St. Lawrence River Plan We are going to try to make a trash can buoy. In STEM we are going to try to make an underwater vacuum cleaner to help to clean Lake Ontario.

Observation – We decided to use self-reflection as our observations. “I didn’t know that Lake Ontario had this many problems and it really needs to get help.” Student A “I’ve learned that Lake Ontario has so many problems and are I am trying to fix it.” Student B

“I didn’t know that most of our drinking water comes from Lake Ontario and we need to protect it.” Student C “I didn’t know that Lake Ontario has that many problems. My family has a cottage on Lake Ontario and we need to improve the quality on Lake Ontario.” Student D

Lake Ontario is an amazing place. Unfortunately, there are many problems with Lake Ontario. Worse of all, these problems are the result of man! Invasive species need to be brought under control. Dams need to be either removed or up-dated. Conclusion

Since man caused the problems, man needs to fix them. We are fourth graders and we are willing to help. Are YOU willing to help? Please help us, before it is too late!!!!!!

Watertown Daily Times.com 2015 Adirondack Park Invasive Plant Program. Site Designed By My Digital Nature Kids Inquire Of Diverse Species Why The Water Flea Makes Life Miserable For Lake Fish By: Katie Jakaub, Special To The Citizen usatoday.com protectyourwater.net Mr. Klein Nature Conservancy Senior Field Representative Diane Broberg – our schools Community Service Coordinator Zebra Mussels are unwelcome invaders of Ontario Waters By: Huntsville Forester National Wildlife Federation Asian Carp Threat to the Great Lakes douglascounty.civicplus.com denniskalma.com j