Great Lakes “ 101 ” Mr. Rolland

2 Familiar names l Chicago l Milwaukee l Green Bay l Detroit (river access) l Erie l Buffalo l Cleveland

3 Mapping the Great Lakes

4 Homes l Huron l Ontario l Michigan l Erie l Superior l HOMES

6 For your notes l Chicago l Milwaukee l Green Bay l Detroit (river access) l Erie l Buffalo l Cleveland

7 Think and Share l Why are so many cities located near the Great Lakes?

8 Overview of Great Lakes Resources l Great Lakes cover 94,000 square miles l Basin includes all or parts of eight states and two Canadian provinces l Population of 35 million (U.S. and Canada) l Contain about 9 quadrillion gallons of water, or 18 percent of the world’s freshwater supply l Coastline of 10,000 miles

1330’ 923’ 750’ 210’ 802’ L. Superior L. Michigan L. Huron L. St Clair L. Erie L. Ontario Niagara R. L. St. Lawrence L. St. Francis L. St. Louis St. Lawrence River St. Marys River

10 History l Prior to European settlement, Iroquoian people lived around Lakes Erie and Ontario, Algonquian peoples around most of the restIroquoianErieOntarioAlgonquian peoples l During the American Revolution, the region became was contested between Britain and rebellious American colonies. Hoping for favorable claims of territorial control in an eventual peace treaty with Britain Region experienced population growth due to natural resources such as fresh water

11 Growth and Economy l Settlement and economic expansion on both sides accelerated after the 1825 opening of The Erie Canal which linked the Great Lakes to the Atlantic OceanErie Canal l The region on both sides of the border became a vast research and design laboratory for agricultural machinery and techniques. l Owner-operator family farms transformed both demographics and ecology into a vast terrain of farmlands, producing primarily wheat and corn.

12 Erie Canal

13 Human effect on the Great Lakes

14 Heavy Industry l Auto manufacturing l Steel manufacturing l Chemical manufacturing l Have all left a negative impact on the region

15 l Water quality has been severely degraded by pollution from industrial and municipal discharges, as well as agricultural and non-point sources Water Quality Management l Contaminated sediments in many tributaries and harbors contain a legacy of pollution from decades of abuse

17 Organization l Great Lakes resources are managed by two countries, eight states and two provinces l Three international agreements between the U.S. and Canada serve as a platform for managing most of the water resources

18 l A system has been established to oversee and implement these agreements that involves Bi-National Organizations and the Governments. l These groups share common goals of the agreement, but have differing responsibilities. Management

19 Why should we keep the Great Lakes clean? l Think and Share

20 l Great Lakes are drinking water source to 40 million residents in U.S. and Canada l U.S. draws more than 40 billion gallons from Great Lakes a day (half for power production) l Levels and flows of Great Lakes are only partially controlled l Diversion of water from Great Lakes to other watersheds has been subject of litigation and legislation Water Quantity Management