STATE
OF THE
GREAT LAKES
1995
Report Highlights
STATE OF THE GREAT LAKES 1995
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REPORT HIGHLIGHTS
The 1995 State of The Great Lakes Report
The State of the Great Lakes Report summarizes information presented at
the October, 1994 State of the Lakes Ecosystem Conference, held in
Dearborn, Michigan. The Report examines the state of the health of the
Great Lakes in two ways:
>• By examining the basin-wide state of health of the ecosystem; and
>• On a lake by lake basis.
What was SOLEC D94?
>• The State of the Lakes Ecosystem Conference (SOLEC), was a
binational meeting to review and assess the state of the Great
Lakes from an environmental perspective, including human health.
>• Participants reviewed progress to date on cleanup and restoration.
>• Led by the federal governments of Canada and the United States,
SOLEC was the first scientific meeting of its kind. The
information in the Report is assisting the governments to fulfil
their responsibilities under the 1987 Great Lakes Water Quality
Agreement.
SOLEC '94 Participants
Over 500 participants attended SOLEC '94 representing:
Federal Governments
State/Provincial/Tribal Governments
Conservation/Environmental/Remedial Action Plans
Local Governments
Health Groups
Agriculture/Labour/Industry
Academia/Research
Foundations
Citizens
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SOLEC '94 Guiding Questions
Organizers identified some basic, frequently-asked questions to guide
decision-makers and just plain folks in assessing the state of the Lakes.
>• Can we swim in the Lakes, eat the fish that we catch, and drink the
water?
>• Are the Lakes affecting human health?
>• Are the Lakes getting better?
>• Are the fish and birds healthy?
>• How are endangered species doing?
>• What are we doing about exotic (non-native) species?
STRESS INDICATORS
Some preliminary indicators to measure both the state of health of the
ecosystem and the stressors that influence that health, were developed
and assessed. These will be refined overtime:
Ecosystem Health Indicators:
>• the state of aquatic communities
>• human health and health risks
>• aquatic habitat
Categories of stresses:
>• nutrients
>• persistent toxic contaminants
>• economic activity
Each indicator was assessed in four broad categories:
poor (P), mixed/deteriorating (M/D), mixed/improving (M/I), and
good/restored (G).
Aquatic Community Health (P=poor, M/D=mixed/deteriorating,
M/l=mixed/improving, G=good)
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1. Native species loss
Lake Superior
Lakes Huron, Michigan, Erie and Ontario
M/D M/l
Lake Superior
Ontario
Human Health
2. Ecosystem Imbalance
M/D M/l
Lake Huron
Lakes Michigan, Erie and
3. Reproductive Impairment for all Great Lakes
1. Overall state of the Great Lakes basin
M/D M/l
Habitat and Wetlands
1. Habitat Loss (quality and quantity)
Overall
Upper Lakes brook trout stream habitat
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Habitat and Wetlands (conDd)
2. Encroachment/development (overall)
M/D M/l
3. Habitat gains (quality and quantity)
Overall
Protected areas under NA WMP
Nutrients
1. Phosphorus targets for all Great Lakes
2. Oxygen in bottom waters of Lake ErieDs central basin
Contaminants
1. All indicators for Great Lakes
M/D M/l
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Economy
G=good)
(P=poor, M/D=mixed/deteriorating, M/l=mixed/improving,
1. Infrastructure investment, land use of the Great Lakes basin
2. Employment, research and development, population growth, personal
income of the Great Lakes basin
M/D M/l
3. Pollution prevention, stewardship, conservation, energy use of the
Great Lakes basin
M/D M/l
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LAKE BY LAKE ANALYSIS
1. Lake Superior
SOLEC Findings for Lake Superior:
>• Good environmental quality compared to the other Lakes because
of small populations and limited industry.
>• The most severe and permanent loss in the aquatic community has
been to the lake trout population.
>• Many species of fish and some distinct groups within species
(races) have been lost to the Lake. Despite these losses,
biodiversity (the variety of plant and animal life on Earth) within
Lake Superior remains quite high compared to the other Lakes.
Stream habitat is degraded in many areas, but there are also large
tracts of very high quality habitat.
>• The greatest threats to the aquatic community are the river ruffe
and sea lamprey (exotic or non-native species).
>• Chemical stressors of concern in Lake Superior are toxic. They
concentrate in animal tissues, and persist in the environment for a
long time. These substances include mercury, DDT, PCBs and
toxaphene-like substances (a family of pesticides).
>• Fish consumption advisories are in effect for many Lake Superior
fish because of the contaminants they contain. For example, the
public has been advised not to eat the siscowet form of lake trout at
any time and to limit consumption of other species.
>• Deposits from the atmosphere account for approximately 90% of
toxic contaminants entering Lake Superior. An estimated 58% of
the total nitrogen load to the Lake comes from precipitation.
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SOLEC Challenges for Lake Superior:
>• WeDve made progress. One of the challenges in Lake Superior is
to preserve the relatively high quality areas that exist throughout
the lake, including near shore lake habitats and river habitats.
>• The Lake Superior Binational Program must continue to deliver its
action plan and move towards zero discharge of persistent toxic
substances. We must also deal with airborne pollution, since such
a large portion of the contamination comes from the atmosphere.
>• Maintain sea lamprey control to ensure continuation of self-
sustaining lake trout populations.
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2. Lake Michigan
SOLEC Findings for Lake Michigan:
>• Environmental quality in the basin generally is best in the north,
and deteriorates as we move south.
>• Of the ten Areas of Concern (AOCs - the most degraded areas)
Indiana Harbor, Milwaukee and Green Bay AOCs are the largest
and most degraded, although the Kalamazoo River contains very
large quantities of PCBs.
>• The sea lamprey has eliminated all stocks of lake trout, and
severely depressed whitefish and other aquatic populations. We
donDt know what the future holds for the aquatic community.
>• The sport fishery remains productive, although based upon
hatchery-reared salmon and lake trout. The goal of self-sustaining
lake trout populations through natural reproduction remains
elusive. Whitefish populations, on the other hand, are increasing
and support a valuable commercial fishery.
>• Habitat loss (especially wetlands) is widespread in Lake Michigan,
particularly in the southern portion of the Lake. Urban sprawl and
recreational development continue to destroy habitat and
biodiversity.
>• Bioaccumulative, persistent toxic substance levels in fish are
similar to levels in Lake Ontario, and are among the highest in the
Great Lakes basin.
>• A Mass Balance Study is currently underway to determine how
toxic contaminants move into and travel through the Lake
ecosystem.
SOLEC Challenges for Lake Michigan:
>• Make use of information from the Mass Balance Study to gain
better control/remediation of contaminants.
>• Maintain existing high quality areas of habitat.
>• Restore some degree of ecosystem balance to the LakeDs aquatic
communities.
3. Lake Huron
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SOLEC Findings for Lake Huron:
>• Lake Huron is considered to be the lake in the middle, both
geographically and in environmental quality. It has relatively good
water quality and wetlands, except in four Areas of Concern.
>• Because of the large amounts of industry and intensive agriculture
in the Saginaw Bay watershed, the Lake has received heavy
loadings of nutrients and toxic contaminants. The most recent
problem, zebra mussels, may significantly damage biological
communities and affect contaminant cycling in Saginaw Bay.
>• Aquatic community health and biodiversity are considered
relatively good in comparison to the other Lakes.
>• Lake Huron is the most important Lake in terms of having the
highest number offish-eating birds that breed along the shorelines.
Most populations of these birds are increasing.
>• Loss of shoreline marshes and wetlands has been moderate
compared to the other Lakes, except in Saginaw Bay.
>• Exotic (foreign or non-native) species such as sea lamprey, zebra
mussels, and purple loosestrife pose major threats to aquatic
communities.
>• Shoreline development is a growing stress on habitat and aquatic
communities. An emerging issue is how public and private
natural resource lands within Lake Huron are being managed.
SOLEC Challenges for Lake Huron:
>• A Lakewide Management Plan that includes both environmental
quality and fisheries management is needed for Lake Huron.
>• Control of sea lamprey from the St. Marys River is critical to the
survival offish populations in the Lake.
>• Control of other exotic species, such as purple loosestrife, is
essential.
>• We must conserve high quality areas of habitat.
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4. Lake Erie
SOLEC Findings for Lake Erie:
>• Of all the Great Lakes, Lake Erie is exposed to the greatest stress
from urbanization and agriculture.
>• In terms of environmental quality, Lake Erie is severely degraded
with respect to habitat. Massive investment in municipal and
industrial waste treatment, and voluntary programs to control
agricultural land runoff have produced excellent results in
improving the water quality.
>• The original aquatic community of the Lake has been devastated;
recovery is underway but the long-term future of the resulting
community is unknown. Species having particularly heavy impact
include zebra mussels and carp. Although not yet established in
Lake Erie, another non-native species to be concerned about is the
ruffe.
*• High levels of mercury in the 1970's led to the closure of the
commercial walleye fishery. This action and the quotas imposed
after reopening the Canadian fishery, led to a spectacular recovery
of the walleye fishery.
SOLEC Challenges for Lake Erie:
>• More research is needed to understand better the effects of exotic
species on the Lake Erie ecosystem, including the effects of these
species on the movement of contaminants through the Lake.
>• Four critical pollutants have been identified for immediate action:
PCBs, DDT and related compounds, chlordane and dieldrin.
>• Begin implementing an ecosystem-based Lakewide Management
Plan.
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5. Lake Ontario
SOLEC Findings for Lake Ontario:
>• The aquatic community of Lake Ontario has been severely
damaged as a result of urbanization and agriculture, with large
losses of habitat and biodiversity.
>• Contaminant levels in fish are high and similar to those of Lake
Michigan.
>• Persistent toxic contaminants in Lake Ontario remain a big
problem and have led to the development of the Lake Ontario
Toxics Management Plan. The most significant source of
contaminants to the Lake is from the Niagara River.
>• Contaminant concentrations in fish were declining but have
levelled off in recent years, possibly as a result of changes in the
food chain.
SOLEC Challenges for Lake Ontario:
>• Stop further habitat loss.
>• Rehabilitate near shore and river habitat wherever feasible.
>• Restore some ecosystem balance in the Lake Ontario aquatic
community.
*• Begin work on understanding hormone mimicry (the effects of
chemicals in the environment acting as hormones on fish, wildlife
and humans).
>• Move toward a sustainable fishery.
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OVERALL MANAGEMENT CHALLENGES
The SOLEC Report identifies several management challenges for the
future of organizations, primarily the governments of Canada and the
United States. These are challenges that must be met in order to move
ahead in cleaning up the Great Lakes.
Research: Research should be prioritized in order to fill the many gaps
that exist, such as: the global nature of contamination; the effects of
changes in the food chain on contaminant movement within the Lakes;
and the implications on the fishery of changing the amount of
phosphorus entering the lakes.
Information Management: Data possessed by hundreds of
organizations must be consolidated, standardized and made accessible.
Decision-Making: The ecosystem approach aims to have everyone
working together to clean up the Great Lakes.
Partnerships: Organizations must remain flexible in achieving their
individual mandates and must work closely with other interested parties.
Biodiversity: Effective strategies to protect biodiversity need to be
developed.
Measurable Conditions: Benchmarks for cleanup, restoration, and
human health need to be fully developed.
The "Individual" Approach: Local systems vary from place to place -
this must be taken into consideration during cleanup; avoid a blanket
approach.
Effects of Toxic Substances: The subtle effects of long-term exposure
to toxic substances is a threat to people and wildlife - prevention is key.
Sustainability: Sustaining the economy while preserving the
environment is crucial to competitiveness in industry and growth in the
economy; the Great Lakes region has to be a world leader in clean,
sustainable production.
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THE FUTURE OF SOLEC
SOLEC will be convened every two years to provide useful
information on the state of the Great Lakes ecosystem.
SOLEC 1996, to be held in Windsor, Ontario, is being designed
around a nearshore theme.
The ongoing, day-to-day jobs of determining responsibility for
cleaning up and restoring the Great Lakes; of reviewing progress
on recovery of the Lakes; and of encouraging feedback from all
sectors are tremendous tasks. The governments of Canada and the
United States recognize that SOLEC will help in furthering this
work.
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SOLEC MAJOR FINDINGS: A SUMMARY
Generally, the Great Lakes ecosystem has improved significantly but we are still a long way
from full restoration. An overall assessment of the state of the Great Lakes over the past 30
years indicates a variety of dramatic achievements such as: nutrient reductions; improvements in
public health; declines in contaminant levels in fish and wildlife; and a resurgence of some fish
and wildlife populations. However, problems continue in several areas including the continuing
loss of wetlands, fish consumption advisories, and subtle effects of chemicals on fish, wildlife
and humans. Some of the more specific findings are:
1. Importance of Habitat to Ecosystem Health
Approximately 80% of coastal wetlands have been lost in the lower lakes
basin; near shore habitat has been destroyed, including spawning and
nursery areas for fish, nesting sites for birds, hunting and feeding areas
for mammals. Losses still occur at an unacceptable rate. Some progress
has been made at rehabilitation.
2. Importance of Non-Native Species to Ecosystem Integrity
Zebra, mussels, sea lamprey, purple loosestrife, river ruffe and countless
other invaders have upset the food web and compete for habitat. This
results in loss of native species and of genetic stocks within surviving
species.
3. Global Nature of Contamination
Up to 90% of some contaminants entering Lake Superior do so from the
atmosphere. Much of this is from sources far outside the Great Lakes
basin, including Europe and Asia.
4. Food Chain Effects on Contaminant Movement
Fish and wildlife show no decrease in contaminant levels recently. This
could be caused by different food sources being consumed. These
changes in food sources could be a result of zebra mussels upsetting the
food chain.
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5. Hormone Mimicry
SOLEC identified a potential new problem in the Lakes, namely certain
chemicals, such as some pesticides which mimic hormones in aquatic
organisms and in humans. This issue appears to be global in nature.
6. Phosphorus Control Strategy
Control strategies adopted in the 1970s have paid off. Phosphorus levels
are at or very near target levels, but some people are asking that more
phosphorus be added to Lake Erie, to Dgrow more fishD. Zebra mussels
have depleted the algal food supply for fish in the Lake, and the idea is
more phosphorus=more algae=more fish.
7. Socio-Economics
SOLEC integrated socio-economics into a conference of traditional
natural sciences. This integration was important because one must
understand the social and economic pressures that result in degraded
ecosystems. It was also recognized that a strong economy provides the
resources, both people and dollars, to protect and restore the
environment.
8. Loss of Biodiversity
There has been an irreversible loss of native species and subspecies. 17
species of fish are listed as either extinct, extirpated (ie. not found in
their former geographic range) or depleted. Only 20 stocks of river
spawning lake trout now exist in Lake Superior. There has been a major
loss of bald eagle and peregrine falcon nesting habitat. Recovery actions
are underway.
9. Human Health
Human health effects are difficult to relate directly to specific Great
Lakes ecosystem conditions. Contaminant levels in Great LakesD
residents are generally similar to levels of other populations in
industrialized areas. Human health has improved dramatically since the
early pioneering days as a result of better sanitation, better medical care
and better food.
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