LAKE ERIE
ENVIRONMENTAL
SUMMARY
1963-1964
UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR
PIDIIAL WATii POUUTIOII COWfiOl AMMNISTtAflWI
OMAT IAKIS teOIOM
MAY 1961
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
*
No.
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION '
Area Description I
General I
Geology B
C I i mate 1 4
CHAPTER 2 21
LAKE ERIE F^YSICAL CHARACTERISTICS 21
Lake Bottom 21
Western Basin 21
Central Basin 22
Eastern Basin 23
Lake Mater 24
Tributary Supply 24
Lake Huron Outflow 24
Major Tributaries 26
Minor Tributaries 26
Ground Water 29
Lake Water Balance 29
Lake Levels 33
Lake Water Temperatures 39
Western Basin 43
Central Basin 43
Eastern Basin 45
Nearshore Water Temperatures 45
Effects of Temperature Phenomena 47
Lake Currents 49
Western Basin Circulation 55
Central Basin Circulation 68
Eastern Basin Circulation 76
General Observation 77
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER 3
LAKE ERIE CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Sediment Chemistry
Tot a I Iron
Totai Phosphate
Sulfide
Organic Nitrogen
AmmonI a N11 rogen
Nitrite and Nitrate Nitrogen
Volatile Solids
Chemical Oxygen Demand
Alpha Activity of Bottom Sediments
Beta Activity of Bottom Sediments
Water Chemistry
Temperature
Dissolved Oxygen
Chemical Oxygen Demand
Biochemical Oxygen Demand
Conductivity and Dissolved Solids
Total Solids
Chlorides
SuI fates
Calcium
MagnesI urn
Sodium
Potass I urn
Silica
A Iky I Benzene Sulfonate (ABS)
Soluble Phosphorus
TotaI Phosphorus
Nitrogen
Other Chemical Constituents of Lake Erie Water
Radlochemistry
Alpha Activity of Lake Water Samples
Beta Activity of Lake Water
Alpha Activity of Plankton Samples
Beta Activity of Plankton Samples
PAGE No,
78
78
78
78
81
81
81
85
85
85
85
91
91
91
92
92
96
97
97
99
104
104
106
109
109
109
112
119
119
121
128
128
129
129
129
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE No,
CHAPTER 4 i30
LAKE ERIE BIOUDGICAL CHARACTERISTICS 130
loke Bottom Biology 130
Lake Water Biology 137
Algae 137
Fish M3
CHAPTER 5 MS
LAKE ERIE RACTERKXDGICAL CHARACTERISTICS 143
Water Bacteriology 148
Western Basin 150
Central Basin 153
Eastern Basin 154
Lake Erie Harbors (South Shore) 155
Ottawa River and Maumee River 155
Portage River 155
Sandusky Harbor 156
Lorain Harbor-Black River 156
Rocky and Cuyahoga Rivers - Cleveland Harbor 156
Chagrin River 157
Grand Rlver-Fairport Harbor 157
Ashtabula River 159
Erie Harbor - Presque Isle 159
Buffalo River 160
BIBLIOGRAPHY iei
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LIST (IF TABLES
TABLE No, TITLE PAGE No,
I Fnysical Features of '3reat Lakes System 2
2 Runoff Statistics for Tributaries of the Lake Erie 27
Qasi n
3 Water Supply to Lake trie 34
4 Water Ba'ance in Lake trie 35
5 Causes and Effects of Water Level Changes 39
fe Current Metering Station Description Data 57
7 Current Flows at Central Basin Meter Stations 71
8 Bottom Sediment Chemistry - Western Basin 86
9 Bottom Sediment Chemistry - Central Basin 87
10 Bottom Sediment Chemistry - Eastern Basin 88
II COD Concentrations in Lake Erie 98
12 Conductivity i ri Lake Erie 100
13 Dissolved Solids Concentrations in Lake Erie 101
14 Total Solids Concentrations in Lake Erie 103
15 Chloride Concentrations In Lake Erie 105
16 Sulfate Concentrations in Lake Erie 107
17 Calcium Concentrations in Lake Erie 108
13 Magnesiurn Concentrations in Lake Erie 110
19 Sodium Concentrations in Lake Erie III
20 Potassium Concentrations In Lake Erie 113
21 Silica Concentrations in Lake Erie 114
22 ABS Concentrations In Lake Erie 116
23 Soluble Phosphorus (P) Concentrations in Lake trie 117
24 Chemical Analyses - National Water Quality Network 120
Stations
25 Total Nitrogen Concentrations In Lake Erie 122
26 Ammonia Nitrogen Concentrations in Lake Frie 124
27 Nitrate Nitrogen Concentrations in Lake Erie 125
28 Organic Nitrogen Concentrations in Lake Erie 126
29 Water Quality - Nearshore and Harbors 127
30 Other Chemical Constituents of Lake Erie Water 121
31 Dominant Phytoplankters during Spring and Autumn J40
32 Average Combined Annual United States and Canadian 145
Production for Specified Periods of Major
Commercial Species of Lake Erie
33 U. S. Commercial Fish Catch Statistics 146
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LIST OF FIGURES
FIGURE No. TITLE PAGE No,
I Local i fv '-»ap 3
2 'jrea1 i.^Kes Features 4
3 BedrcXK ''«»o I oqy of '"ire at uaxes Area 6
4 Sur !<>_.. v').!r,lo:3y - Lake Trie Basin 7
5 ricttoir ropier 3p;;y ani Profile 9
6 Bottom [)£•( DS i rs 10
7 P^vi t ogr aDhy 13
fl Air I(?mremture 15
9 Month !•« "rue i p i t.jtion 16
10 preci pi tat ion Map 17
II rt i nc Ci agrafn 1^
I ? Sunsli i ne 20
13 Montniv Tributary Flows - 5t. Clalr, Maumee, 2'
14 Ground Water Aval I ab i I i *v 30
15 Ground Water Quality 31
16 Comorirative Water Inputs of Tributaries 36
17 La'.o Levels and Winds 38
18 Water Temper at u re •> - Put- in- Bay and Erie 40
19 Typical Thermocline 41
20 Temperature Development 44
21 Temperature Cyclic Development 46
22 Temperature Distribution - Western Basin 48
23 Current Metering Locations 56
24 Seabed Drifter Release Locations 58
25 Dominant Summer Surface Flow - Western Basin 59
26 Ooninant Summer Bottom Flow - Western Basin 61
27 Western Basin Surface Flow - Southwest Wind 62
28 Bottom Flow Southwest Wind - Western Basin 63
29 Western Basin Surface Flow - Northwest Wind 64
30 Western Basin Bottom Flow - Northwest Wind 65
31 Western Basin Surface Flow - Northeast Wind 66
32 Bottom Flow Western Basin - Northeast Wind 67
33 Dominant Summer Surface Flow - Lake Erie 69
34 Dominant Summer Bottom Flow - Lake Erie 70
35 Prevailing Bottom Flow - Lake Erie 73
36 Bottom Sediment Sampling Stations 79
37 Total Iron Bottom Sediments 80
38 Total PO. Bottom Sediments 82
39 Sulfide Bottom Sediments 83
40 Organic Nitrogen - Bottom Sediments 84
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LIST OF FIGURES
FIGURE No, TITLE PAGE No,
41 Ammonia Nitrogen Bottom Sediments 89
42 Volatile Solids Bottom Sediments 90
43 Water Sampling Stations 93
44 Chemical Concentrations In Western, Central, 94
and Eastern Basins
45 Beeton's DS Curves 102
46 Soluble Phosphate - Western Basin ||8
47 Nitrogen in Western Basin (23
48 Relative Abundance Benthlc Fauna 132
49 Zones of Benthlc Fauna 133
50 Low DO Area 136
51 Davis' Phytoplankton Data 139
52 Decline of Desirable Fish 144
53 Surface Microbiology 151
54 Bottom Microbiology 152
55 Total Coliform Contour Map - Cleveland Shoreline 158
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CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
The Federal Water Pollution Control Administration and its ante-
cedent, the Division of Water Supply and Pollution Control of the II.
S. Public Health Service, have gathered a great amount of data on the
physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of Lake Erie. Var-
ious reports by those agencies and others have bean based on the
gathered data.
This report Is an attempt to summarize the information gathered
in the years 1963 through 1965. The purposes are
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TABLE I
PHYSICAL FEATURES OF GREAT LAKES SYSTEM
Mater Area
Lake
Superior
Michigan
Huron
St. Clai
Erie
Ontario
Le.:ith
(miles)
350
307
206
r 26
241
193
Breadth
(miles)
160
118
183
24
57
53
(sq.
U.S.
20,700
22.400
9, MO
UO
4,990
3,600
mi les)
Canada
1 1 ,200
—
13,900
290
4,940
3,920
Total
31,900
22,400
23,010
490
9,930
7,520
Mean
Depth
(teet)
487
276
195
10
60
283
Drainage
area
(sq. ml les)
80,000
67,860
72,620
7,430
32,490
34,800
Totals
61,000 34,250 95,250
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^ \ »•>*„'' / •*>•» J I
- L - » J/1
LOCALITY MAP
OF
LAKE ERIE BASIN
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THE GREAT LAKES
ILLINOIS
CLIV (00 4
GREAT LAKES
PROFILE
SO-
ZO-
10-
YT/s
MICHIGAM
HURON
ERIC
GREAT LAKES STORAGE
FIGURE 2
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The water of Lake Erie lies entirely above that of Lake Ontario,
into which it drai.v.. Ldke trie owes its existence both to the
Niagara bedrock sill, wn'r.h act-, as a dam', and to glacial scouring
during the Ice -j.-. rn,.> f-,rm of La«e Erie reflec.tr, thp bedrock
•jtrocturo of the
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*Hf) Nf* YuHti
VfOOLi SlkUaiAK NiAGAftAM SEHIF5 HOCKS IN NOATH
fllLUHUIN HOC«9 UMDirrCMlNIIATLO I* WISCONSIN, i
f 1
LOW! II I.CU":«N «OCK> III NO«IM«mi
(MOOVICltN ROCK!, u«tti»Ft"t'ITI»I[[)
tMM*l*» "OC«J, UND»rt*tlltl*rtD
BEDROCK GEOLOGY OF GREAT LAKES AREA
riGURF 3
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.«•.: a , G. - ' V .-i'M!
t» SAN- AS- -l.f
SURFACE GEOLOGY
LAKE ERIE BASIN
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Lake trie's jhores are characterized by easily eroded banki of
cjiricial till and rot much sand. Bluffs of I lrr>esTone or shale bedrock
exist in fir ist-trvir, area, between Vermilion and Cleveland, Ohio, and
-irounj the easteri ond of the I dke. 3ood sand beaches are few in
number, but «rier<: Jcvolopod, are uuilt to the extreme. Lxamplos are
Lor',-} Point, i\>ir,Te TUX Pins, and Point Pelee, Ontario; Cedar Point,
•)h. io; an,,' or more '«?ot per year, contribut-
ing an average of !•. nilliun tons of sedi-nent annually to the lake.
ropoqraphi c.i I I y, lake trio is separated into throe basins, Figure
t>. The rftlativoly 'r^al i shnl low western basin is separated from the
largo, sont;w|-,-)t de»:per, flat-bottomed central basin by the rocky
island chain. Tho deop, bowl-shjpej eastern basin is separated from
tho central Casin ny a low, wide sand and gravel ridqe near trie,
rv>nnsyI van!a. The western basin averages 24 feet deep with a maximum
of tij foot in South Passaqe; the central basin avoraqes 60 feet with
3 naxirrjn of BO foot; the eastern basin averages RO feet with a max-
inum of ?!(> feet. The are^s of the western, central, and eastern
LMf.ins are ipproxi mate I y l.l'T,, t.i.iOO, and 7,400 square miles, re-
snecti vcly.
Tho bottom sediment-, of Laka Lrie show patterns closely related
to topography and relief, Figure h. In general, the broad, rema'-k-
ably flat areas of the western and central basing and the deeper,
smoother part of the eastern basin have mud bottoms and are the recip-
ients of nearly all of the sedimentation in Lake trie. Ridges and
shoreward-risinq slopes arc generally comprised of sand and gravel and
are characterized by either erosion or the deposition of coarse sedi-
ments. Rock is exooseo in fhe western basin and in strips along shores
in the central and eastern basins.
GEOLOGY
It is generally believed that the antecedent of Lake Erie, prior
to the Ice Age (Pleistocene Epochl, was a major stream valley essen-
tially along the lonq axis of the present lake. The land topography,
although showing slightly more relief, was probably not far different
than that of today. The drainage or river system was controlled by
differential bedrock resistance and large-scale rock structural features.
Bedrock nearest the surface, as it Is today, was comprised of shales
and limestones and some sandstone, laid down, long before, in epicon-
tinental seas.
The glacial history of the Great Lakes basin is described in de-
tail by Hough (1958) and by Leverett and Taylor (1015). Glaciation
by continental ice sheets began on the North American continent approx-
imately one million years ago, representing the beginning of the Pleis-
tocene Lpoch of geologic history. Four great ice invasions, named the
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LAKE ERIE
BOTTOM TOPOGRAPHY
NOTE CONTOUR INTERVAL ?0 FEET
CONTOURS IN FEET ABOVE
INTERNATIONAL GREAT LAKES
DATUM FOR LAKE ENiE (56861
- 1955
EASTERN BASIN
LAKE ERIE
LONGITUDINAL
CROSS SECTION
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LAKE ERIE
BOTTOM DEPOSITS
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Nebraskan, Kansan, Iliinoian, and Wisconsin, characterized this period.
Apparently all of these ice sheets covered the Great Lakes region.
However, eacn bucceedlnq invasion obscured or obliterated most of the
evidence for the preceding one. In the Lake Erie basin the features
produced by Wisconsin glaciation are of the most concern. There are
meaqer remnants of illinoian glaciation and none of previous activity.
Apparently the Wisconsin ice sheet moved Into the Lake Erie basin
from the north and northeast about 25,000 years ago. It covered the
entire lake area and nearly all of the drainage basin. In western
Ohio the ice sheet moved south over flatlands to near the Ohio River
while it was stopped by the Appalachian uplands in eastern Ohio, Penn-
sylvania, and New York.
Upon retreat of the ice sheet, a complex series of glacially-
produced features were left behind, most of which resulted from tem-
porary readvances and retreats of the ice front. The features are
mainly ground and frontal moraines composed of crushed and reworked
local bedrock. A lesser amount of the material is derived from bed-
rock to the north. This "erratic" material Is conspicuous In many
places as large crystalline boulders.
Lakes were generally not formed or were very transient features
while the ice front was south of the Ohio River-Great Lanes drainage
divide. A lake Degan its existence In the Erie basin when the ice
front retreated from a position nov represented by a frontal moraine
called the For!- Wayne moraine, passing through Fort Wayne, Indiana.
This moraine essentially lies along the shoreline of the first glacial
lake stage (Lake Maumee) in the Lake Erie basin. The Ice still cov-
ered what is now Lake Erie, its front lying along the Defiance moraine.
The surface of Lake Maumee was at about 800 feet above sea level and
the drainage was westward Into the Wabash River in Indiana.
Following the Lake Maumee stage was a lony series of stages, some
draining westward and some eastward. The most significant of these
stages are marked by we I(-developed beach ridges. They were Lake
Maumee at 800 feet elevation. Lake Whlttlesey at 740 feet, Lake Warren
at 690 feet, and Lake Erie at 570 feet. All of these drained westward
except for Lake Erie.
One of the most significant points to remember In regard to the
history of the Great Lakes is that a lake has occupied the present
Lake Erie basin for a much longer time than lakes have existed in the
other basins.
The four stages mentioned above were the most Important, but
there were many intervening stages, not always successively downward,
in the Erie basin, controlled by relatively minor retreats and advances
of the ice front. Significant in this regard Is the fact that ice
I I
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occupied the eastern end of Lake Erie several times, possibly account-
ing for the present relative deepness of that part of the basin.
The water level In the Erie basin has not always been at Its
present level or higher. At least two stages have been considerably
lower and did not receive drainage from the upper laKes. Both these
stages have occurred in the last 11,000 years. The first one of Im-
portance was some 80 feet lower than the present lake. The lake then
rose by Ice damming and uplift to a level of 100 feet above the present
laktj. Ice retreat dropped the level again to 40 feet below the present
lake. That stage was the immediate predecessor of Lake Erie as we know
it today. The lake then began to rise (about 4,000 years ago) to Its
present leva! by uplift of the Niagara outlet; that rise continues
today.
The differential resistance of the bedrock (see Figure 3) to
glacial abrasion was responsible for a major part of Lake Erie's
present form (Carman, 1946). The islands and headlands of western LaKe
Erie are remnants of resistant limestone and dolomite. Resistance also
accounts in part for the shallow water depths in the west end of the
lake. The broad flat central part of the lake lies along the strike
of a broad band of uniformly resistant shales bounded on the south
shore by similar shales capped by relatively resistant sandstones. The
deeper eastern basin is also underlain by shales but has been subject
to more abrasion and less, later sedimentation.
The Lake Erie basin lies mainly In the Central Lowlands physio-
graphic province (Figure 7) near where it wedges out between the
Appalachian Plateau and Laurent fan Upland. The southeastern part of
the drainage basin is In the Appalachian Plateau. The boundary be-
tween the Central Lowlands and the Appalachian Plateau In the Erie
basin Is a sharp rise of 200 to 300 feet In elevation called the
Portage Escarpment. From Cleveland eastward the escarpment parallels
the lake shore and lies generally less than five miles from It. At
Cleveland the escarpment turns southward across Ohio.
The part of the Central Lowlands in the Lake Erie basin Is called
the Lake Plain and Is for the most part ihe very flat former lake
bottom. East of Cleveland It Is narrow and lies between the Portage
Escarpment and the present lake shore. West of Cleveland It widens
quickly and In western Ohio It is more than 50 miles wide. It narrrws
again in Michigan to about 20 miles wide. In Canada it Is 20 to 30
miles wide but Is not so well defined because of the complexity of
glacial features. The fake plain Is characteristically low and com-
prised of poorly drained silt and clay with occasional sandy ridges
formed as beaches and bars In older lakes.
The streams (except the Detroit River) entering Lake Erie orig-
inate either within or just outside the boundaries of the Lake Plain.
12
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a
c
LAKE PLAIN
TILL PLAIN
IO O :0 2O JO 40 SO 6O TO «O »O IOO MILES
PHYSIOGRAPHY
OF
LAKE ERIE BASIN
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The valleys are generally narrow and winding with steep to vertical
walls. The shapes indicate that most of the valleys are in a youth-
ful stage of maturity, having been cut rapidly since the Ice Aga In
a flat region but high relative to the lake.
CLIMATE
The climate of the Lake Erie basin is temperate, humid-continental
with the chief characterislic of rapidly changing weather.
The annual average temperatures for land stations in the Erie
basin ranoe between 47°F and 50°F. Temperatures generally decrease
nortneastward from the southwestern end of the basin. The highest
average temperature at recording stations is at Put-in-Bay on South
Bass Island with an annual average of 5I.2°F.
The highest average monthly temperatures occur In July, ranging
from 70°F to 74°F at land stations. These also generally decrease
northeastward across the basin. Figure 8. Put-In-Bay again Is highest
at 75.I°F. The lowest average monthly temperatures occur in January
at the west end of the basin ana February at the east end, and range
from 24°F to 28°F. The extremes of temperature In the Lake Erie basin
are about -20°F and IOO°F.
Average annual precipitation at land stations In the basin Is
well-distributed throughout the year. Figure 9, and ranges from about
30.5 inches to more than 40 inches with an overall basin average of
about 34 inches. Yearly precipitation has varied between the extremes
of 24 and 43 Inches. Precipitation shows a striking correlation to
land elevation and topography. Figure 10. Low-lying flat areas of the
basin have the lowest precipitation. Highest precipitation occurs In
the southeastern part of the basin.
Most of the precipitation in the Lake Erie basin Is derived from
the flow northeastward of warm, moisture-laden air of low pressure
systems from the Gulf of Mexico. Precipitation results when this
clashes with colder, northern air of high pressure systems, moving in
from the west and northwest. This kind of weather Is characteristic
of spring, summer, and early fall, and usually occurs In cycles of a
few days. Humidity is high along with high temperatures, and south
to southwest winds persist for long periods.
In winter, however, the colder Canadian air masses push south-
eastward and dominate the weather, resulting In less precipitation and
less humidity. Heavier precipitation (usually snow) is experienced
In the southeastern part of the basin, explaining the shift in the
annual precipitation pattern In that area. This phenomenon Is largely
local, caused by air moving across Lake Erie, picking up moisture en-
route, and precipitating It when the air rises along the front of the
hills on the southeastern shore. Snowfall is greater In the eastern
14
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1
f—t --t—+-
ANNUAL AIR TEMPERATURE CURVES FOR
TOLEDO, PUT-IN-BAY AND BUFFALO
FIGURE, b
15
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_ „ -T-,-
V/^ • >
-/rn /; •' ,•;
///> /'// x
'/' 'V • '
///. '.-'/'''
////, /; ,. .
:;i i J"1
'/ / ' ' \- - /•']!••• ^ ''•• i
' ' \ ' ] • ' ^M
f ' • '
'/"'t ' / I"
1 /'<"'•} :1 I ',:
i i ' — <
•i i » i •:•
; 5 f } ••
• * t : .
"'!_"" ; '! , |. v-
i i ! i •/,
-—
-:L:
AVERAGE MONTHLY
.i ...i.
AT i.AND STATIONS
LAKF. L'R C E^AS!N
-------
~rv
Xu_;.;->V»
SOA..E \ MILES
mm^nmmcL-
<. 0 10 50 40 50
ANNUAL PRECIPITATION
LAKE ERIE BASIN
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part of the basin with Buffalo having an annual average snowfall of
72 Inches, as compared to less than 36 Inches for Toledo.
Southwesterly winds prevail over Lake Erie (Figure II) In alI
months of the year, a characteristic common to the northern hemis-
phere temperate region. However, In fall and winter, northwesterly
winds occur frequently, reaching high velocities (40-50 mph) In
storms. In spring the same Is true of northeasterly winds except
that velocities (30— iO mph) are usually lower.
The percent of possible sunshine Is greatest in midsummer and
least In winter, Figure IT, although precipitation might Indicate
otherwise. Less sunshine In winter Is due to the cloud-producing
effects of the lake. December and January ordinarily have less
than 40 percent of possible sunshine, while June and July average
more than 70 percent at most stations. The percentage over the lake
proper in summer is even greater.
Lake Erie has a marked moderating effect on the climate of the
basin, especially for a few miles Inland from the shore. This Is
demonstrated by the length of the frost-free season - near shore It
Is greater than 200 days, while only a few miles Inland It Is as
much as 30 days less. This longer frost-free season Is due to a
warming effect from the lake water. During the late fall and early
winter the lake water Is still relatively warm and delays the first
kllling frost.
18
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-I I--L- 25... ....
> INDICATES WIND DUKATIOW IN
WIND DIAGRAM FOR CLEVELAND, OHIO
FIGURE II
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SO
•iO
30
20
'/
APR MAY JUN JUL
SEP
NOV DEC
AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUM JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
MONTHLY PERCENT OF POSSIBLE SUNSHINE 1965
20
FIGURE 12
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CHAPTER 2
LAKE ERIE PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
LAKE BOTTOM
tach of the three basins of Lake Erie contain unique physical
features. Because of this, each basin will be described separately
in some detail. Much of the description is taken from U. S. Lake
Survey and Ohio Division of Geological Survey publications.
UESTERli BASIN
The western basin of Lake Erie is that part of the lake west of
a line from Point Pelee through Kelleys Island to Marblehead, Ohio
(Figure I). Its long orientation Is west-northwest, at an angle to
tha main east-northeast orientation of Lake Erie. The basin averages
24.5 feet in depth and covers an area of approximately 1,200 square
miles. On its western and southern sides the bottom slopes gently
from shore out to the 24-foot dei>th, five to ten miles offshore. On
the north side of the basin the nearshore slope is steeper, the 24-
foot depth being only one-half to two miles offshore (Figure 5).
Beyond the 24-foot depth the bottom is very flat, reaching a maximum
depth of only about 35 feet west of the Bass Islands. The flat bot-
tom is generally mud, interrupted locally by small reefs and islands
of rock, such as Niagara Reef, West Sister, and Middle Sister Islands
(Figure I).
The inter-is)and bottom, also mud, has considerably more relief,
but much of it, too, is very flat. Depths are generally In the same
range as those west of the islands. Mi thin the more restricted
channels, depths are considerably greater, due to current scour. The
deepest of these are south of South Bass Island at 63 feet and north
of Kelleys Island at 52 feet.
Reefs of bedrock are common around the Islands. They generally
have rough surfaces and steep slopes and rise to near or above lake
level. Most of the rock exposures lie In two bands, one from Marble-
head through Pelee Island, and the other from Catawba through the
Bass Islands. Bedrock under the basin is fairly rough and In places
is 80 feet or more beneath the lake bottom (Hartley, 1961). These
depressions are filled with lake sediments.
Hard clay bottom is found In a narrow strip along the south shore
and in a broader band near the northeastern shore of the western basin
(Verber, 1957).
21
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ar.j arc .i'-ivl flr.-- not abundant in western Lake Erie. Most of
nic^ ft '•••'•- i •-, fr-u ic on beaches along the mainland shores, in
a relativelv t ^r •>• arva off Locust Point, Ohic, across the mouth of
Maumee Hay, anc ii tio northern half of the eastern island chain
( F inure f>) .
r'pacn , • anr- , in: pf>cjrr.horp bottom »'rosion is prevalent and in
clace'i i c> a vurv -iericus sror/lem especially i n the Toledo area.
•ne snor-? r.dt ks .arounc the western basin are mainly clay. Their
height i i ler,s rian :J feet a:.ove lake level on tna south shore.
r)iKC3 ana swampland <>r< common. On the north shore the banks rise
to }Q feet or mcre above tho lake. Rock bluffs, up to 30 feet high,
are found on thr- isl.inj- ana rne Catawba ana MarMehead peninsulas.
.-b'H'f&AL MS IN
Tne central casin of Lake Erie extends from the islands eastward
to the sand and qravel car crossing the lake hetween Erie, Pennsyl-
vania and Lcnq Point, Ontario (Figures I and 6). The top of the bar
is 40 to SO feet r,elow water level. The central basin has an area
of about fc>,300 scuare miles, an average depth o* bO feet, and a max-
imum depth of SO feet. Approximately 75 percent of the central basin
is between &0 ana rtO feet deep.
The Bottom of central Lake trie is extramely flat over most of
its area (Figure t>). Tne only relief features of any consequence are
the shoreward -rising slopes of sand, gravel, and rock, and a low wide
bar extending south-southeastward from Point Pelee, Ontario to near
Lorain, Ohio. This bar is two to six miles wide and rises 15 to 20
feet abovn the general lake bottom. It separates a small, triangle-
shaped, flat-bottomed basin with 40 to 50-foot depths from the main
part of the central basin to the east. This small basin and the main
basin have mud bottoms and are connected by a broad channel near the
Ohio shore.
The mud, which covers more than two-thirds of the central Leke
Erie bottom is generally dark gray In color and contains very little
coarse material. In mid-lake it Is similar in physical appearance
for several feet downward from the surface (Hartley, 1961).
Sand and gravel are found on the bottom In a strip of varying
width along the north and south shores of the basin. It reaches its
greatest width of five miles or more between Cleveland and Fairport
Ohio.
Limestone and dolomite bedrock are found on the bottom at the
extreme western end of the basin. Shale is exposed as a narrow strip
22
-------
disccntinucLi.lv from Vermilion eastward along and very near the south
shore. Otherwise bedrock does not reach the lake bottom surface In
the central basin. At some places It is known to be more than 100
feet under the lake bottom.
Natural (.'('acnes are generally narrow to nonexistent along the
south shore of central take Erie and along most of the north shore.
The Cedar Poinl spit or, the south shore and the spits et Pelee Point
and Points Aux Pins on the north shore are exceptions. Harbor struc-
tures, such as thosn at Huron, Falrport, Ashtabula, and Conneaut on
the south shore have created exceptional artificial beaches but have
causec shore erosion problems on the down-drift sides (Hartley, 1964).
The north and south shores of the central basin are generally
characterised by eroding banks of glacial till and lake-deposited
silt and clay. On the south shore the banks rise in height from less
than 30 feet near the west end to more than 70 feet at the east end
of the basin. On the north shore they rise similarly to more than
IOC feet at the east end. Rock bluffs are limited to shore stretches
between Vermilion and Cleveland, Ohio, Rapid erosion of the shore
banks has contributed a great amount of sediment to *he central basin.
Hi vert, y far the deepest part of Lake
Erie with a maximum depth of 216 feet (U. S. Lake Survey Chart No. 3).
Tho hottorn of the eastern basin Is relatively smooth but not flat
like the western and central basins. Most of the bottom is mud (Figure
6) and Is generally lighter-colored and more compact than that in the
other two basins.
The eastern bis in is bounded on the west and south and around the
east end by relatively steep slopes on sand and gravel. Rock Is ex-
posed in a strip along both the north and south shores. As In most of
-------
lake trie trie beaches are generally narrow or absent with two notable
exceptions. Presquo Isle, Pennsylvania and the massive spit at Long
Point, Ontario, of the lake even though the Grand River in Ontario
supplies more than 2,000 cfs. The streams have been relatively small
contributors of sediments.
The water in tne eastern oasin is clear compared to the remainder
of Lake trie. The horeu are very resistant to erosion, sediment-
laden streams are virtually nonexistent, and the water is much deeper,
thereby minimizing wave agitation of bottom sediments. Also the cen-
tral basin is a settling basin for nearly all of the eastern basin's
wat^r supply.
LAKE WATER
TRIBUTARY SUPPLY
LAKE HURON OUTFLOW
lake trie receives 80 percent of its water supply from upper lake
drainage. Tho large volume and high quality of this inflow have a great
-jilutional effect on Lake trie, and any significant decrease in either
fne volume or :iudli+y could be disastrous.
The lake Huron outflow is the only source of water to Lake Erie
*hich is not con*roI led by precipitation over the Erie basin, being
controlled instead Dy pr*cipitation In the basins of Lakes Superior,
Michigan, and Huron. Uiversion out o* Lake Michigan at Chicago, diver-
sion into Lake Superior, arv! flow regulation from Lake Superior affect
to a minor degree the Lake Huron discharge.
According to U. 5. Lane Survey measurements, the Lake Huron out-
flow has averaged 18V,450 cfs between I860 and the present. The
monthly averages have ranged from a high of 242,000 cfs In June 1896
to a low of 99,000 cfb in February 1942. Lowest flows ordinarily occur
in February (average 1^)9,000 cfs) and the highest In July or August
(average 199,000 cfs), Figure 17. Other tributary runoff to Lake Erie
is generally at a minir-jm during periods of high Lake Huron outflow.
Though the var'-ition in flow volume from Lake Huron Is great, it
is still the most uniform of the tributary drainages to Lake Erie.
-------
n fffcfk wi
•' '•;•?•? H Mi -J f ft •*
i r>f,IHl 1 ''
; :m?'J? ri-
: (: ! ( J > -' ' ' t^ i ','.••
-------
This Is because of the requI ating effect of the upper lakes storage.
MAJOR TRIBUTARIES
Only four Lake Lrie triL^taiies t/eside the Lake Huron outflow,
exceed an average dischdrqe of I,000 rfs to Lake Erie. These are
the Maumee and Sandusky Rivers in Ohio and the Grand and Thames Rivers
in Ontario, Table 2. The Thames discharges to Lake St. Clair. These
rivers supply a total flow of approximately 10,000 rfs - the Maumee
River accounting for about one-half of this.
All four major tributaries drain land which is largely agricultural
and rather intensively cultivated. Precipitation on the Grand and
Thames basins is sligntly higher than on the Maumee and Sandusky basins,
Figure 10. However, the percentage of precipitation appearing as un-
off is considerably greater in the Canadian basins, 36 percent compared
to 28 percent, the difference being accounted for in topography and
soil characteristics. The average water yield per square mile is just
over 0.7 cfs in the Maumee and Sandusky River basins, and over 0.9 cfs
for the Grand and Thames River basins.
Drough flows are very low for the Maumee and Sandusky Rivers. Seven-
day, 10-year recurrence low flows are estimated at 86 cfs and 14 cfs,
respectively, at the mouths of these streams. Drought flows of the Grand
and Thames Rivers appear to be much higher per unit area, indicating that
ground water is significant in contributing to those flows. The low ground
water conrribution in the Maumee and Sandusky basins can be attributed to
the relatively flat topography and to the dense and relatively impermeable
clay soiIs.
In many upstream I .jc
-------
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JODOOOl^^fMOOfNOOOOCNC CO O O CD C
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27
-------
The Portage and Raisin Rivers are similar in most characteris-
tics to the Sandusky and Maumee Rivers except for much lower average
flows. The minor tributaries in Ontario are also similar to the
Grand and Thames Rivers.
The Huron River in Ohio is similar to the Sandusky in flow char-
acteristics except that it has a higher base flow per unit area and
its basin is partly in higher land, approaching the hilly section of
the lake watershed. Ground water appears to be more important as a
part of tliis stream supply.
From the Huron (Ohio) basin eastward along the Ohio shore, pre-
cipitation generally increases (Figure 10) and a greater share of
the precipitation reaches the lake as runoff (Table 2). Drought flows
are, however, widely variable and again reflect the ability of ground
water to support stream flow. In addition, these streams have higher
gradients and runoff is much faster. The upstream reaches of most of
these streams may be completely dry during much of the summer-fall
low flow period.
All of the streams along the south shore become sluggish in thi
lower few miles, a characteristic accentuated by the harbor enlarge-
ment of stream cross-section. The time-of-travel in the dredged
channels is often a week or more. The 7-day low flow volume for the
Cuyahoga River (Table ?) ir, relative'y high, due to impoundments and
large waste water discharges to the river, rather than ground water
supply.
The important minor tributaries in Michigan are the Clinton,
Rouge, Huron, and kaisin Rivers. The Clinton discharges Into Lake
St. Clair, the Rouge into the Detroit River, and the Huron and Raisin
rliroctly into Lake Erie. All are highly polluted streams, passing
througk the urbanized and industrialized area of southeast Michigan.
They all drain relatively flat land, and not only is precipitation
the lowest, but the proportion of runoff to precipitation is also tne
lowest in the Lake trie basin. However, their drought flows are higher
than average per unit area, indicating that perhaps 1here is signifi-
cant release of ground water or surface storage. The Clinton and Huron
are fed by several small natural likes, but the Rouge and Raisin are
not. There are severa' low-nead dams near the mouth of the Raisin
Ri ver.
The lower few miles of Michigan tributaries are dredged, sluggish,
and lake-affected. Time of travel is long and especially long in sum-
mer and fall. The streams are similar to the south shore minor trib-
utaries mentioned above in having long time-of-travel characteristics.
28
-------
GROUND WAff R
Orcjnd water i tSe soil ' = precipitation directly on the lake's surface
f; - runoff from the lake's Inncl drainaqe area
: q round w.iter - considered plus in the aqcjreqnfe
I • inflow f ron lake soove
1 -- '-u t f I .-.w from lake
; J i version; p I u_s if intc l,-ji-,o, ^i_n_u_s if out of lake
f ~ ev,*p
-------
GROUND WATER
AVAILABILITY
LAKE ERIE BASIN
(U.S. PORTION)
-------
GROUND WATER
QUALITY
LAKE ERIE BASIN
(U.S. PORTION)
-------
Runoff (k) is in^risurablo to a degree by stream gaging but Is
highly variable due to ariial differences in precipitation, topog-
raphy, soil typr, jnd violation. Runoff is estimated by applying
factors, dfriy-cl fnin s f rv rim qaging, to stream drainage basin areas.
lhe ijr^unii wdlui . v.i-ri i nut i en (U) is virtually unknown, Is not
directly measumb le , and is usually considered negligible in lake
vaster budget computations. It Is regarded as positive In the equation,
although it may actually he a negative factor.
Inflow (I) from *nr i ,KO above and natural outflow (0) are not
difficult to mr-dbur-j, ,.n.J trie U. 5. Lake Survey has done this for
more than 1 00 years. I he rueasurements are considered reliable and
adequate for balance calculations.
Diversion (U) in lai-e Erie is of two kinds, diversion out of the
Ddsin and consumptive, or transient, use within the basin. Water is
diverted out of the :>osin as a supply for the Wei land Ship Canal. In
the balance, the U. S. Lake Survey estimate of 7,000 cfs annually has
uoen used. Within the bisin, water is diverted for man's use out of
jnd bdcK into thu late. A small portion is consumed and not returned
in thi., :>roc,tss. Tr-ii: toial consumption is measurable, but in the
rui.il idKB water ^dl-anou it is considered negligible. The diversion
factor in Lake Lii<; is .i.w.i/s minus. Diversion to the lake from out-
j i Je 'he b '
t.vdporai ion (Li i, a dt-t !uss from the lake. Its measurement
with unquestioned accuracy is not possible with present methods. It
is usudlly calculated b, solving the water budget equation for E.
Tnis . • tfifc-r tr'ci-i tt.ose in the equation; i.e., wind set-
,ti,,nes, fliiu 1 1 jt.-s , jr. d..t considered as changes in storage.
lomi-terrn chdii^ i'. storage is assumed to be nil for Lake Erie.
A i.di.» Lrle wat. r budget study by Der«cki (1964) has been used
to determine monthly percentages of precipitation and runoff. Annual
runoff was calculated f rorr U. S. Geological Survey and Canadian Water
Kesources Branch surface writer gaging data. Inflow and outflow were
calculated from U. ':>. lake Survey reported measurements. Changes in
storage were calculated from average monthly water levels as reported
Dy the U. S. Lake Survey. Lvaporation was obtained by solving the
enuat i on for i t .
fht> annual ,upn|y sources for the Lake Erie water balance are
-------
detai U'J i
taries to
16.
n Tabk-
the (*••
^9 rel.iHvf- i
• .!*•>• jpp I -,
r} or,ange in storage over a
long period is not significant, and (4) evaporation is greatest In
late winter and m autumn.
Calculations ihww that I'n percent v,f r-e ,u;! bat, i M supply is
derived frcru lake Huron inflow via tru- :it;trt.it ii
over it and the upper Great Lake-.. Fr ,m I HI
Lake Survey records) N- the present. . t.an.jc
imum level s for 1 at <; EM '. .• t..;c i ••>. ' •,,, '
the lane's averaao j,,'. "
Short-per iou
changes in voliTue
Tidal effects art- ne
prorioi.iic.ed, ospecini
; I ijr ! ,0 r K
Lut t)y U
nt:iave been recorJu. . i r,u ' tcinuon ^ I / 'jotwu^r !.-,
storms, with
I.:H tu such phenomena
i i fh;s . uut, lake level s
•<-•' ' 'H't oer iods of time.
. i, i t ,ir I,,n f | uctuat Ions
> (itn: beginning of U. 5.
• fkOtM mini mum and max-
•1' n i. t n i ,;e percent of
':ir>r. i fasted , not by
•he water mass.
„-. i • '.us may be qui te
" •! lake. Wa^er
• ...rvit i ' y f r,,in can be
ihi' water rises at the
• icle. Lake trie Is par-
'iMi-up1'. because of its
>xi-, parallel to predom-
idF>-3 in excess of 13 feet
of the lake during
: -'-ariqe in lov«l near the center of the lake.
In generdl the niftiest amplitude »in,-| ,et
and fall with northeasterly ana wos tor I,/ winds,
and erosion are seven- whi;n ' MJ^I ,jm,\ \ i * u.h r, i n.
ijps occur in spring
respectively. Flooding
:,et-ups occur, and are
Reproduced from
best available copy
-------
TABLE 3
WATER SUPPLY TO LAKE ERIE
Source
Western Basin
St. Clalr River (Lake Huron, outflow)
black, Pine, Pal le River-,
Cl inton River
Rouge River
Thames Kiver
Miscellaneous Runoff
Precipitation (lake St. Clair)
Subtotal (Detroit River)
Huron River (Michigan
Rd i j i n Ri ver
Maumee River
Portaqe River
Miscellaneous Runoff
Precipitation (Western Basin)
Subtotal
Total Western Basin
tvaporat ion
Lontral Dasi'i
Western Basin
i-andjsky River
Huron River (Ohio)
Vermi 1 ion Ri ver
Bl ack Ri ver
Rocky Ri v«r
Cuyahoga River
Chagrin River
Grand River (Ohio)
Ashtabula River
Conneaut Creek
Otter Creek
Kettle Creek
Miscellaneous Runoff
Precipitation (Central Basin)
Total Central Basin
Evaporation
Supply
(cfs)
187,450
688
470
235
1 ,840
1 ,799
919
193.461
556
714
4,794
403
1,271
2,564
10,302
203,703
-3,042
200,661
1,021
296
228
302
273
850
333
784
169
257
312
185
1,410
13,508
220.589
-16,023
Percent of
Total
Lake Supply
79.774
.293
.200
.100
.783
.766
.391
§27557
.237
.304
2.040
.172
.541
1.091
4.384
86.691
-1.295
85 . 396
.435
.126
.097
.129
.116
.362
.142
.334
.072
.109
.133
.079
.600
5.749
93.877
-6.819
Percent of
Basin
Supply
OO O"7 1
92.921
.338
.231
.115
.903
.883
.451
947911
.273
.351
2.353
.198
.624
1.259
5.057
100.000
-1 .493
90 . 966
.463
.134
.103
.137
.124
.385
.\'j\
.355
.077
.117
.141
.084
.639
6.124
100.000
-7.264
34
-------
WATLK SUPPLY TO LAKE ERIE (Concluded)
Source
t astern Basin
Central Basin
Cattaraugus Creek
Buffalo River
Grand River (Ontario)
Bii] Creek
M i see 1 1 aneous Runof t
Precipitation (i as tern Basin)
Tota! Eastern Basin
Evaporat ion
Lake Outf low
Supply
-------
> __
%*>••
W*SHT»BUL* R
NOTE. SIZE OP *H«O«»
TO THC
AMOUNT OF
AA« ^*
TRIBUTARY INPUTS
LAKE ERIE BASIN
-------
even more severe during periods of high lake levels (times of In-
creased storage), especially in the western basin where the shores
are low.
A wind set-up, which generally lasts less than 24 hours, forms
a standing wave whicn will persist when the wind subsides. The
standing wave, called a seiche, will persist and gradually diminish
until another wind set-up. A typical example of wind set-ups and
following seiches are shown in Figure 17 for simultaneous lake level
readings at five different stations. Influencing winds and baro-
metric pressure are also shown.
The primary seiche period of Lake Erie is 14.2 hours, that of
the uninodal oscillation between the ends of the lake. This seiche
period is nearly always apparent on water level records from west of
Cleveland and east of Ashtabula, Ohio. Any number of seiches can
exist together and each can have several nodes, giving rise to seem-
ingly unintelligible water level records. Even the harbors, where
most recorders are located, can have short-period seiches called
surges or harbor resonance.
The shortest period oscillations of water level are simple sur-
face waves caused by wind. In Lake Erie thf5e waves ordinarily have
periods of less than six seconds. Wave heights are limited by lake
depths and fetch or length of water surface over which the wind blows.
In general, maximum possible wave heights increase from west to east
in Lake Erie. Waves over six feet in height are rare In the western
basin, while similar conditions may produce wave heights of 15 to 20
feet in the eastern basin. Violence of waves in Lake Erie is caused
by short wave lengths and the resulting wave steepness.
Waves are destructive to shore property in Lake Erie. The shore-
line of Ohio is particularly susceptible because beaches are narrow
and most banks are clay. Waves, of course, are more destructive
during high lake stages and in areas of simultaneous wind set-up. In
the western basin, wave action is believed to be the principal agent
in maintaining the relatively hiqh turbidity of the shallow water by
stirring up bottom sediments. Table 5 lists some of the effects and
causes of variou? Kinds of water level disturbances.
37
-------
S70FT.
568 MARBLEHEAD. 0
570 FT.
570 F T.
M8 BUFFALO, N.Y.
SIMULTANEOUS LAKE ERIE LEVELS
0 MPH
3OOO IN
29.50 IN
WIND AT BUFFALO AIRPORT
29 00 IN.
BAROMETRIC PRESSURE AT BUFFALO
9/19/6*1 9/20 I 9/21 I 9/22 I 9/23 I 9/24 I 9/25 I 9/26 I 9/27 I t/M I »/ft I
LAKE LEVELS AND WINDS
SEPTEMBER, 1964
FIGURE 17
-------
TABLE 5
CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF WATER LEVEL CHANGES
Water Level
Disturbance
Cause
Effects
Navigation Shore Property Po11ut1 on
Stage
Inflow
Wind Set-up Wind
Precipitation High - good High - adverse None
Low - adverse Low - good
Seiche
Tide
Waves
Wind Set-up
Moon - Sun
Wind
Same as above Same as above Lee - con-
centration
Windward -
dispersal
Same as stage Same as above Dispersal
None None None
High - adverse Adverse
Low - none
Dispersion
and long-
shore trans-
port
LAKE UATER TEMPERATURES
Lake Erie is the warmest of the Great Lakes. Mid-lake surface
water reaches an average maximum of about 75°F (24°C) usually in the
first half of August (Figure 18). Occasionally the summer temperature
in mid-lake surface water rises above 80*F. Nearshore water normally
reaches a maximum along the south shore of 80*F or more.
The most Important characteristic of lake temperatures In summer
is temperature stratification. If the water is deep enough upper warm
water (epilimnion) becomes separated from bottom cold water (hypolImnlon)
Figure 19. The transition zone between these layers Is called the
thermocline.
Surface water temperatures throughout much of the Ice-free seasons
reflect water depth with temperature decreasing toward deep water
(Rodgers, 1965). This inverse relationship changes to a direct re-
lationship in the fall and early winter.
Water temperalure is, of course, changed by variations In air
-------
YEARLY WATER TEMPERATURE CURVE, PUT-IN-BAY, OHIO
AND AIR TEMPERATURE AT TOLEDO, OHIO
JAN | FEB ! MAR t APR t MAY { JUN | JUL t AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC
Av. Wottr T»mp
Water Ttmp Rang*
1918-1965
Av. Air T«mp.
-30-
1920
I93O
1940
1950
I960
ANNUAL AVERAGE WATER TEMPERATURES AT
PUT-IN-BAY, OHIO AND ERIE. PENNSYLVANIA 1918-1965
(FROM OHIO DIV OF WILDLIFE AND US. BUR. COMM. FISH. DATA)
40
FIGURE 18
-------
Reproduced from
best available copy
z
o
z
2
_l
o
Q.
V
I
CENTRAL )
BASIN
1 -I 1
«0 3O SO
TEMPfBATUHE IN °f
TYPICAL SUMMER DEPTH
VS.
TEMPERATURE IN LAKE ERIE
—i
80
41
FIGURE 19
-------
temperature, and the re I ationsnip is direct. Slight modifications
to the relationship are r^j',od by the amount of sunshine, strength
and duration of winds, and by humidity.
Lake trie water temple-it ure, in the western basin, falls to 35°F
normally about the middle ot December and remains at that level until
the middle of March, iKudlly the western basin freezes over com-
pletely. The surface water in tha remainder of Lake trie Is at 33°F
for about the same length of time, but normally about two weeks later,
or from the first of January until the first of April. The central
and eastern basins usually do not freeze over completely, but often
are almost entirely covered by *loe ice.
Just after the ice breakup in spring, the ice drifts eastward
and accumulates in the eastern basin. Occasionally ice jams signifi-
cantly impede the flow o* tha ''hagara River. Ice normally disappears
i n Lake Erie by May I.
Windrows of ice are common near the shore and on reefs. Wind
exerts a significant force ,m t»i« ice and can cause breakup without
thawinq conditions. Occasionally with onshore winds alonq the south
shore of the western basin, ice piles up on shore, scouring the bot-
tom as it moves in. At time, it piles to heights of 30 feet or more
and destroys buildings r>n<' other structures along the shore.
Spring ice breakup in the western basin, after it begins, occurs
rapidly, going from complete ice cover to open water in a few days.
Warminq of the lake wafer usually beqins immediately after the
ice breakup. The rate o-t warming is remarnably uniform until about
the first of July when r>,<- maximum temperature is being approached
and the rate flattens out.
A comparison of surface water temperature curves and air tempera-
ture curves (Figure 16) •.,*•,<..'«', fridt during the ice-free season there is
a definite and expected p-i.-.i I lol i sm. The water temperature curve lags
the air temperature b/ i ' , \: :HV'J in spring and t>y 12 to Ib days in
fall. The greatest de^o-v ^ i. u i -^ in midsummer when the air temperature
decline beqins about 1 (•!•«•<• «->n*<; before the water temperature decline.
Figure 18 also shows Tfjmfterdture data from about 41} years of
record maintained at tho Ohio State Fish Hatchery at Put-in-Bay (Ohio
Division of Wildlife, r*til). Mean monthly water temperatures are shown.
Also annual average temperatures are shown for the period for Put-in-Bay
and for the Erie, Pennsylvania water intake as compiled by the U. S.
Bureau of Commercial Fisheries. The Erie record shows a trend toward
higher temperatures during the period and the Put-in-Bay record shows
a trend toward lower temperatures. Trends appear insignificant, however,
especially since accuracy of measurement is at least questionable.
-------
Temperature of the surface water of Lake Erie Is of less sia-
n.ficance than the tnroe-dlmensional temperature structure. This
.
n«HH in''"ences circulation of the water and its dissolved and
suspended substances, and also has a marked Influence on the chemical
and b.ochemical activity at the bottom sediment-water ?nter?ace
WESTERN HAS IN
sa^nn^T5 2°d; D> a?" C Grammatically show the development of
seasonal temperature structure in each of Lake Erie's three basins
nTri t °Vhe Welest ^rma? str cture.
n ™9 tT te:peratUre °f thC 6ntire water colu™ rises gradually?
n summer the water ,s usually nearly isothermal vertically A traJs-
" ne °f 'ittle ""P-tance can be formed nelr the
Per'°1s- During periods of normal winds and
teperatur*s. * thermocline can be formed near The
n Tr-n T°U V r'th the devel°PTOnt <* a secondary thernocllne
in the central bas.n. This thermocline is accompanied by rapid de-
nt U 0 °^— — •"<, erial nd
the inability of oxygen to penetrate the thermocline.
Storms equalize temperatures in the western basin top to bottom
C°°Mn beinS th basin P'
so, , ' n waer s
isothermal and rema.ns so as it cools in fall and winter.
CENTRAL BASIN
The central basin water, Figure 20b, has a simple fall winter
thanSin"'S ^T' S!ru?tura' '" Su—r th« ^ructure is ^ complex
Hrst ^ ± W° *K" 6 temPerat"re at the beginning of the
aturl of^" T?I CV^'e '" ear'V June i5 approximately the temper-
ature of the following hypol imnion.
The stable thermocline and hypol imnion are formed relatively sud-
T his [to? 7tflrSt St°rm endin9 thlS "eather ^c'e. The intens ty
c i™ X, ° dfe™'n« the depth of the thennocl ine, and the thermo-
cl,ne rema.ns at approx.matel y its initial elevation until the lake^
beg.ns to cool ,n August. The thermocline is normally tilted sllohtlv
u eor- Durinq its existence th
an v 0
tt conta ns o d 6CaUSe * dOeS ^ m''X with the water abov«' and
IT contains oxidizable organic matter.
t.r. hT61" weath«r cVcles cause tne epi I imnion to alternate in struc-
ture between one layer and three layers. Storms eguallze the temper-
eplimnio- D-ing the fol.owing warning erlod Isec-
wn h
alure f th P , Or m6terS' WMIe th ' s is for-"'"g the temper-
ature of the epilimn.on below th's temporary themccllne is not changing
The temperature of this zone is then raised suddenly during the cycTe-
ending storm when the temperature of the entire epi I imnion again becomes
43
-------
LAKE ERIE-WESTERN BASIN - ANNUAL TEMPERATURE DEVELOPMENT
I APR _ MAY , JUN t ML ( AUG. , ?EP. . OCT^.. NOV^ ^ D^C. , JAN. . FEB. . MAR.
T , DIURNAL RISE AND FALL
! , CAUSED BT DAILY RISE AI»B TALL 0>- AIR TEMPERATURE
r INTERMITTENT THERMOCLINE
NOV.^ ^ DEC. , JAH. . riv.
-LAKI IURFACI-*!tUHFACE FREE2O
s
° GRADUAL RISE
H. GRADUAL RISE *i AND OCCASIONAL
o:FREAOUENT SMALL .?™0P ^FBASES
^ SHARP INCREASES M.^NS WTH ABOVE
ISOTHERMAL
C°°UNG
ISOTHERMAL
CONSTANT 33°F .
or
o
INTERMITTENT THERMOCLiNE
LAKE ERIE-CENTRAL BASIN-ANNUAL TEMPERATURE DEVELOPMENT
APR. ^ MAT ( JUN , JUU AUG , SEP OCT ^ NOV. a DEC.
DIURNAL RISE AND FALL T "*-'•«« IU»FACE-^
JAN.
SURFA
INTERMITTENT THERMOCLINE
u ~ GRADUAL RISE,
a: 'OCCASIONAL
g SHArtP DECLINES £
0 ^'INTERMITTENT '« ISOTHERMAL
i^^^.^ . r, o^ ' THERMCCLINE " GRADUAL
LU GRADUAL RISE, CAUSED IY .OR..U v COOLING
O FREQUENT SMALL t*L'T_"L" _ _ . - -S
uJ SHARP INCREASES CONSTANT, |
^ CAJSED »Y NORMAL OCCASIONAL }
tr SHARP INCREASES
STABLE~THERMOCLINE FO»
^f FIRST SUMMER WCArHKB C»CIE
ISOT HERMA L CONSTANT ' e
DECLINES TO
CONSTANT
ISOTHERMAL
CONSTANT 33°F
or
O
5
or
O S:
•nnr SUMMER »I»TH£» CYCLE OE-OXYOf«»TIO>l
^RAOUAL, M*( GO '3 COMPLETION
LAKE ERIE - EASTERN BASIN-ANNUAL TEMPERATURE
AP*. A MAT ^ JUN. ( JUL. ( AUG. x SEP. ^ OCT. ^ NOV. A_ J3EC.
OIU7NAL RISE AND FALL ^-LA.E SURFACC-X'
GRADUAj_.. RISE
*i« ISOTHERMAL
THERMOCLINE .« J GRADUAL COOLING
DEVELOPMENT
JAN. , FEB. , MAR.
CONSTANT 33°F
r-r.
0.
foP""D
!
NEARLY CONSTANT -ISOTHERMAL
POSSIBLE REVERSE
THERMOCLINE
!1Y
WEATMfB,
f,
5°
44
CONSTANT ^9°F !
FIGURE" "20"
-------
uniform. The donsit" ^rj/iiRnt at the stable thermocline Is thus in-
creased. Ihe whole process is repeated several times before August.
Figure 21 shows the summer .yclic development at station E-8 (Figure
23) in the central bav. i o . I,. August the epilimnion begins to cool
and loses its ^h^oe-layor structure. The density gradient at the
thermocline decreases and the thermoclire deepens, disappearing
entirely bv October.
Upwelling, aowriwu! i ing, ana internal waves are created during
summer storms in the central basin, especially during northwesters.
The hypo limn ion Glides around in the basin. This water movement
probably brings bottom sediments into suspension and this may Increase
oxygen consumption, bringing about relatively sudden oxygen depletion
in the h/polimn ion. Internal waves other than up and downwelling in
the central basin prc/.,:,Mv have amplitudes of less than five feet,
as indicated by a study in the summer of 1965. Periods range from
less than five minutes to two weeks or more, with an Inertia! period
near eighteen hours aoparantly predominant.
tASTERN BASIN
Ihe temperature .tincture of the eastern basin is probably like
that of the deeper ,.| ,.',11 Lakes, Figure 20c. In winter It is nearly
isothermal and may l'<«; ,everse stratification. In spring it mixes
top fo Dottoin .inn is VHM 111 a \ I y isothermal. The upper waters warm
gradually dnd a snjllow thick tnermucline forms early, thinning ano
deepening as summer progresses. The epilimnion is mixed more often
or more constantly than in the central basin. Figure 21 shows a
typical summer t.-ieii-iial .iov.! looment at station LI2 and EI4 (Figure 23)
in the oast«r n l,,r i . .
Mixin.-) i r trie ep i i i r.,-, i < ..n of the eastern basin may be aided greatly
or perpetuated by relatively high amplitude thennoclinal waves. Sig-
nificant intern.-! I K=IVP ivitlon is virtually constant throughout the
summer witn (in iri»-:rM-j. ,; },-. I'--hour ;ieriod dominant. The thermocMne
thins and di-'up^ns rapi.-,i .iftv»r the eoilimnion begins to cool. Just
before the tho:>i> ^ .1 i ni; ,,: ,1. ^udrs, usually in November, it has reached
a depth of li;i, luci . ,r •... nr.. iVith its disappearance the hypolimnion
zone warms s; P->.'<.* jt . j.,f? r -Tilling, and then begins to cool to winter
temperatures.
NEARSHORE WATM-> Tt Ml't RA !'.';-)| ',
Temperature playc an inportant role in nearshore waters. The
significance is not great in winter because the temperature Is nearly
uniform throughout the lake. However, during the other three seasons
waters of different temperatures are in contact and density interfaces
are formed, inhibiting mixing processes and resulting In currents
which would nnt otherwise exist.
-------
FIGURE 21
46
-------
During the s;>ri:-, ano bummer, and strongly in the fprinq a tem-
perature differential *.„ ,,,ist between nearshore and offshore waters
he water «,thin a -n,,.. .. s,> off shore is usual Iv considerably wanner
lha greatest j. f tor,.-.,; , -.< appears to exist along the south shore of
the centra! basin. In* (,,imary reasons for this are warm tributary
discharges ana the soutr.w^st winds ever the lake pushing warm surface
waters toward The ri-jr,r ot the wind or toward the south shore. North
shore nearshore waters jo not Appear to be greatly warmer than mid-
lake water at any time of the year. The prevailing southwest winds
here too may t-e I arhore nearshore water. The phy ics of
tne system require this movement. Current measurements at several
nearshore stations have confirmed it.
In the western basin the disruptive influences of the Detroit River
inflow, bottom topography ana the ic!ands do not allow the development
of the -.ame nearshore thermal structure. Figure 22 shows a typical
temperature distribution in the western basin in early summer.
tFFtCTS OF TEMPERATURE PHLNOMLNA
Temperature play::, -i most important role in Lake Erie p-ocesses
as does the temperature - re I -.tea densit, stratification. Some of the
more 'mportant effects are:
I. Actual tbmp«rrt«ura controls plant and animal productivity
of the lane r< s.w«; degree, in general tne higher the
Temporature, tnf: ]r«atet the productivity.
<'. Intf-rmtt,., t t,., r.n.i> , t r d t i t i cat I On neflr the bottom of the
we'^erri i v,i i • ,.; , to rapid .1eoxyg«nat i on of tne water in
Ine hypulin,,. ,,-,. «, .-r, ana wnnre it occurs. The warmer the
hypol innion f.t •.,..,iO rapid ' h»j deoxyqenat ion will be.
i. Stable '..umn.ur ti-.(rmal si rat i f icat ion in the central basin
lead'. t<; the annual deoxyqenat ion of hypol imnet ic water.
4. Thermal stratifi,.at ion in the eastern basin does not have
serious cor,serj!,o:.<-i:<, because of the much greater thickness
and less raiii.i t i .-(.ul at ion of the hypol imnion.
47
-------
TEMPERATURE DISTRIBUTION
IN
LAKE ERIE - WESTERN BASIN
10-FT DEPTH 6/23/53
-------
'i . Temperature i s important in controlling water movements in
nearshore areas. Density barriers may confine warmer waters
and pollution SUL >tances to the nearshore zones, especially
dlonq the south shore, in spring and summer.
o. Temperature rises in general limit top to bottom mixing;
temparaturt) declines favor it.
LAKE CURRENTS
Iwo t>asie tv,i«r, of circulation exist in Lake Erie: (I) Horizontal
notion ana (..') esser.t i rtl ly vertical motion. Each of these can be gen-
et i call y subdivided as follows:
Mori z on tal Currents Vertical Currents
(I) Lake flow-through fl) Temperature gradient (convection)
(?) wind-driven (2) Turbidity gradient
(5) :>eicne (3) Dissolved solids, gradient
(•1) Inert ial (4) Convergence of horizontal currents
C>) Uensity (5) Divergence of horizontal currents
, nowuvtjr, does not mean that, at all places at alt times, a flow-
throucjh component is included. It is possible that this component of
water movement is found only on one side of the lake or that it wanders
from one s i 1e to the other. Throughout the water column, it should be
f:v>ent i^ I I v uni -Ji re., i ional , with no compensating return flow. All
•.jtht-r typ«r- of r.jrren*^ ore superimposed and, except in restricted
canine i , , the f ! ,iw- t nr .ju'jh may be completely masked.
Ihn t U.w- tfi-oijijr -urrent of LaKe Erie can be considered -is the mo^t
significant aqen t in re introduced near or at the source of the flow-
tnrouqh. Bftcfluse of its qenerally very low velocity, it Is not sig-
nificant in the transport of suspended material. The exceptions are
in restricted channels.
Wind-driven currents are, as the term Implies, the movements of
water rfire.tlv caused by wind stress at the water surface. These cur-
rents are the fris+pst and the most variable in direction of the larqe-
scale water movements. Large volumes of water can be moved In a very
short t i mo , «s i n v. i n>l set-up.
-------
The first of feet of wind is to produce waves. Waves, in them-
selves, are not significant transporters of water, at least In deeper
areas of the lake. Most of the motion is orbital In a vertical plane
decreasinq downward from the surface to zero at a depth equal to the
wave length. There is only a slight net transport of water in the
direction of wave progress. However, when waves reach shallow ater
(half the wave length or less) they change from orbital to a to and
fro motion. The slight net transport still exists and along with the
effects of gravity on the return flow and wind drag, littoral or long-
shore currents are createJ. Such currents can be especially rapid
when the wave approach is toward shore at som*> angle other than normal.
Waves in mid-lake (,-iiso along shore) can produce turbulence and
if the water is shallow enough, bottom sediments may be thereby brought
into suspension. In deep water this is not a significant agent, in
itself, for transport of sediment. It may be looke 1 upon as an &gent
for mixing essentially in -^ i t u. However, wave turbulence may bring
sediment up into the water to be transported by other currents.
The second effect of wind is to drag, en masse, a volume of water
more or less in the direction of the wind. This is probably the major
factor in wind set-up. The drag decreases with depth and so does the
imposed velocity. If tna volume of water moved cannot escai e from the
lake, two things will happen; (I) the water level will rise it the
leeward end of the lake and (2) a subsurface return flow will be
created. If there is adequate depth so that there is an unrestricted
return flow, the rise in level will be smal.l. In Lake Erie the water
is shallow, the return flow is restricted, and the disturbance of
water level is pronounced.
The above description of wind-driven currents is greatly over-
simplified. The currents are influenced by the Coriolls effect, by
previously established wind-driven currents, by water temperature, by
air temperature, by the local and overall shape of the basin, by the
force of the wind, by the distance of wind travel over water (fetch),
and by the direction and duration of the wind.
Seiche currents are those created in the standing wave motions of
seiches. Seiches, of course, depend upon the wind (rarely atmospheric
pressure change along) for thoir creation. After the wind set-up, a
seiche and its currents are self-sustaining. They degenerate by fric-
tion. Degeneration is seldom, if ever, complete because seiches are
normally rejuvenated and/or changed by the wind.
The highest velocity seiche currents in a symmetrical basin occur
along and normal to the nodal line of a particular seiche, and the
velocity decreases t) a minimum at the locations of maximum amplitude.
Superimposed and multinodal seiches can le*d to complex and seemingly
unintelligible motions. In Lake Erie the longitudinal seiche dominates
-------
..;nj ti.e n«>n •,.!., «sj^i_i, <-.'•>, •- . lifferences in dissolved solids content, dif-
t.-renoes •• •. suc-c>er l.-n , .ids Content, or any combination of these.
Density currents <-irtj tin most apparent and probably have their
greatest importance i'. i.ounrtary waters. They provide a mechanism for
d more 'ojpi.J nori/ont, i tisrribution of tributary inputs than would
r••'••lerwise :K...ur «(,,.••. ; ;s.. *,iries are warmer than the lake, the in-
puts can .WM i ije *ne ij^e water, and vice versa. In either case the
inputs ..an spieriJ w i j<; i y offshore. Density currents from differences
'•i J i s .. >l v.td soli,;--, .;.;• suspended solids content nearly always tend to
f ••-•• '• .•' •'•,•!'' ' . .-•!<.:i-••! .m lake water. I* however, the solids-
i-)•)(;!, Kjtei ii ;* ^• i jn .n^i.irjh temperature, it can override the lake
: ffor,-n ,• i: t ..-•., .); m.n- . ,ir. ,->ften t.,- , us t ,-j i nc d , especially with
*';'-' tf '"•' '• j' .'. • <• i 'li' ' * '°* ) , thci ' timj;. ' ^tur-j ii* maximum density,
. njvtiiu i -; Irjter.-ii ji , ei i. r .-md -'.onf i r, i nq inputs to the nearshore
-•'.•.ri'j.
'-"•>it. LI;. ..r.i in ,...! compensating. Their movement is ordin-
••• i >*' '.• - ^ i ts r. r<-.,jr.-i if the same water.
1 • - , . -• - - ;».-,.• i:.-, is assoc i dted with all ot he>r types of
. '*" e ' l•• h .. : !*••'! ^'fh wind-driven currents.
"' v"' ' ' '' ' . • • : -• I . i: t.'jiflti on caused ny heat transfer. It is
..''•' ' " . •!"• • • i H •• ' • . • he cool i nq per i od from August to January.
•.(. -.i,r'f).;t: .•-!'•• i lij.i.s '••.)* to tne atmosphere, becomes colder than
l''wr Hti'-r. i! -j si 4 ^'irnv?r water rises to replace it. This process
• i.-i'i ;i:ior. s tii 1 r-.n wtr.,1 ;,iumn reaches 4°C, the temperature of maximum
iK| i =. Kii.i • t , ,i i.idti.-in probably cannot be called currents
s"-|Crw,r st-.i---. :;iji it is highly effective in exchanging water
. 1'i.j sutt.j.,e csiiiJ ,'o-toir. ioat loss from the water is the only
needed *o sustain tnis kind of motion.
... >n /uct i
-------
temperatures during storms. The over-running of cold water from
tributaries can cause convection currents, but this is not common.
Turbidity and dissolved solids gradients can cause vertical cir-
culation if, like over-rur ing of cold water, they can be formed with
the denser water on top. In is situation is not normal.
Convergence of horizontal currents can cause vertical movement
if at some lower or higher level there are diverging currents. Con-
verging surface currents lead to downward movement. Diverging surface
current lead to upward movement.
Turbulence, associated with storm activity, is the most effective
vertical motion at a 11 seasons of the year. The result is rapid, ver-
tical mixing in unstratified water from top to bottom, and above the
density barrier if tho water is stratified.
Currents in Lake Erib hdve been studied from time to time since
before the turn of the century. Most studies have been largely con-
fined to the western basin of the lake.
Only one attempt ha, been made in the past to show the general
water circulation pattern tor the entire lake. This was by Harrington
(I891)).
Circulation in the western basin has been investigated by several
workers, including Harrington (1895). Wright (1955), Olson (1950),
Verber (1953, 1954), and recently by the U. S. Bureau of Commercial
Fisheries. The eastern basin has been neglected except for a rather
local study in the long Point area by Green (Fish, I960).
The Federal Water Pollution Control Administration measured cur-
rents continuously and synoptically at selected locations in the
western, central, and eastern basins. The U. S. Lake Survey has also
similarly measured currents near a few selected harbors on Lake Erie.
These programs are the first of their kind in Lake Erie.
Nearly all past work has relied upon data gathered from the re-
lease of drift cards, drift bottles, and shallow drogues. Only a
very small amount of metering has been done, and this was by manual
methods. Some attempts have been made to map chemically or physi-
cally different water masses, thereby inferring water circulation, In
the western basin.
Harrington (1895), using drift bottles, deduced the surface cur-
rents of Lake Erie. In the western basin he showed the Detroit River
fanning out from the Michigan shore to the Canadian shore. The eastern
half of the Detroit River flow went directly to Pelee Passage. The
remainder apparently flowed south and eastward to discharge through
-------
the South Passage with a small amount going northward to Pelee Passage.
He also showed a clockwise movement around Pelee island and a counter-
clockwise movement around Kelleys Island.
Olson (I94U) made a study of surface currents in western Lake
Lrie in 1948 and 1949 usinq drift cards. He divided the Detroit River
flow into three oarts, which he called the "Colchester Convergence",
the "Pigeon bay Drift", and the "Pelee Passage Drift" (See Figure I).
This Implies that The Detroit River flow stays along the north shore,
passing into the central basin via Pelee Passage. He showed a drift
toward shore along The Michigan shore and indeterminate flow along
the south shore. He stated that Maumee River water must flow through
South Passage or oetwe*;n the islands, but indicated a to and fro motion
in those channels. He also showed a clockwise movement around Pelee
island which he called the "Pelee Island Gyre".
Wright (I'^b) studied the surface currents of western Lake Lrie
in 1928 usinq drift DoTtles. He drew no conclusions except to state
that surface currents were not constant but were highly dependent
upon The wind. MOST of his bottles released near the Ohio and Michigan
mainland shores went southward while most bottles released just west
ot the islands went northward.
Verber
-------
basin at the surface and at depth. The west part of the river »ollo«.d
the Michigan and Ohio shores moving northward west of the * lands- The
east part of the Detroit flow appeared to be moving east along The
Canadian shore. The bulk of the western basin water was moving out
through the Pelee Passage.
The only published work attempting to describe the circulation of
central Lake Erie is that of Harrington (1895). He showed a general
down-lake surface flow with a counter-clockwise gyre between Point
Pelee and Polnte Au* Pins, Ontario, and fast of Polnte Aux Pins. He
also showed the gyre around Pelee island extending several miles into
central Lake Erie.
Green (Fish. I960) measured currents at a few isolated sites in
central Lake trie in 1929 without showing significant novetnents.
The U S Bureau of commercial Fisheries recent work with shal:ow
drogues indicates eastward flow in ncdrly all cases In mid-lake. They
indicate that the Pelee Passage discharge reaches the Ohio shore be-
tween Sandusky and Lorain.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources, with some direct measure-
.•nents in the southeastern p*rt of the basin indicates that complex
patterns of water movement may exist both areally and in depth. Also
their work indicates that eddies are common around harbor breakwaters
which are not shore-connected. This has been confirmed by the U. 5.
Lake Survey in their harbor work.
Even less is known of eastern basin water circulation. The only
known past attempt to measure currents in the eastern bas.n was by
Green in 1929 as reported by Msh (I960). Green used a current pole
and a Price current meter to measure velocities in the deeper water
of the basin. He admitted that his measurements at depth were prob-
ably too high in value. In qeneral he found, on the few occasions of
measurement! that there was a rather rapid flow eastward, espec ally
near Long Point. He also found that surface flow opposed the wind
quite often. Flow patterns, other than eastward dominant movement
cannot be shown from his data.
Drift bottles, drift cards and shallow drogues, released by the
U S Bureau of Commercial Fisheries and the Ohio Department of Natural
Resources in the western and central basins in recent years, have
arrived on Long Point and the south shore of the eastern bas.n m great
numbers. Only a few drifted to the north shore of the eastern basin
east of Long Point. Tnis probably indicates an eastward cross-lake
flow of surface water.
In order to further describe the prevailing circulation patterns,
the U. S. Public Health Service (now the Federal Water Pollution Control
-------
Administration), in Mdv |'K>4, established a system of automatic cur-
rent meterinq station-; in Lak« trie. The meter I nq program was main-
tained until September in';. | he station locations and kinds of
measurements are -,hown •" ' iqure .'5. Table 6 lists the stations, the
depths at eacn meter, ,r .; n\-:- time of station occupancy. Temperature
recorders were installed in c.on junct ion with the current meters. Wind
recorders were installed on nobt stations, but only during summer.
The meterinq program .ould not describe currents very near the
lake bottom. Therefore, i .1 the bummer of I961? seabed drifters were
released at selected ioo»t ions in Lake Erie (Figure 24). These small
Jrifters contained instrur r ion-., to return to the sender.
Intensive, local i/fd, '.
me mouth of the in?tr-,i' i-i-.v
of 1964. These were mam unroots, and much of the interpolation between
top and bottom will b(3 left to the reader.
WLSTERN BASIN CIRCULAIUN
As noted previous! ,
Deen studied more t^an i
facts determined in all
inant summer surface ...'
The surface currents in
inated by the Detroit -M
the basin the surface t
southwesterly wind-,, ,sr.;
the islands. Eddy et'i-,
lead to sluggish mr.vent-i
and between Stony Point,
retain waters contained
of pollutants commonly
. '••• »d'er movements of tne western basin have
r. ,mv other area of Lake Erie. Combining the
rr,,/,- studies, a pattern of most probable dom-
r.'nt., r..v_, t,een compiled as shown in Figure 2b.
the western half ot the western basin are dom-
ver inflow. However, in the eastern half of
,M ;,O( omes more influenced by the prevailing
t'i-, effect produces, n clockwise flow around
*. ilon-j the sides ot the Detroit River inflow
t .! Mjrface water west of Colchester, Ontario
Michigan and Toledo. These eddies tend to
..i^in thorn, lading to higher concentrations
-J;jr.a i r tnr>se areas.
The surface flow ot ;•,,. «e',t,?rn basin water is often changed by
-------
a
c
33
CURRENT, WATER TEMPERATURE
AND WIND MEASUREMENT STATIONS
IN
LAKE ERIE
1964 - 1965
-------
TABLE 6
CURRENT METERING STATION DESCRIPTION DATA
(station locations on Fifc. 4-7)
Station
Number
E-l
F.-2
E-3
E-4
E-5
E-6
E-7
E-R
E-9
E-10
E-I1
E-12
E-13
E-14
E-l 5
E-l 6
E-l 7
E-lft
E-19
E-20
E-22
K-23
E-24
E-25
E-26
E-23
E-29
E-30
E-31
E-33
E-34
Meter
depth (ft.)
30
30
30
30,
30,
30,
30,
30,
30,
30,
30.
30,
30,
30,
30,
30,
30.
30
30
15
15
15
15,
15
15
15
15,
15
15.
15
5,
16,
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
50, 75, ICO
50, 75, 100
50, 75, 100, 185
50, 75
50, 75
50
30
30
30, 45
7, 9, 11, 13, H,
18, 20, 22
Time of station occupancy*
5/18-1 0/1 2M, 11/26M-9/17/65
5/19-1 0/1 3M, 11/26-4/20/65
5/19-8/6/64, 11/26/64-9/16/65
5/19-10/11/64, 10/14/64-9/18/65
5/19/^4-5/1/65
5/19/64-4/21/65
5/19/64-9/17/65
5/20-10/15/^4, 5/3-9/19/65
5/20-10/15/64. 10/16/64-5/2/65
5/20/64-8/5/6;;
5/20/64-9/17A5
5/20/64-9/20/65
5/20-10/1 5/64
5/20-9/20/65
5/21-10/23/64, 5/7-9/23/65
5/20-10/19/64
5/7-9/24/65
6/11-8/6/64, 4/21-9/16/65
4/21-9/16/65
6/12-7/17/65, 8/11-9/17/65
6/12-7/17/65
6/12-7/17/65
6/12-7/15/65. 8/8-9/17/65
6/16-7/15/65, 8/6-9/17/65
6/16-7/16/65
6/15-7/16/65
6/14-7/15/65
6/14-7/15/65
6/14-7/15/65
4/21-9/15/65
7/29-3/12/65
* Record ler.gth averages about 60t of total occupancy times.
-------
SEA- BED DRIFTER
RELEASES AND RETURNS
IN
LAKE ERIE
-------
r.- / A _-> ; \
'„*'/ f ^rO/l ,<
DOMINANT SUMMER
SURFACE FLOW IN
LAKE ERIE - WESTERN BASIN
'Dt'E:TiON ONLY
-------
changes in wind direction ond intensity. The effect of strong winds
on surface circulation is to Absentially skirr, the surface water and
move it in the direction toward which the wind is blowing. Thus with
a sufficiently strong wind mosl of the surface water, except along
the windward shore, rav move in the same direction.
Surface flow tells nothing suout bottom circulation. In summer
bottom currents in much of the western ba5;n of Lake Erie are simllar
to surface currents, be in.,, dominated by the Detroit River inflow
(Figure 26). However, in the island area the bottom currants are
often the reverse of the surface currents with a counter-clockwise
flow around the islands. 'he storing station (t-19) in Pelee Passage
showed a dominant northwesterJ movement of water at a depth of 30
feet between the months of April and Auqust !%•>. Three days of meas-
urement at 10 feet in Soutr, Passage (t-18) showed a dominant eastward
movement. In late August and September in Pelee Passage the bottom
flow had reversed, indicating thai it had then become like the surface
flow. Apparently lake roolim i-. irr,portan', in establishing a top to
bottom uniformity of dominant Circulation. The dominant annual bottom
flow may be clockwise around "*l«e Island. Seabed drifter data tend
to support This.
Records of currents dt .tjtior, «-«, on«-half mile north of the
Toledo water intake crib. during )••„.. summer ot I -^ showed a dominant
movement northwestward, ..oni^t. r,u- w, t, rh,> JocKwise eddy movement
in the Toledo-Monroe area.
Like the surface movement. Dottorn currents can also be changed
by the wind, although it pronablv takes a stronger wind to create a
major change of pattern. win verv strong winds, which cause major
changes of water IRVH!. (-..= :• -n.-m currents are essentially the re-
verse of surface current ,. ;•,.<, ^ans,
-------
DOMINANT SUMMER BOTTOM FLOW
LAKE ERIE - WESTERN BASIN
(DIRECTION ONLY)
-------
SURFACE FLOW WITH
STRONG SOUTHWEST WIND
IN
LAKE ERIE - WESTERN BASIN
(DIRECTION ONUT)
-------
X4
#tf
/ ' / '
/.'* //f"
/Is/' * ''€//
<^U ////>V/
^//,'' / / ./ / ^X.' N /.
-X/7^/ / ^ x //x^/
?'W/',&$
* ' ' JC
/^ ?\
' y/
x iX*'
-X *v
/ r -Vr-f^ • /
V'
BOTTOM FLOW WITH
STRONG SOUTHWEST WIND
IN
LAKE ERIE - WESTERN BASIN
(DIRECTION ONLY)
-------
\
M \ s
SURFACE FLOW WITH
STRONG NORTHWEST WIND
LAKE ERIE - WESTERN BASIN
(DIRECTION ONLY)
-------
r\ ^-f^-Jfl
BOTTOM FLOW WITH
STRONG NORTHWEST WIND
IN
LAKE ERIE - WESTERN BASIN
(DIRECTION ONLY)
-------
SURFACE FLOW WITH
STRONG NORTHEAST WIND
LAKE ERIE - WESTERN BASIN
(DIRECTION ONLY)
-------
ro
s J
c, a\ \ \ r / /
'i^v > / >
BOTTOM FLOW WITH
STRONG NORTHEAST WIND
LAKE ERIE - WESTERN BASIN
(DIRECTION ONLY)
-------
I. Concentrations of contaminants from the Detroit, Raisin, and
Maumee Rivers may buiId up along the west shore under the
conditions of dominant flows, both surface and bottom.
2. Concentrations of contaminants may similarly build up to
even higher values under ice cover since wind then has less
effect.
3. Winds cause mixing and redistribution of contaminants over
the entire basin in ice-free periods.
4. A portion of central Lake Erie water may recirculate in and
around the island area of the western basin.
CENTRAL BASIN CIRCULATION
The effect of wind is over-riding in the water circulation of the
central basin of Lake Erie. The orientation of the basin, with Its
long axis essentially parallel to the prevailing southwesterly winds
makes this effect especially important.
The predominant summer surface woter movement in central Lake Erie
is as illustrated in Figure 33, based on the results of drift card,
drift bottle, and drogue studies made by several other agencies. This
pattern of surface movement has been determined from investigations
carried out orimarilv durinq the summer months. The pattern should be
similar for winter months but with a decided shift to movement more
toward the southeast and south as a result of the more frequent oc-
currence of northwesterly winds. It should be noted that surface cur-
rents do not exactly parallel the wind direction but move somewhat to
the right of it because of the Coriolis effect. It should also be
understood that the predominant pattern is essentially that of result-
ant movement over an extended period, and at any one time, surface
movement may be great ly different or even reve-'ji:d, responding quickly
to wind changes.
Bottom currents in central Lake Erie are not similar to surface
currents. Because surface currents are generally moving water In much
greater quantity than can be removed from the basin, the balancing
movement must be subsurface and essentially a return flow over most
of the basin, responding less quickly to wind changes. The predominant
bottom flow pattern fc'" summer is shown in figure 34. In this case
bottom flow means the motion at the lake bottom in unstratlfled water,
but where the lake is thermally stratified it means the predominant
movement at the bottom of the epilimnlon. It is this bottom flow, be-
tween 30 to 60 feet below water f-jvel, that the metering program in
the central basin of Lake Erie has measured. The stations at which It
was measured were E-l through t-ll (Figure 23). Table 7 lists. In
brief, examples of some of the monthly flows at these stations in terms
-------
••i. \ -
•> v .. _
DOMINANT SUMMER SURFACE
FLOW PATTERN
LAKE ERIE
(DIRECTION ONLY)
-------
DOMINANT SUMMER BOTTOM
FLOW PATTERN
NOTE: FLOW PATTERN ABOVE
THERMOCLINE WHERE
STRATIFIED.
LAKE ERIE
(DIRECTION ONLY)
-------
TABLE 7
CURRENT FLOWS AT CENTRAL BASIN METER STATIONS
(station locations on Figure 4-7)
Station
E 1
E 2
E 3
E 4
E 5
E 6
E 7
E 7
E 8
E 9
E 11
Depth
(ft.)
30
30
30
50
30
30
30
50
30
30
30
Net. Dir.
from
118°
—
—
—
70°
141°
225"
—
77°
82°
112°
June 1964
Net. Vel.
cm/sec
0.80
—
—
—
4.15
1.49
—
—
2.31
1.82
6.52
Avg. Vel.
cm/sec
11.4
—
—
—
8.8
5.9
—
—
6.8
10.7
10.9
Net Dir
from
277°
183°
315°
257°
—
87°
—
47°
—
—
—
December
. Net Vel
cm/sec
1.41
0.83
1.53
2.44
—
1.86
--
0.52
~
~
—
1964
. Avg. Vel.
cm/sec
5.6
10.4
10.6
7.2
—
9.8
—
6.5
—
—
••"
Note: To convert velocities to ft./see. multiply by .033.
7|
-------
of net direction, net velocity, and average velocity of all measure-
ments. Figure 35 based on both current meter and drifter data, shows
the dominant annual bottom flow in Lake Erie. Note that thi« is a
slightly different pattern from that of Figure 34 showing summer flow
above the thermocline.
The metering program did not show, except during occasional per-
iods of hypollmnetic upwelling, what was happening below the thermo-
cline. There Is no reason to believe that a predominant horizontal
circulation pattern exists in the hypolimnlon. However, high vel-
ocity currents (up to 2 ft/sec.) have been measured, during c,torms,
in the hypo limn ion. These are brought about during up ana downwelllng
when the hypo limn ion water is forced to slide around in the basin.
This phenomenon becomes increasingly significant in late summer and
early fall when the hypolimnion is thin and sharply divided from the
ep i11mn i on.
Bottom currents near shore are pronounced in summer and are quite
different from bottom currents offshore, Indicating a separate system
of water movement. Seabed drifter returns from the summer of 1965
showed that (I) releases more than three miles from the south shore
produced no returns, (2) releases less than three miles from shore
gave many returns, (3) drifters moving westward averaged only about
one mile of travel, and (4) drifters moving eastward averaged nearly
12 miles of travel. These results indicate that, especially in summer,
there Is a pronounced eastward movement of nearshore water (Figure 35).
This has been substantiated by current meter measurements at stations
E-20, E-22, E-23, E-25, E-26, and E-30 (Figure 73). Water temperature
structure also supports this conclusion with a spring and summer band
of warmer water near the south shore.
Dye studies along the south shore of the central basin in the sum-
mer of 1965 showed in general that surface water within the nearshore
zone, while moving parallel to shore, also tended to move toward shore.
Thi-i was easily noticeable when movement was toward the east. Move-
ment toward the west at times showed a simultaneous movement away from
shore but was not so pronounced.
Transport of sediments near the water line along the south shore
of the central basin is not necessarily indicative of prevalent flow
of water. For example, from Avon Point westwarc, beach sediment
accretion patterns indicate a general drift toward the west. This
results from wave action in the nearshore zone which Is stronger from
the northeast. Sediments are moved toward the west during the Inter-
mittent periods of northeasters. The slower but much more prevalent
water motion toward the east is unable to transport the sediments.
From Avon Point eastward the nearshore sediment drift is toward the
east, the same as prevailing water flow, because increased westerly
fetch makes waves from that direction more effective.
-------
PROBABALC PREVAIL NG FLOW
O
c
SCALE IN MILES
PREVAILING
ANNUAL BOTTOM FLOW
-------
A different type of situation exists along the north shore of the
central basin. The zone of separate nearshore flow Is limited in sum-
mer, if it exists at all. Temperatures Indicate that the nearshore
water is cooler throughout the summer than along the south shore.
This implies removal of warm Mater and replenishment by lower waters.
Summer current metering data at stations E-7 and E-ll (Figure 23)
show net motion from the south-southwest toward the Canadian shore of
water at depths of 30 feet and below. Seabed drifters released off
Port Stanley as far as nine miles offshore turned up on the beach far
to the east. These also indicate a bottom water movement toward shore
and to the east.
The Canadian shore of the central basin is more irregular than
the south shore and the irregularity has a pronounced effect on wave
action and beach drift along the shore. On the east side of Pelee
Point the drift is toward the south-southwest, moving sediment to the
tip of Pelee Point. Between Wheatley and Erieau, Ontario, the drift
reverses and at Erieau it is toward the east. Along th;- eastern side
of Pointe Aux Pins the drift is toward the south. Eastward the drift
reverses again and at Port Stanley and eastward the drift is strongly
toward the east. All of these drift phenomena are functions of wind
and fetch and resulting wave force in the nearshore zone and are not
necessarily reflecting prevailing nearshore water movement.
The most significant change in circulation in the central basin
water in fall and winter is the disruption of the confining Influences
of water temperatures. Usually in September the surface waters of
Lake Erie become nearly Isothermal and by the first of October the
thermocline has disappeared from the central basin. The higher tem-
peratures which previously existed along the south shore disappear and
there is no longer a density restriction to water movement. In effect
then, the nearshore flow is more tree to move water lakeward and cooler
tributary water can under-run lake water. The bottom flow return cir-
culation in mid-lake reaches to the lake bottom where the thermal
barrier (thermocline) previously separated it from the lake bottom.
Seabed drifters tend to confirm a radical change in lake circu-
lation in late fall. Many of the drifters released in the central
basin near the south shore in the early summer of 1965 reappeared in
the fall of 1966 and the spring and fall of 1967. There were no
returns of consequence in the fall cf 1965 and the summers of 1966 and
1967. The fall 1966 and later returrs were unexpected but the con-
sistency of the returns pattern in botl space and time indicates that
most of the drifters were probably carried across t^a lake and re-
transported during high velocity northerly and westerly winds. The
probability of nearshore water crossing the lake along the bottom has
oeen shown and it is likely that this is common in fall and winter.
74
-------
In sprinq when t*-» shore water warms to ^evera! degrees above
the temperature of n id- lake water, the south shore nearshore flow
zone is reestabl ished. A "thermal bar" (loners, I9b5) may oe
created shortly after the sprinq thaw and warmer tributary discharges
may be even more confined to the nearshore zone. This condition can
exist only when a 4°C isotherm exists with lolcter water on one side
and wanner on the other.
Alona the northern shore in fall and winder the water movement
probably is not areatly different than in summer, hut supporting data
are lack! iq.
Droque Studies near shore, off western Cleveland in August 1964
•--howed that a dense pattern of drogues resumed in little dispersion,
indicating that dispersion of inputs may bo slow.
Conclusions which can be made regarding the pollutlonal aspects
of currents in central Lake Erie are as follow-.,:
I. Tributary and I aKe outfall discharges in spring anfl summer
along the south shore tend to stay near shore and move
eastward primarily as a result o« tn« prevailing south-
westerly winds.
2. In fall and early winter the same kinds of discharges can
under-run the lake water and be distributed over the basin.
5. Contaminants reaching more than three mi lo^ or* shore are
likely to be distributed over the entire basin.
4. A vertical circulation in mid-lake exists year-rounJ with
easterly surface flow and westerly moving bottom tlow.
'>. The hypol i mn i on of mid-summer does no1 have a net circula
tion 'low '),jt does have occasional n i qh-velori W flow as
a result of up and dcwnwellinq. 1 1 : v> * : iw is capable of
resuspenclinq br + tom sediments.
6. Surface waters in summer move toward the south shore ana
awev from the north shore.
7. Velocities at any level can be LD to 2 feet oer secono
duri ng storms .
8. Vertical turbulent mixing is very effective in storms.
9, Dispersion i -3 slow and limited hori zonta I I y .
-------
EASTERN BASIN CIRCULATION
Water circulation in the eastern basin Is also primarily wind-
controlled. Flow-through currents become important near the head-
waters of the Niagara River out otherwise are insignificant.
The surface water movement in the eastern basin appears to be
similar to that of the central basin in that the dominant flow is
eastward and toward the south shore (Figure 33). The predominant
surface flow ovor most of the eastern basin is probably similar
throughout the year but with a shift more toward the south in fall
and winter.
The surface Mow in the nearshore zone along the south shore is
predominantly to the oast, but an essentially independent summer zon->
such as in the central basin is not a persistent feature and i? prob-
ably most important in spring and early summer.
Subsurface fiow in summer, according to current meter measure-
ment, is somewhat confused at and above the thermocllne. It apv»ars
to be predominant!v toward the west at stations E-12, E-15, and E-17,
but toward the east at E-14 and toward the northwest at E-16 (Figure
23). The resu'tinq area I pavtern is apparently as shown In Figure
34 for the bottom of the epilimnion in stratified water. This pattern
is often disrupted and confused by cc only occurring internal tnermo-
clinal waves. Below the thermocline another system of circulation
exists. Just below the thermocline the predominant motion Is appar-
ently similar to that just above the thermocline. It appears 'hat a
vertical circulation may be important in the iiypolimnion and thet the
l
-------
2. A vertical circulation, similar to above, exists, top to
bottom in early winter and perhaps all winter with very
slow movement at the bottom in deeper water.
3. Internal waves on the themocline lead to turbulent mixing
in the epilimnion and cause currents in haphazard directions.
4. Discharges from tributaries are carried to deep water quickly
at nearly all times of the year and a separate nearshore
current is limited to spring and early summer.
5. Discharges not caught in the Niagara outflow can be distrib-
uted over the entire basin.
6. Surface water moves toward the south shore and away from the
north shore and vice versa at depth.
7. Discharges into upper waters of either the central and eastern
basins may at one time or another be found near Iy anywhere in
either of these basins.
8. Water below the level reached by the summer thermocline may
be trapped there for long periods, on the order of a year or
more.
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS
During periods of quiet weather, rotational currents, related to
the Inertial period and internal waves, are created in the central and
eastern basins with no net transport involved. These are particularly
evident in summer, becoming rather rare in winter.
It apoears that, at least In sumner, the bulk of the drainage from
Lake Erie is from surface water, rrrjch of which has been moved to, and
is moving along the south sho--e of the central and eastern basins. This
tends to create two retention systems, one of which (south shore) is
much shorter than the theoretical detention time, and one which is much
longer
-------
CHAPTER 3
LAKE ERIE CHEMICAL CHARACTFR I ST I CS
SEDIMENT CHEMISTRV
In order to gain some knowledge of the composition of lake bot-
tom sediments, 16 samples from the western basin, 21 from the central
Dasin, and 23 from tne eastern basin were analyzed for the following
constituents:
a. Total iron
b. Total phosphate
c. Sulfide
d. Ammonia nitrogen
e. Nitrate and nitrite nitrogen
f. Organic nitrogen
g. Volatlle sol ids
h. Chemical oxygen demand
The samples were taken between July 28 and August 7, 1964. Sam-
pling and analyses were not of sufficient density (Figure 36) to
provide more than generalities as to areal extent of concentration
ranges.
The results of bottom sediment analyses are presented to show the
existence of substances and their abundance in >sach basin. The results
are listed in Table fl for the western basin, Taole 9 for the central
basin, and Table 10 for the eastern basin. The results are reported
as milligrams per gram of sediment, ever dry wfe'qht. The data cannot
be used to show rates of accumulation since the rates of sedindentat ion
are not known.
TOTAL IRON
Total iron in the bottom sediments is similar in concentration in
the western and central basins, averaging 33 to 35 mg/g. The concen-
tration drops In the eastern basin to an average of 27 mg/g. To mini-
mize the effects of erosion, total iron averages in the central and
eastern basin were calculated from samples obtained from depths greater
than 10 fathoms. Sources of iron in lake sediments are glacial de-
posits, soluble and colloidal inputs from basin tributaries, and from
Corps of Engineers dredging of navigable channels and harbors. As an
example of the latter, more than 70 million pounds of iron were re-
moved from the Cuyahoga River and Cleveland Harbor during 1967 and de-
posited in offshore areas. Areal patterns of iron concentration are
shown in Figure 37.
-------
•JMO
FAL(
c
X
OHIO
BOTTOM CHEMISTRY
SAMPLE LOCATIONS
LAKE ERIE
SAMPLES TAKEN
T/28-1/7/64
-------
13*
JO
SO'
«5°00
'AU
CONTOUR INTERVAL
DRY WEIGHT
OHIO
TOTAL :°ON
IN
BOTTOM SEDIMENTS
OF
LAKE ERIE
7/Z8-8/T/64
-------
TOTAL PHOSPHATE
The general area I pattern of total phosphate (PO ) concentrations
(divide by 3 to obtain phosphorus cor.^entratIon) is shown in Figure
38. The concentrations in the bottom sediments appear to decrease
somewhat from west to east. The average for the western basin samples
was 2.29 mg/l while the samples from the central basin averay?d 1.95
mg/l, and those from the eastern basin averaged 1.51 mg/l. Highest
values were found in the western basin as expected because of large
inputs of phosphates to that basin. Progressively smaller concentra-
tions were found in the central end eastern basins due to greatly re-
duced inputs. Augmentation of tributary phosphate inputs occurs from
sedimentation of planktonic occluded phosphorus.
Recycling of phosphates from lake sediments to overlying waters
will occur during summer stratification. However, the solubilized
phosphates not depleted by algal metabolism will be reprecipStated
again during fall turnover.
SULFIDE
Sulfide concentrations in bottom sediments averaged 0.23 mg/g
in the western basin, 0.97 mg/g in the central basin, and 0.04 mg/g
in the eastern basin. In addition to a much higher average, the
central basin sediments showed a wide variation from 0.01 to 3.90 mg/g.
The very high values in the central basin were found in the sediments
below the hypolimnion which was characterized by low dissolved oxygen.
The high concentrations result from low oxidation-reduction potentials
exhibited by the sediments and overlying waters due to anaerobiasls.
Un
-------
ft
• 5°>0
it • aO'L
7'' ~ '
f-'_s
-•"JFFALC
LAKE FRIT
T'J8- 9.-7/64
-------
«3000
CONTOUR INTERVAL
1 O mg/fl DRY WEIGHT
o
c
m
OJ
0 M
SULFIOE
IN
BOTTOM SEDIMENTS
OF
LAKE ERIE
7/28- a/r/ea
-------
FM.C
c
c
m
H I 0
ORGANIC NITROGEN
BOTTOM SEDIMENTS
~ f.
LAKE ERIE
. v t : i..••:,..:; ' • .=-61
-------
the central basin to be extensively circulatory (Figure 35). It Is
indicated that a buildup of organic materials will occur as a result
of the reclrculatior, and the relatively long flowthrough period. The
eastern basin with an intermediate flowthrough period, low tributary
waste input and consequent low algal productivity has an average
organic nitrogen concentration intermediate with respect to the other
basins.
AMMONIA NITROGEN
Ammonia nitrogen, an end product in the degradation of protein-
aceous materials, decreased somewhat from west to east in Lake Erie
(Mgure 41). The western basin sediment samples averaged 0.19 ma/a
the central basM 0.09 mg/g, and the eastern basin samples 0.07 mg/g.
Ammonia is 45.2 percent of the total nitrogen in the western basin
4.7 percent in the central, and 7.6 percent in the western. A much
higher organic matter degradation rate Is indicated in the western
basin due to higher water temperatures.
NITRITE AND NITRATE NITROGEN
In the nitrogen cycle, organic nitrogen Is gradually converted
to ammonia nitrogen. Under aerobic conditions, the oxidation of am-
monia to nitrites and nitrates *hen occurs. Lake Erie nitrate-nitrite
concentrations in bottom sediments are very low since upon oxidation
these forms are quickly solubllized in overlying waters. The concen-
tration of nitrite-nitrate Increased west to east in Lake Erie bottom
sediments during the survey. An explanation Is that sediments are
less disturbed toward the east, allowing a greater opportunity for
retention of these substances in the oxidation microzone through the
mechanisms of adsorption. The average concentration in the samples
was .001 mg/g in the western basin, .002 mg/g in the central basin
and .004 mg/g in the eastern basin.
VOLATILE SOLIDS
Volatile solids are shown as mg/g in Tables 8, 9, and 10, and the
general area I pattern is shown in Fiqure 42. The western basin showed
the h.qhPst sample average at 234 mg/g. The central basin sample av-
erage was 214 mg/g, while the eastern basin average was comparatively
low at 74 mg/g. Since organic nitrogen is relatively low, and volatile
solids are high, it is indicated that a large fraction of the total
volatile solids in the western basin is nonprotein In character. Pub-
lished FWPCA data (1968) substantiate this in wrrk done on chlorophyll
carbon and seston.
CHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND
The chemical oxygen demand of the bottom sediments samples averaged
-------
TABLE 8
BOTTOM SEDIMENT CHEMISTRY - WESTERN BASIN
mg/g
Sample
Location
1
2
3
4
b
b
7
B
9
10
II
12
13
14
15
16
Avg.
Total
1 ron
20
22
28
43
37
17
25
39
26
27
45
39
54
29
68
27
33
Total
Phosphate
.88
2.29
2.29
2.86
3.29
1.42
2.36
3.29
2.12
1.87
3.25
2.50
2.43
2.02
2.79
1.06
2.29
Sulfide
.01
.34
.05
.56
.36
.12
.27
.40
.21
.21
.04
.06
.32
.27
.25
.21
.23
Ammoni a
Nitrogen
.04
.33
.29
.13
.37
.07
.20
.33
.16
.15
.24
.16
.15
.08
.19
.12
.19
N0_,-N03
Nitrogen
.000
.001
.001
.001
.002
.000
.001
.002
.001
.001
.001
.COI
.001
.001
.001
.000
.001
Organ i c
Nitrogen
.06
.22
.25
.27
.37
.08
.22
.41
.20
.19
.28
.27
.26
.17
.28
.05
.23
Volatl le
Sol ids
56
125
252
308
543
56
137
365
297
196
451
26?
298
135
25.1
17
234
COD
40
85
72
73
80
29
51
96
68
77
43
96
74
51
75
6
63.5
86
-------
TABLE 9
BOTTOM SEDIMENT CHEMISTRY - CENTRAL BASIN
mg/g
Sample
Location
17
IB
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
Avg.
Total
1 ron
17
25
32
29
72
70
43
45
60
22
28
47
43
26
68
30
>3
12
16
12
21
35
Total
Phosphate
1.37
2.30
3.30
1 .98
2.23
2.35
2.23
2.57
1.76
1.09
1.75
2.62
2.78
1.90
2.78
2.51
1.66
1 .51
0.38
0.65
1.21
1.95
Su If i de
.17
.22
.07
.15
.03
3.62
."M
3.90
2.21
.98
1.30
2.98
.13
.87
2.99
.05
.43
.01
.01
.01
.15
.97
Ammonia
Nitrogen
.03
.09
.12
.09
.13
.16
.09
—
.10
.06
.09
.10
.21
.05
.18
.22
.03
.0''
.00
~
.06
.09
NO -NOj
N i T rogen
.000
.000
.001
.002
.001
.005
.001
.005
.008
.005
.003
.000
.000
.003
.005
.003
.002
.OC,'
.000
.001
.002
.002
Organ i c
Nitrogen
.08
.18
.23
.17
.12
b.05
.17
9.05
2.86
1.48
2.07
3.10
3.12
2.00
3.82
2.39
.71
.37
.19
.45
1.08
1.84
Volatile
Solids
47
187
276
166
284
387
251
357
267
68
748
277
326
128
390
174
42
22
12
25
67
214
COD
33
73
84
49
50
80
50
86
71
57
82
61
91
47
65
79
19
37
3
21
31
55.7
87
-------
TABLE 10
BOTTOM SEDIMENT CHEMISTRY - EASTERN BASIN
Sample Total Total
Location Iron Phosphate
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
y,
59
60
Avg.
1.2
13
38
1.2
.3
6
26
18
2.8
1.4
28
45
.02
34
24
2.1
22
.23
14
28
5.6
14
6.8
14.4
1.15
1.52
1.56
1.32
1.29
l.i'2
2.96
2.66
0.72
0.52
2.61
1.65
1.94
1.95
3.15
0.42
1.05
0.35
1.86
0.57
1.21
1.74
1.38
1.51
Sulflde
.03
.01
.05
.01
.04
.07
.30
.00
.03
.01
.03
.01
.01
.28
.01
.00
.01
.01
.01
.09
.00
.01
.00
.04
Ammonia
Nitrogen
.02
.01
.07
.01
.07
.19
.14
.00
.01
--
.28
.12
.00
.00
.28
.00
.04
.01
.05
.05
.01
.03
.01
.07
NO-NO Organic Volatile
Nitrogen Nitrogen Solids COO
.002
.002
.002
.005
.005
.000
.000
.006
.000
.004
.010
.010
.004
.009
.010
.001
.002
.004
.001
.002
.001
.001
.001
.004
0./6
0.02
1.21
0.41
0.95
1 .44
2.08
0.57
0.33
™
2.41
—
—
2.07
1.40
0.50
0.50
0.13
0.00
0.82
0.57
0.01
--
0.85
39
22
63
43
58
87
301
90
30
32
176
205
39
126
201
37
24
7
24
40
23
23
6
74
26
1
54
13
22
27
59
14
9
14
58
43
13
52
79
19
34
8
15
32
23
20
5
27.8
88
-------
• I'M
TALC
OHIO
AMMONIA NITROGEN
IN
BOTTOM SEC:MENTS
OF
LAKE ERIE
7/38-8/7/64
-------
CONTOUR INTERVAL
IOOrri)/g DRY WEIGHT
OHIO
VOLATILE SOLIDS
IN
BOTTOM SEDIMENTS
OF
LAKE ERIE
7/28- 8/7/64
-------
67.4 mg/g in the western basin, 58.3 mg/g In the central basin, and
29.7 mg/g in the eastern basin. This demand Is due to organic matter
and reduced inorganic species such as ferrous Iron and sulflde sulfur.
The chemical oxygen demand will vary with the oxidation-reduction
potential of the sediment being analyzed. In the central basin, during
summer anaerobiasis in the hypolimnion, Increases In sediment COD can
be expected, due to reduced oxidation-reduction potentials. Chemical
oxygen demand values follow volatile solids and total iron directions
in each basin.
ALPHA ACTIVITY OF BOTTOM SEDIMENTS
The maximum value was 44 pc/gram. The lowest values tend to be
nearer shore, and the areas with higher activity are located In the
center of the lake and toward the western end. These high values sug-
gest accumulation following circulatory bottom flow as illustrated In
Figure 35.
BETA ACTIVITY OF BOTTOM SEDIMENTS
The mean of all samples was about 3B pc/gram, and the maximum
value was 100 pc/gram. Most of this activity is probably due to the
long half-life, mixed-fission products of prior fallout from atmos-
pheric detonation of nuclear weapons.
WATER CHEMISTRY
In the course of this investigation, the chemical characteristics
of Lake Erie water were measured throughout the lake and at several of
its harbors. In most cases the water at each station was sampled sev-
eral times in both 1963 and 1964; and each time samples were taken at
more than one depth, ordinarily at the surface, mid-depth, and just
above the bottom. The locations of lake water sampling stations are
shown in Figure 43.
For chemical study of the water, the following were measured:
I. Temperature
2. Dissolved oxygen (00)
3. Chemical oxygen demand (COO)
4. Biochemical oxygen demand (BOO)
5. Conductivity (umhos at 25-C)
6. Dissolved solids (OS)
7. Total solids (TS)
8. Total alkalinity (as CaCO^)
9. Hydrogen-ion concentration (pH)
10. Chlorides
I I. Sulfate (SO )
12. Calcium (Cat
-------
I 3. Maqnesi 'j<" (Vq )
I 4. Soci urn (Na)
15. Silica (SiO )
16. Soluble phosphate (K) )
17. Total Nitrogen (N)
18. Ammonia Nitrogen (NH,-N)
19. Organic Nitrogen (Or§-N)
20. Nitrate Nitrogen (NO--N)
21. AIkyI benzene sulfonate (ABS)
22. Phenols
23. Toxic metals (zinc, cooper, cadmium, nickel, lead, chromium)
Figure 44 depicts graphically the concentrations of major constit-
uents in each of tne lake's basins along with input concentrations from
the upper lakes.
TEMPERATURE
T^e water temperature at all sampling stations and at all sample
depths was measured with a laboratory thermometer. Also bathythermo-
graph measurements were made at nearly all stations.
Excessive water temperatures were not encountered at any place in
Lake trie proper during the surveys. Temperatures were, of course,
significant in the calculation of percent saturation of oxygen and In
the determination of the extent of thermal stratIricatIon.
Lake Erie temperatures, as reported, are of no direct significance
with regard to water quality. Indirectly, by limiting oxygen dissolu-
tion and increasing chemical and biological reaction rates, high tem-
peratures can be important.
DISSOLVED OXYGEN
Dissolvec oxygen in Lake Erie, as In all natural waters, is of
prime importance in maintaining water quality. It is essential for
reduction, purification, and stabilization of wastes. It is also
metabolically essential to a I I types of aquatic life. Adverse effects
of high oxygon content are known only in some industrial uses, tending
to accelerate corrosion of equipment.
Dissolved oxygen is supplied to pure waters by natural, physical
aeration, or absorption from the atmosphere. Oxygen Is poorly soluble
in water, and since It does not react chemically with water its sol-
ubility is directly proportional to its partial pressure. As a result,
Boyle's Law may be used to calculate the amounts present at saturation
at any given temperature.
-------
(• ' ' . *
...4 .•••', (J • .
I N.* * *"
PENNSV L V ftNI A LEGEND
• SAM»LlNo (.C : AT
-------
200-
l«0 —
160-
140 —
120 —
•
_l
_ IOO-
0.
| to-
_»
Z 6O-
40-
20-
n 1
in
at
u>
o
1
0-
p
i
i
1
w»
b
i
i
i
cy
%
^
'/'/
%
^
i
r**"
tf.
•n
0
.0
I
w>
w
i
i
i
•^i
W C E
SOLIDS
^
^
^
i
w
CA
CHEMISTRY
-1
1
1
i
r
i
^
P
f^
C E
LCI DM
OF
1.4 -
1 Z -
1.0-
^
«
J
w oa-
&
§0.6-
9
iC4-
02 -
o.c -
<•
w r E
MAGNtSIUM
•— "
I
!
'$•
\
<#.
%.
1
* C E
OTASSIUM
K?J52
w c
SCO*
LAKE ERIE WATER
I
I
II
1
in
•
W C E
SILICA
W c E
NITROGtN
^ UPPER LAKES INPUT
W-WESTERN BASIN
C -CENTRAL BASIN
E -EASTERN BASIN
NUTRIENTS
W C E
SOL P04
MAJOR CONSTITUENTS
wee
SULFATE
-------
Water in the pure state can become temporarlly supersaturated with
oxygen with a sharp increase in temperature. Ordinarily, however, in
Lake Erie, bupersaturation results from the photosynthetlc process of
aquatic plant I if?. During the daylight hours green algae, utilizing
energy from the sun, produce carbohydrates from carbon dioxide and
water. In the process copious amounts of oxygen are released to the
surrounding water. At night, however, aquatic plant life consumes
oxygen through normal respiration. During heavy algal blooms the oxygen
may increase to !bO percent of saturation or more, while at night It may
decrease to less than 100 percent.
Organic wastes, either natural or synthetic, will decrease the
oxygen content of receiving waters. Biochemical oxidation of wastes
proceeds at an increased rate with an increase in temperature. The
biochemical need for oxygen becomes greater as the oxygen resources
become less due to decreased oxygen dissolution with increased tem-
peratures. Most fish also have a need for more oxygen as temperatures
rise. A compensating factor is that planktonic oxygen production is
Increased as temperatures rise, if incident light levels are constant.
This can lead to large vertical differences in oxygen content in waters
in the same area.
The waters of Lake Erie are normally saturated or nearly saturated
with oxygen during the months of October through April and mixing is
prevalent from top to bottom. Exceptions may occur only in the Immed-
iate vicinity of lakeshore waste outfalls and the mouths of tributaries.
Beg'nning usually in late May the oxygen content begins to vary
in Lake Erie both areally and vertically. Harbors show oxygen de-
ficiencies and a slight reduction occurs in bottom waters of the lake.
During the months of May and June oxygen depletions in the central and
eastern basins are not serious and 80 percent or more of saturation Is
common. During these months in the western basin, temporary thermal
stratification may occur during prolonged quiescent periods (Carr,
Applegate, and Keller, 1964). If the thermocllne Is near the bottom,
oxygen below It may be exhausted for short periods due to the low dis-
solved oxygen potential of the thin hypollmnlon. Reoxygenatlon occurs
when wind turbulence Is sufficient to destroy the thermocllne.
Stratification In the central basin may occur during the s«
periods in May and June but the thermocllne Is shallow and the oxygen
content below It is high. Only slight depletion may occur. Saturation
values remain essentially constant In the eastern basin during this
time.
In June stable stratification is established in the central basin
and In the eastern basin. The stratification, except for Increasing
warmth of the epilimnion waters, stays approximately the same until
the lake begins to cool in August. The epilimnion waters normally are
95
-------
from 90 to 100 oercent of saturation. Hypo!imnion water, that part
below thh triermocl ine, decreases in oxyqen content throughout the
summer. It may reach zero in the central basin where the hypolImnion
is thin. It may decline to 60 or 70 percent of saturation In the
eastern basin celov* the thermocline. Low dissolved oxygen was first
observed in the contra! basin In 1929 (Fish, 1955). Since then it
has occurred more frequently and for longer periods.
In the western basin in mid-summer, dissolved oxygen in the sur-
face waters is maintained at or above 100 percent saturation while
bottom waters are somewhat lower, generally between 50 and 75 percent.
However, intermittent stratification occurs throughout the summer with
proper weather conditions. As previously described, oxygen may be
completely exhausted locally in bottom waters at these times. In
addition, the bottom waters have high temperatures, oxidation of or-
ganic sediments can be rapid, and oxyqen depletion Is quickly accom-
plished. Carr, Applegate, and Keller (1964) report that it now takes
only five days of meteorological and consequent hydro logical qu'es-
cence to result in oxygen exhaustion, whereas in 1953 it required 28
days.
The lake begins to cool in August. Stratification occurs less
frequently or not at all in the western basin from that time on.
However, in the central basin depletion becomes more severe since the
thermocline moves downward, the hypolimnion becomes thinner, and the
oxygen contained therein is biologically assimilated.
Oxygen depletion of significance occurs in nearshore waters only
in harbor areas and tributary mouths which are receptacles for' large
volumes of wastes. The most severe conditions occur in Cleveland
Harbor and locally in Erie and Buffalo Harbors. Others with less
severe but still serious problems are the mouths of the Detroit,
Raisin, and Maumee Rivers. Conditions in these areas are more severe
upstream away frort, lake dilution.
CHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND
The chemical oxygen demand (COD) has been determined on several
hundred water samples taken throughout Lake Erie. Determinations were
made employing the potassium dichromate method. Although It gives the
order of magnitude of the ultimate biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), It
Is not a substitute for that determination. Indications of the rate
of natural oxidation are not provided and differentiation between bio-
logically oxidizable, and biologically Inert organic matter Is not
discernible.
The COO of Lake Erie water samples Is Important in that It provides
an indication of degree of pollution and provides a basis for area!
comparison. COO results of the lake samples do not Indicate adverse
96
-------
water quality conditions. Extreme and average COD for samples from
each of the basins are shown in Table II.
The COD of western basin water during the summers of 1963 and
1964, averaged 10.4 mg/l with extremes of 6.^> and 28.0 mg/l. Highest
values were in the western one-third of the basin with a general de-
crease eastward. In the central basin the average was 7.1 mg/l with
extremes of 3.1 and 16.0 mg/l. The eastern basin ranged between 6.1
ard 27.0 with an average of 7.4 or approximately the same as the
central basin. The highest values were near the south shore.
In harbor waters the highest COD of 53 mg/l was found near the
mouth of the Maumee River. High values were also found in Sandusky
Bay and Erie Harbor.
BIOCHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND
Determinations of 5-day biochemical oxygen demand (800,) were not
made on mid-lake samples except for a few on one cruise (66? in August
1964. However, numerous determinations were made in the nearshore
zone along the south shore. Samples were taken only during the summer
months in 1964, between May and September. BOD analyses were made on
Detroit River samples by the FWPCA Detroit River Project.
Highest BOD values were found in Sandusky Bay, averaging 3.8 mg/l;
Erie Harbor, averaging 3.3 mg/l; and in Ashtabula Harbor, averaging
3.2 mg/l. Lorain and Cleveland harbors averaged about one-half these
values. BOD, values at the mouth of the Detroit River ranged from 2
to 5 mg/l. 3
BOD values decrease rapidly with distance from shore. The Bureau
of Commercial Fisheries reports that central basin hypolimn ion water
averages about I mg/l BOD-. A maximum of 1.5 mg/l was found by the
FWPCA in the hypolimnion In August 1964.
The BOD, values indicate that outside the nearshore areas (widest
along the Michigan shore and the Maumee Bay area) the water of Lake
Erie is of high quality in this respect.
CONDUCTIVITY AND DISSOLVED SOLIDS
A good general indicator of the chemica'l water quality of Lake
Erie Is the dissolved solids content which is the content of dissolved
elements and compounds. Conductivity, or the capacity of the water to
conduct an electrical current, is directly related to the dissolved
solids content or the ionic concentration. In offshore waters, several
hundred measurements have shown that conductivity In micromhos/cm at
25°C divided by 1.66 equals the dissolved solids content in milligrams/
liter. This relation does no* necessarily hold in nearshore and harbor
97
-------
TABLE 11
C.O.D. CONCENTRATIONS IN LAKE ERIE
mg/1
Western Basin Central Basin Eastern Basin
Cruise Date Max. Min. Avg. Max. Min. Avg. Max. Min. Avg.
9 4/63 —
40 5/63
42 6/63
52 10/63 10.6 3.5 6.5 8.6 3.1 6.4 20.9 4.7 6.9
55 4/64 —
57 5/64 13.1 7.5 10.7
58 5/64 -- — — 16.0 3.6 8.4 27.0 5.7 8.8
61 6/6/» 28.0 4.2 12.3
62 6/6i - 6.0 5.0 5.5 7.0 6.0 6.1
66 8/64 -- — -- 9.0 7.0 8.1 13.0 6.0 8.0
(,7 9/64 29.0 1.1 12.0
Avg. 10.37 7.10 7.45
Michigan waters of Lake Erie not included.
98
-------
areas where the content of one or more salts may be excessive.
Table 12 and 13 list the conductivity values and dissolved solids
concentrations for the three basins as maxiumums, minlmums, and averages
for each of the mid-lake cruises in 1963 and 1964. Important is the
fact that the average concentration of dissolved solids in the centra!
and eastern basins is virtually identical at 180 mg/l, while the av-
erage concentration in the western basin is about 18 mg/l lower.
However, the range of values is greatest in the western basin and de-
creases eastward, indicating an increasing tendency toward uniformity
to the east. Conductivity values show the same pattern.
The lowest dissolved solids concentration found during the sampling
of Lake Erie was 110 mg/l at the mouth of the Detroit River in the mid-
channel flow. This value Is near that for the average concentration
in Lake Huron as reported by Beeton (1965). In the eastern basin the
value is 179 mg/l; therefore, a net increase of 69 mg/l occurs In Lake
Erie. However, 75 percent of that increase occurs in the western basin
indicating the comparative severity of chemical loading from sources
near the west end of the lake (Figure 44).
Dissolved solids content has been increasing in Lake Erie at a fair-
ly rapid rate since the turn of the century (Figure 45). Dissolved
solids content along the shore is generally higher and at some places
is now excessive. Of particular concern are the concentrations In
Sandusky Bay with values up to 700 mg/l, and the bottom waters in
Fairport Harbor with values of more than 3,000 mg/l. SuI fates and
chlorides account for most of these higher values.
Dissolved solids cannot be expected to decrease in the future.
In fact the rate of increase may be expected to rise with Increased
population and activity -round the lake unless discharges are rigidly
control led.
TOTAL SOLIDS
Total solids are the evaporation residue from unfiltered samples.
Suspended solids, those not in solution, are equal to the total solids
less the dissolved solids.
In central and eastern basin mid-lake, the total solids are nearly
equal in concentration with average values of 185 and 188 mg/l, respec-
tively (see Table 14 and Figure 44). Western basin water Is also
approximately equal at 181 mg/l.
Suspended solids average less than 10 mg/l In the central and
eastern basins. Western basin values are double this amount, and during
the survey period reached a maximum of about 50 mg/l. This may further
99
-------
TABLE 12
CONDUCTIVITY IN LAKE ERIE
mhos/em
at 25°C
Western Basin
Cruise
9
40
42
52
55
57
58
61
62
66
67
Avg.
Date Max. Mir.
4/63 -
5/63 300 262
6/63 —
10/63 304 216
4/64 —
5/64 334 220
5/64 —
6/64 364 222
6/64 ~
8/64 ~
7/64 310 196
Avg.
—
286
—
259
—
268
—
286
—
—
263
272
Central Basin
Max. Min. Avg.
__
328 260 291
353 312 324
330 254 290
—
—
330 276 289
—
—
344 284 305
—
300
Eastern Basin
Max. Min. Avg.
—
296 275 289
328 314 319
320 284 292
—
__
—
—
—
324 296 305
—
301
Michigan waters of Lake Erie not included.
100
-------
TABLE 13
DISSOLVED SOLIDS CONCENTRATIONS IN LAKE ERIE
Western Baain Central Basin Eastern Basin
Cruise Date Max. Min. AVR. Max. Min. «.vg. Max. Min. Avg.
9 4/f3 __ — — 180 155 170 190 160 182
uQ 5'63 196 172 177 239 190 204 233 133 205
42 6/63 -
52 10/63 198 135 156 209 137 175 205 161 13^
55 4/64
57 5/64 200 120 152
5!> 5/64 - 180 160 177 190 160 175
61 6/64 220 120 170
f.2 6/64 — — ~ 190 UO 170 160 150 158
66 */64 — -- -- 130 170 171 190 160 172
67 9/64 190 110 153
Avg. 162 17* 179
Michigan waters of Lake Erie not included.
101
-------
o
c
3)
m
*
ex
ItOO
1*20
• SO
YEAR
I»5O
t»«0
CHANGES IN CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF LAKE ERIE
(ADAPTED FROM BEETON, 1965)
-------
TABLE I1*
TOTAL SOLIDS CONCENTRATIONS IN LAKE ERIE
ms/1
Cruise
9
i*0
42
52
55
57
56
61
62
66
67
Avg.
DaU
4/63
5/63
6/63
10/63
4/64
5/64
5/64
6/64
6/64
8/64
9/61,
Wsstsrn Basin
Max. Min. Avg.
—
—
—
196 147 166
—
250 150 187
—
250 150 188
—
—
230 140 181
181
Cantral Basin
Max. Min. Avg.
—
—
__
218 159 186
__
—
200 190 192
—
200 175 191
180 170 171
__
185
Eastern Basin
Max. Min. Avg.
—
—
—
222 167 193
—
—
200 190 192
—
200 180 191
240 170 178
—
188
Michigan waters of Lake Erie not included.
103
-------
increase during storms and periods of heavy runoff.
The minimum total solids concentration was found at the mouth of
the Detroit River in the mid-channel flow with a value of 140 mg/l.
This is 48 mq/l less than the average for the eastern basin, providing
a comparison of Detroit River inflow and Niagara River outflow.
CHLORIDES
Chlorides are among the most stable of the dissolved substances,
unaffected by chemical, biochemical, or physical reaction. Although
they are generally found in acceptably low concentrations, they are
very important in tracing sources of significant municipal and indus-
trial pollution. Chloride monitoring is useful In establishing long-
term trends in general water quality. Chlorides have increased three-
fold (Beeton, 1964) in Lake trie since 1900 (Figure 45).
Maximum, minimum, and average values for mid-lake waters on each
cruise are shown in Table 15. During the survey period the chlorides
in the western basin away from nearshore areas averaged 21.3 mg/l.
In the central basin the average was 24.5 mg/l and in the eastern
basin 24.4 mg/l. The lowest value recorded was 10 mg/l at the mouth
of the Uetroi* River in the mid-channel flow. If this is used as a
base, or inflow concentration, then 11.3 mg/l are gained in the western
basin and i.2 in the central and eastern basins. Thus 77 percent of
the gain is derived from inputs to the western basin (see Figure 44).
In nearshore waters chloride values are higher (Table 29). Along
the west side of the Detroit River and along the Michigan shore, values
of more than 40 mg/l are common. It is from this area of the basin
that most chlorides originate. Maumee Bay, Sandusky Bay, and Lorain
Harbor do not show concentrations much above the average lake values.
Cleveland Harbor averages 35 mg/l and ranges up to about 90 mg/l.
Ashtabula and Erie Harbors both average more than 30 mq/l. By far the
highest values have been found in Fairport Harbor, with concentrations
up to 350 mg/l in the upper water and up to ten times this amount In
the bottom waters. Chloride concentrations are so high that they
create a permanent density stratification in and around Fairport Harbor.
High concentrations and subsequent stratification dissipate to back-
ground lake values within a few miles.
SVLFATES
SuI fates, like chlorides, are among the more persistent of dis-
solved compounds and are generally found in acceptably low concentra-
tions. They can be useful as tracers for pollution sources if natural
background levels are known. They are also important in establishing
long-term trends In water quality. They have increased in concentra-
tion by 90 percent in Lake Erie since 1910 (Figure 45) but now appear
to be level ing off.
104
-------
TABLE 15
CHLORIDE CONCENTRATIONS IN LAKE ERIE
Cruise
9
40
42
52
55
57
58
61
62
66
67
AT*.
Data
4/63
5/63
6/63
10/63
4/64
5/64
5/64
6/64
6/64
8/64
9/64
Western Basin
Max.
—
22
—
29
34
32
—
31
—
—
32
Min.
—
16
—
10
15
12
—
13
—
—
11
Avg.
—
19
—
18
21
22
—
25
—
—
23
21.3
Central Basin
Max.
31
33
—
31
46
—
28
—
26
—
—
Min.
21
20
—
19
23
—
26
—
25
—
—
Avg.
24
24
—
22
24
—
27
—
26
—
—
24.5
Eastern Basin
Max.
25
28
—
25
31
—
27
—
23
29
—
Min.
22
21
—
21
22
—
27
—
24
23
—
Avg.
23
24
—
22 -
24
—
27
—
26
25
—
24.5
Michigan waters of Lake Erie not Included.
105
-------
Table 16 lists maximum, minimun,and average concentrations in
each basin for each sampling cruise. In the western basin for the
periods of the surveys in 1965 and 1964, sulfates ranged from 9 to
35 mg/l in open waters with an average of 17.7 mg/l. In the central
basin the range was Ib to 43 mg/l with an average of 22.4 mg/l. The
ranqe in the eastern basin water was 17 to 33 mg/l with an average
of 25.4 mq/|. Using the value of 9 mg/l as the concentration de-
rived from upper lakes inflow, there is a gain in Lake Erie of 14.4
mg/l. Inputs to the western basin account for 60 percent of that
gain, with 40 percent from central and eastern basin sources (Figure
44).
In the nearshore zone significant concentrations have been found
in Sandusky Bay with an average of 127.1 mg/l. Lorain and Erie Harbors
did not show high concentrations. Sulfate levels at other harbors were
low, but upstream data indicate that the Cuyahoga and Grand Rivers sup-
ply significant amounts. Obviously large quantities must be derived
from the Detroit-Monroe-Toledo area. Concentrations at the Monroe,
Michigan water intake are normally more than twice the average in the
western basin.
CALCIUM
Hardness is caused by divalent metallic ions that are capable of
reacting with soap to form precipitates and with certain anions in
the water to form scale. Calcium is the principal cation associated
with this effect, and as such, knowledge of its concentration is nec-
essary for the production of satisfactory water for domestic and In-
dustrial uses.
Calcium, in its concentration pattern, is similar to sulfates in
Lake Erie (Table 17 and Figure 44). Ms average concentration in the
western basin water is 33.9 mg/l with a maximum of 43 mg/l and a min-
imum of 28 mg/l. In the central basin it ranges between 32 and 49 mg/l
with an average of 39.3 mg/l, while in the eastern basin it averages
40.b mg/| and ranges between 36 and 49 mg/l.
If the value of 28 mg/l is near that originating in the upper lakes,
then calcium is not appreciably accumulating in Lake Erie. Compared to
most other constituents, the accumulation from western basin sources is
rather low, being only 47 percent of the total accumulating in Lake Erie
exclusive of upper lakes input. An additional 45 percent accumulates
from additions to the central basin, while the remaining 8 percent
accumulates from eastern basin additions. Large quantities of calcium
have been found in Sandusky Bay, averaging 65 mg/l and ranging up to
I 14 mg/1.
Calcium concentrations have increased only a small amount In Lake
Erie during the past 30 years (Figure 45). Calcium will react with
106
-------
TABLE 16
SULFATE CONCENTRATIONS IM WKE BRIE
WMtm-n Basin Central Basin
Cruise
9
40
42
52
55
57
58
61
62
66
67
Avg.
Date
4/63
5/63
6/63
10/63
4/64
5/64
5/64
6/64
6/64
8/64
9/64
Hue.
—
21
25
23
—
35
—
30
—
—
28
Jttn.
—
11
18
14
—
11
—
9
—
—
9
Arg. Max. Kin.
29 22
17.7 43 21
21.2 31 18
17.7 25 15
—
17.1
25 20
16.6
—
22 18
16.2
17.7
Arg.
24.2
24.8
23.5
21.0
—
—
21.3
—
—
19.8
—
22.4
Eastern Basin
Max.
29
25
26
33
—
—
23
—
—
26
—
Min.
20
22
23
18
—
—
17
—
—
18
—
Avg.
24.1
23.7
24.3
26.4
—
—
20.1
—
—
21.8
—
23.4
Michigan waters of Lake Erie not included.
107
-------
TABLE 17
CALCIUM CONCENTRATIONS IH LAKE ERIE
•g/1
Waiftam Balin
Cruise
9
to
42
52
55
57
58
61
62
66
67
Avg.
Data
4/63
5/63
6/63
10/63
4/64
5/64
5/64
6/64
6/64
8/64
9/64
Max.
_—
37
37
34
—
43
—
42
—
—
37
Min.
__
28
32
29
—
31
—
29
—
—
28
Avg.
—
32.4
34.5
32.2
—
36.1
—
35.4
—
—
33.3
33.9
Central Basin
Max.
38
44
39
49
—
—
47
—
—
41
—
Min.
37
34
34
32
—
—
46
—
—
38
—
Avg.
37.3
37.4
36.8
40.2
—
—
46.5
--
—
38-9
—
39.5
Extern Bat in
Max.
40
39
40
44
—
—
49
_—
42
—
Kin. AVg
.
36 38.
36 37.
36 38.
40 41.
__ — —
__ — —
47 47.
•«• —
— ™
38 39
— — —
40
•
5
9
0
4
,6
.9
.5
Michigan waters of Lake Erie not included.
108
-------
phosphates, sultares, and carbonates at prevailing Lake Erie hydrogen
ion concentrations (above pH 8.0) to term insoluble precipitates, thus
creating a stabilizing calcium effect.
Calcium in Lake Erie presents no known health hazard. In addition
it may be important in moderating phosphate concentrations by precipi-
tating them from solution.
MAGNESIUM
Magnesium also is considered as hardness but in Lake Erie Is one
of the more insiqnifI cam constituents. fs content averages 8.7 mg/l
in the western basin, 10.0 mq/i in the central basin, and 10.0 mg/l In
the eastern basin (Table 18 and Figure 44).
If the minimum of 7 mg/l found at the mouth of the Detroit River
in the mid-channel flow is taken as the concentration of the upper
lakes input, then only 3 mg/l are added to Lake Erie from basin sources.
Fifty-seven percent of this amount Is added from western basin sources.
Comparatively large concentrations, averaging 22 mg/l, have been found
in Sandusky Bay.
Magnesium concentrations are not expected to increase signifi-
cantly in Lake Erie.
SODIUM
Sodium has little sanitary significance in Lake Erie. It is an
indicator of relative quantities of salt being discharged to the lake
and thus an indicator to trends in chemical water quality. However,
sodium does have public health significance. In cases of cardiovas-
cular deficiency, it Is Imperative that sodium Intake be kept at a
minimum. Waste sources to Lake Erie are from brine discharges. Max-
imum, minimum, and average concentrations for each basin are shown in
Table 19.
Sodium concentrations In the western basin water averages 9.9 mg/l
and ranges between 4.7 and 19 mg/l. In the central basin the average
concentration Increases to 11.0 mg/l, ranging between 8.3 and 17 mg/l.
The eastern basin Is essentially the same as the central basin with an
average of 10.9 mg/l and a range of 9.3 to 15 mg/l.
The low of 4.7 mg/l Is near the average for the discharge concen-
tration from the upper lakes. This concentration more than doubles
within Lake Erie, and 83 percent of this Increase results from dis-
charges to the western basin (Figure 44).
POTASSIUM
Potassium, like sodium, has no great sanitary significance In the
109
-------
TABLE 18
MAGNESIUM CONCENTRATIONS IN LAKE ERIE
mg/1
Western Basin
Cruise
9
40
42
52
55
57
58
61
62
66
67
Avg.
Date Max.
4/63 —
5/63 10
6/63 9
10/63 9
4/64 -
5/64 11
5/64 ~
6/64 11
6/64 —
8/64 —
9/64 11
Min. Avg.
—
9 9.3
8 8.7
8 8.1
—
7 8.5
—
8 9.3
—
—
7 8.4
8.7
Central Basin
Max.
11
10
9
10
—
--
14
—
—
11
—
Min.
10
10
7
8
—
—
13
—
—
9
—
Avg.
10.2
10.0
8.2
8.9
—
—
13.3
—
—
9.7
—
10.0
Eastern Basin
Max. Min. Avg.
11 10 10.1
11 10 10.1
9 7 8.4
10 8 9.0
—
—
14 12 12.8
—
->
11 8 9.6
—
10.0
Michigan waters of Lake Erie not included.
-------
TABLE 19
SODIUM CONCENTOATIONS IM LAKE ERIE
Cruise
9
40
42
52
55
57
58
61
62
66
67
Avg.
Western Basin
' Date Max. Min.
4/63 ~
5/63 9.0 6.8
6/63 11.2 8.5
10/63 13.0 4.7
4/64 —
5/64 17.0 6.4
5/64 -
6/64 17.0 5.5
6/64 -
8/64 ~
9/64 19.0 5.7
Avg.
—
7.78
9.80
8.47
—
10.91
—
11.24
—
—
11.27
9.91
Central Basin Eastern Basin
Max. Min. Avg. Max. Min. Avg.
12.0 8.9 9.75 9.9 9.4 9.51
12.3 8.3 9.65 10.5 8.6 9.30
14.7 9.0 10.20 12.7 9.5 10.62
13.0 9.5 10.80 15.0 10.0 11.18
~ « — —
— — __ „_
17.0 13.0 14.50 14.0 12.0 12.83
—
— —
13.0 11.0 11.43 13.0 11.0 11.72
-- -- — — — —
11.05 10.86
Michigan waters of Lake Erie not included.
Ill
-------
Great Lakes. In most natural waters It is reported as a part of
"sod Ium-pIus-potassium" because of low concentrations and analytical
complexities. Peculiarly, as concentrations of both these elements
Increase In natural waters, the proportion of sodium to potassium In-
creases. In Lake Erie the ratio of sodium to potassium Is about 8 to
I. Sodium plus potassium has approximately doubled In concentration
in Lake Erie since 1920 (Figure 45).
Potassium is an essential nutrient for aquatic life and can be
limiting in natural waters.
The potassium concentrations found In each of the basins are shown
In Table 20 and Figurr 44. The concentration of potassium In the
western basin water averages 1.47 mg/l and varies from 1.0 to 4.5 mg/l.
In the central basin It averages 1.31 mg/l and ranges from I.I to 1.6
mg/l, while in the eastern basin the average Is about the same at 1.34
mg/l and the range is I.I to 1.9 mg/l.
Placing the Detroit River mid-channel input concentration at 1.0
mg/l, there is a 47 percent gain In the western basin and then an II
percent drop between the western and central basins. The drop may rep-
resent uptake by aquatic life or dilution by lower-level potassium
waters.
Sandusky Bay averaged 2.6 mg/l and ranged up to 4 mg/l. indicating
it as an Important source of potassium. The Michigan shore waters,
with concentrations above 4 mg/l, Indicated large sources In that area.
Cleveland Harbor concentrations were similar. Other sources along the
United States shore do not appear to be significant.
SILICA
Dissolved silica (SIO_) In Lake Erie is one of the few constituents
which shows lower concentrations, on the average, than the upper lakes.
Presumably, this is due to uptake and precipitation by aquatic organ-
isms, principally diatoms. Silica in natural waters has no known health
significance. It has some significance in industrial use, especially
in high pressure boiler feed water.
In the western basin the water averages 1.20 mg/l silica and ranges
from 0.3 to 5.0 mg/l (Table 21 and Figure 44). In the central basin the
average decreases to 0.68 mg/l, ranging from 0.2 to 3.5 mg/l. The
eastern basin water averages 0.47 mg/l and ranges from 0.2 to 3.5 mg/l.
All tributaries contribute silica, since silica is a universal
mineral. The most important sources are soil and land runoff, and
mineral refining industries.
Silica will not significantly Increase the dissolved solids content
of Lake Erie.
12
-------
TABLE 20
POTASSIUM CONCENTRATIONS IN LAKE ERIE
•8/1
Western Basin Central Basin Eastern Basin
Cruise
9
40
42
52
55
57
58
61
62
66
67
Arg.
Data Max.
4/63 —
5/63 4.5
6/63 1.3
10/63 1.5
4/64 —
5/64 3.6
5/64 —
6/64 2.3
6/64 —
8/64 —
9/64 2.0
Min. Avg. Max. Kin. Avg. Max. Kin. Avg,
1.4 1.1 1.18 1.4 1.1 1.21
1.1 2.30 1.3 1.1 1.23 1.5 1.1 1.28
1.1 1.17 1.6 1.1 1.23 1.4 1.1 1.23
1.0 1.20 1.6 1.1 1.38 1.6 1.3 1.44
—
1.0 1.35
1.5 1.3 1.43 1.9 1.4 1.60
1.0 1.32
—
1.6 1.3 1.41 1.9 1.1 1.32
1.1 1.50
1-47 1.31 1.34
Michigan waters of Lake Erie not included.
113
-------
TABLE 21
SILICA CONCENTRATIONS IN LAKE ERIE
ng/1
Western Basin Central Baa in Eastern Basin
Cruise
9
40
42
52
55
57
58
61
62
66
67
Avg.
Date Max. Kin.
4/63 ~
5/63 1.8 0.8
6/63 5.0 0.7
10/63 1.6 0.4
4/64 ~
5M 2.0 0.4
5/6A —
6/64 2.6 0.3
6/64 ~
8/64 —
9/64 1.8 0.3
Avg. Max. Kin.
1.4 0.2
1.36 1.1 0.3
1.87 3.5 0.3
0.83 1.2 0.2
—
1.13
— 0.6 0.3
1.04
__
9.6 0.3
1.00
1.20
Avg. Max. Min. Avg.
0.52 1.2 0.4 0.61
0.60 0.8 0.2 0.35
0.75 3.4 0.3 0.71
0.41 0.6 0.2 0.29
—
—
0.42 0.4 0.* 0.30
—
__
1.37 3.5 0.2 0.57
—
0.68 0.47
Michigan waters of Lake Erie not included.
114
-------
ALKYL BENZENE SULFONATE (AB:>)
This ccmpcjnd (ABS), up until July 190°), was a constituent of syn-
thetic deterge-ts It Is difficultly degradable and is a rather stable
part of receiving waters. In excessive quantities, more than I mg/l,
it imparts a disagreeable taste and Mill foam. wucn higher concentra-
tions have not produced any toxic effects or, humans, however, this has
not been ascertained on aquatic lifa. The USPHS drinking water standards
recommend a limit of 0.5 mg/l based on taste and foam production. This
value in Lake Lrle has not been exceeded.
The average concentration of ABS in the western basin water In 1963
and 1964 was 0.067 mg/l, in the central basin 0.065 mg/l, and 0.065 mg/l
In the eastern basin (Table 22). Sample values ranged from 0.01 mg/l to
0.20 mg/l. Most nearshore areas range within the same values.
SOLUBLE PHOSPHORUS
Soluble phosphorus Is a minor constituent, Quantity-wise, in Lake
Erie. It has no public health significance, nor is it an important
factor in regard to chemical water quality in concentrations now found
in the lake. However, its concentration is a very important controlling
factor in Lake Erie's major water quality problem, the prob'em of eutro-
phication or the over-production of attached and planktonic plants.
Phosphorus is a limiting nutrient.
The maximum, minimum, and average concentrations in each basin for
all cruises are shown in Table 23. In the western basin of Lake Erie,
soluble phosphorus, during the 1963-64 surveys, averaged O.C32 mg/l and
ranged from 0.003 to 0.333 mg/l. The average was O.oTo mg/l in both the
central and eastern basins. The range in the central basin was from
0.000 to 0.066 mg/l and in the eastern oasin from 0.000 to 0.033 mg/l.
Figure 44 shows phosphate (PO ) values. Phosphorus is equal to one-third
tnese values.
The input of soluble phosphorus from the upper lakes appears to be
approximately 0.005 mg/l. If this is true, tiere i? nearly a six-fold
increase In the western basin of Lake Erie. However, this is followed
by a 60 percent decrease in the pnosphate level of the central and eastern
basins. The decrease apparently results from both chemical and biochem-
ical precipitation and biological storage wit-Nin the lake. Figure 46 shows
the soluble phosphorus distribution In the western basin for one cruise in
September 1964 in which the west to east decrease is apparent.
Nearshore values generally are higher in the vicinity of tributaries
and harbors. Maumee Bay averaged 0.027 mg/l of soluble phosphorus during
the time of survey but apparently at tines cf heavy runoff the amount is
higher. Concentrations o,' 0.066 or more are prevalent along the Michigan
shore. Relatively nigh levels of phosphorus have been found in Sandusky
I 15
-------
TABLE 22
ARS CONCENTRATIONS IN LAKE ERIE
ng/1
Western Basin Central Basin Eastern Basin
Cruise Date Max. Min. AYR. Max. Min. Avg. Max. Min. Avg.
0.07 0.03 0.038 0.07 0.03 0.040
40 5/63 0.06 0.05 0.053 0.13 0.03 0.072 0.15 0.04 0.087
42 6/63 0.14 0.05 0.090 0.17 0.02 0.058 0.17 0.04 0.077
52 10/63 C.14 0.07 0.097 0.20 0.04 0.083 0.15 0.03 C.076
55 4/64 --
57 5/64 0.10 0.5 0.075
53 5/64 — — -- 0.07 0.06 0.065 0.07 0.06 0.065
61 6/64 0.06 0.01 0.033 --
66 3/64 — — — 0.12 0.05 0.075 0.10 0.03 0.045
67 9/64 0.12 0.01 0.055
0.067 0.065 0.065
Michigan waters of Lake Erie not included.
116
-------
TAPLE 23
SOLUBLE PHOSPHORUS (P) CONCENTRATIONS IN LAKE ERIE
rag/1
Weaterr Basin Central Basin Eastern Basin
Cruise Date Max. Win. Avg. Max. Min. Avg. Max. Min. Avg.
9 4/63 -- — — 0.020 0.003 0.009 O.Ol'7 L.003 0.004
40 5/63 0.024 0.007 O.C14 0.020 0.003 0.011 0.017 0.007 O.C11
42 6/63 0.010 O.CC7 0.009 O.C4C O.OC3 0.005 0.033 0.001 0.009
5"1 10/63 0.01? 0.003 0.00» 0.023 0.000 0.008 0.027 0.000 C.CG6
55 4/64 0.333 0.007 O.C6R 0.027 0.007 0.014 O.Cl'' 0.010 C.G14
57 5/64 C.C30 C.007 O.C13
58 5/64 — — — 0.037 0.000 0.012 0.037 O.OCO 0.013
61 6/64 0.240 0.024 0.030
66 8/64 ~ — ~ 0.066 0.000 0.013 0.024 0.000 0.006
67 9/64 0.123 0.003 0.034
Avg. 0.032 0.010 0.010
Michigan waters of Lake Erie not included.
117
-------
SOLUBLE PHOSPHORUS (P)
LAKE ERIE - WESTERN BASiN
SEPTEMBER 9-16. '?G4
COIITOU* IKTtKVJl^ ,0'«.|'i
-------
Bay (up to 0.056 mq/l) and Lora i n Haroor
-------
3
z <
«•«——•
K < or K O
O w t** I*J J
>- ul I«J Ik
w o <
X t -I
-(JO
n
o
n)
*J
OT
g 8
^4 tt)
^ z
'Si t>>
•< 4->
O
!>
•*«<*N««fu* <-4*
1 'rsrssssrss?1 'as'-re.'*0.
• * *
*^or>»orb4>OTw\«%mwF»*r»*o»r- *\ .-« m «-« »
^o>o^o*««o-«or^*r9>e'V» • o • -• <
^ r* * * * »- r- * »* r- *
-*»tf»«tt-*'^»>»»**
)OOOOOODOOOOOOOOOCIOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO 1 O
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO(OOOOOOOOOOOOOOI 1 *) O O 1 |O
i «> w «
120
-------
nitrogen cycle includes all these forms. The chemical and biological
condition of the water gives rise to considerable variations in levels
of each form present.
For the periods of the 1965 and 1964 surveys the total nitrogen
content of the western basin averaged 0.71 mg/l and varied from 0.17 to
2.66 mg/l (Table 25 and Figure 44). In the central basin and the east-
ern basin, the levels were nearly identical with averages of 0.43 and
0.42 mg/l, respectively. The extremes were 0.10 and 1.30 mg/l. Flgur*
47 shows the total nitrogen distribution In the western basin for one
cruise in September 1964.
Nitrite nitrogen and elemental nitrogen are not significant In the
waters of Lake Erie since the oxidation-reduction potential is such to
discourage duration of these forms. Ammonia nitrogen, for the periods
of survey, averaged 0.159 mg/l In the western basin water and ranged
from 0.01 to 9.77 mg/l (Table 26). In The central basin the average was
0.086 mg/l with a range of 0.00 to 0.39 rng/l. The eastern basin average
was identical to that of the central basin and the range was nearly so,
0.00 to 0.32 mg/l.
Nitrate nitrogen avoraged 0.124 mg/l in the western basin with a
range of 0.02 to 1.50 mg/l (Table 27). In the central and eastern basins
the averages were identical at 0.090 mg/l. The range in the central
basin was 0.01 to 0.50 mg/l while in the eastern t/a;in it was 0.01 to
0.85 mg/l.
Organic nitrogen averaged 0.36 mg/l in the western basin, 0.25 in
the central basin, and 0.24 in the eastern basin (Table 28).
Nearshore areas, especially harbors, show widely varying nitrogen
concentrations in all three measured for.ns. In the western basin, values
approximately double the mid-lake concentrations, whereas in the central
anc" eastern basins, the values are only slightly higher, on the average,
than mid-lake (Table 29).
OTHER CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS OF LAKE ERIE WATER
Analyses have been made for several metals in westen basin water
where concentrations exceed those in the remainder of the lake. Table
30 shows the acceptable limits listed in the 1962 U. 5. Public Health
Service Drinking Water Standards and the concentrations in western basin
water for the listed metals.
TABLE 30
Substance
Zinc
Copper
Cadmium
Nickel
Lead
Chromi urn
U.S. PHS
Limit (mg/l)
5.0
1.0
0.01
—
O.Ob
0.05
Concentration
Western Basin (mg/l )
.00-.P3
<.OOI
<.OOI
<.OOI
<.OOI
<.OOI
121
-------
TABLE 25
TOTAL NITROGEN CONCENTRATIONS IN I.AKF ERIE
rag/1
Western Basin Central Rasin.._ Eastern Basin
Cruise Date Max. Kin. Avg. Max. Min. Avg. Max. Min. Avg.
9 4/63 _. — — 0.68 0.13 0.47 1.16 0.10 C.41
40 5/63 0.67 0.53 0.59 0.93 0.07 0.33 0.75 0.13 0.32
42 6/63 0.71 0.60 0.65 1.09 0.26 0.42 0.61 0.20 0.39
52 10/63 0.72 0.31 0.50 0.89 0.18 0.45 0.80 0.23 ^-46
55 4/64 ~
57 5/64 2.02 0.25 0.90
5a 5/44 __ __ — 1.30 0.12 0.42 1.18 0.17 0.45
61 6/64 2.64 0.17 0.76
A2 6/64
^ q/^ __ — — 0.83 0.20 C.50 1.00 0.21 0.47
67 9/^>4 2.30 0.20 0.36
Avp. C.71 0.43 O.U
Michigan waters of T^ake Erie not included.
12?
-------
TOTAL NITROGEN
IN
LAKE ERIE - WESTERN BASIN
SEPTEMBER 9-16, 1964
CONTOUR INTERVAL JO-t/1
-------
TABLE 26
AMMONIA NITROGEN CONCENTRATIONS IN LAKE ERIE
mg/1
Western Basin Central Basin Eastern Basin
Cruise Date Max. Min. Avg. Max. Min. Avg. Max. Min. Avg.
9 4/63 — — — 0.10 0.02 0.055 0.32 0.01 0.104
40 5/63 0.09 0.04 0.055 0.11 0.00 0.031 0.27 0.00 0.046
42 6/63 0.26 0.09 0.160 0.23 0.06 0.128 0.29 0.08 0.135
52 10/6J 0.19 0.03 0.083 0.17 0.02 0.068 0.22 0.02 0.058
57 5/64 0.23 0.07 0.143 —
5« 5/64 — — — 0.23 0.01 0.089 0.27 0.01 0.082
61 6/64 0.60 0.04 0.256 —
62 6/64 ~
66 9/64 — — — 0.39 0.04 0.144 0.31 0.02 0.094
67 9/64 0.77 0.01 0.258 —
0.159 0.086 0.086
Michigan waters of Lake Erie not included.
124
-------
TABLE 27
NITRATE NITROGEN CONCENTRATIONS IN LAKE ERIE
mg/1
w..*.™ n..in Central Basin Eastern. Basin
Cruise
9
40
42
52
55
57
58
61
62
66
67
Avg.
Date Max. Min. Avg. Max. Min.
t/63 __ __ — 0.13 0.02
5/63 0.25 0.02 0.113 0.13 0.02
6/63 0.06 0.02 0.040 0.84 0.02
10/63 0.29 0.09 0.157 0.42 0.03
4/64 -
5/64 -
5/6^ — — — 0.50 0.00
6/64 1.50 0.03 0.287 --
6/64 —
8/^ „ _. — 0.36 0.01
9/64 0.54 0.02 0.148
0.124
Avg. Max. Min. Avg.
0.052 0.06 0.01 0.019
C.047 0.17 0.02 0.039
0.063 0.03 0.01 0.018
0.111 0.47 0.01 0.091
— — — —
__ — — — — —
0.121 0.52 0.06 0.207
— — ~ —
__
0.146 0.65 0.07 0.164
— — - ™
0.090 0.090
Michigan waters of Lake Erie not included.
125
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TABLE 28
ORGANIC NITROGEN CONCENTRATIONS IN LAKE ERIE
Cruise
9
40
42
52
55
57
58
61
62
46
67
Avg.
Date
A/63
5/63
6/63
10/63
A/64
5/64
5/64
6/64
6/64
8/64
9/64
Western Basin
Max. Min. Avg.
—
0.42
0.45
0.26
—
—
__
0.21
__
—
0.45
0.36
Central Pas in
Max. Min. Avg.
0.36
0.25
0.23
0.27
—
—
0.21
—
—
0.21
—
0.25
Eastern Basin
Max. Min. Avg.
0.29
0.24
0.24
0.31
—
—
0.16
__
—
0.21
—
0.24
Michigan waters of Lake Erie not included.
126
-------
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Lake Erie contains no known chemical substances in quantities
toxic to aquatic life or sufficient to cause any sort of health
hazard to users of the water. This does not apply to tributary waters
in highly industrialized areas where concentrations may, under certain
conditions, be hazardous. Such areas exist at Detroit, Loraln
Cleveland, Fairport, and Ashtabula.
RADIOCHEMISTW
Radioactivity is defined as the spontaneous emission of alpha
beta, or other radiation by the disintegration of unstable atomic
nuclei. Naturally-occurring, radioac+ive isotopes usually decay (dis-
integrate) by stepwise emission of alpha or beta particles to form
stable isotopes. An artificially produced radioisotope, however
generally decays in a single step by the emission of a beta particle.
Alpha and beta particles have the ability to ionize any matter
with which they interact by the production ot ion-pairs. It is the
formation of such ion-pairs in biological tissue that results in cell
destruction. Impairment, or mutation.
Radioactive wastes discharged to the environment are rot absorbed
in harmless fashion. Even though decay and dilution may occur, radio-
nuclides may be concentrated physically, chemically, and/cr through
biological assimilation and retention. As a result the radionucllde
concentration will increase as it passes through the environment to
the point of human contact.
Human exposure to radioactively contaminated surface water can
result when the surface water is used as a public water supply In
addition, biologically concentrated radioactivity can be assimilated
through the InQestion of fish and other aquatic life.
Prior to cessation of atmospheric nuclear testing, fallout was
the most significant source of radioactive pollution tc Lake trie.
Other possible sources are fhe atmospheric and drainage discharges
of reactor plants and of licensed radioisotope users in the basin.
ALPHA ACTIVITY OF LAKE WATER SAMPLES
The annual mean concentrations of alpha radioactivity in sus-
pended and dissolved solids observed In samples from Lake Erie were
0.6 and 1.6 pc/l, respectively, for 1963.
The highest averages and maxima in 1963 occurred near the mouth
of the Black River where the suspended solids mean and maximum were
1.5 and 4.6 pc/l, respectively; and the dissolved solids mean and
maximum were 5.2 and 12 pc/l, respectively.
128
-------
All |%4 averages wore low in aloha acti/ity with none exceed-
ing 5.3 pc/1.
BETA ACTIVITY OF LAKE HATER
All suspended solids average beta activities were low for both
1963 and 1964. The 1963 means ranged from H.9 to 18 pc/l with a
weighted mean of 14 pc/l; the 1964 mean, however, ranged from 3.9 to
9.5 pc/l with a weighted mean of 7.9 pc/l.
ALPHA ACTIVITY OF PLANKTON SAMPLES
The gross alpha radioactivity in plankton samples was less than
one to 30 pc/gram of ashed weight for 1963 with a mean value of 8.3
pc/gram, and from less than one to 20 pc/gram with a mean of b.7
pc/gram for 1964. These ranges and means are essentially the same.
The radioactivity levels (both alpha and beta) in plankton are higher
than in water due to the concentrating effect of biological materials.
Published work (Williams, Swanson) has shown the effectiveness of
Euglena and Chlorella In decontaminating water of cesium 137. In 6-days
Euglena reduced the degree of contamination 69 percent - 96 percent in
34 days.
Since alpha activity is usually associated with naturaMy occur-
ring radioisotopes, and such isotopes, being of high atomic number,
seldom appear as components of plankton, low alpha activities for
plankton can be expected.
BETA ACTIVITY OF PLANKTON SAMPLES
Gross beta values range from 33 to 1200 pc/gram with a mean of
160 pc/gram for I9b3, and frcm 76 to 400 pc/gram with a mean of 190
pc/gram for 1964. The ranges are similar except for the value of
1200 pc/gram which came from a sample collected off the tip of Long
Point toward the east end of the lake.
-------
CHAPTER 4
LAKE ERIE BIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Aquatic biological life is sensitive to physical and chemical
changes in its environment. Biological effects are often relatively
extreme, and for this reason, the aquatic community is an excellent
indicator of water quality. The important considerations are the
total population, types, and relative numbers of each type. Pristine
water and its bottom sediment contain a low total population, many
types, and low numbers of each type. As water is degraded, the total
population increases, the number of types decrease, and the numbers
of a few resistant types increase greatly.
The total numbers increase because of increased nutrient content
in the water. Organisms which more readily take advantage of high
nutrient content and organic sediments begin to predominate. Bottom
organisms which can withstand extended periods with little or no
oxygen may replace those requiring an abundant oxygen supply. Plankton
and fish populations change to those which are less desirable from a
human standpoint. Plankton may cause taste and odor problems in water
supplies and the clogging of intakes and filters. "Rough" fish may
replace those prized for their edibility.
Lake Erie is presently experiencing rather dramatic changes in
its biological productivity. These changes are not at the natural
sequence rate, and can be related directly to man's activities.
LAKE BOTTOM BIOLOGY
The benthic fauna are minute animals which live on and within the
lake bottom sediments. Some have been classified, rather non-precise Iy
as pollution-tolerant" or "pollution-sensitive". This classification '
rests on the ability of an organism to withstand periods of deficiency
or absence of dissolved oxygen and does not Imply that some organisms
mlqht prefer a lack of oxygen. Accordingly, these terms will be used
in the following narrative.
Studies conducted by the U. S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries
between 1929 and I9b9 (Beeton, 1961 and Wright, 1955) and personnel at
the Franz Theodore Stone Institute of Hydrobioloqy ffirltt. 1955 a and b)
show significant changes in population, type, and habitat of bottom-
dwelling organisms in western Lake Erie. Pollution-tolerant forms have
increased greatly along the west side of the basin and in the island
area. These include Tubificidae, Sphaeriidae, and Tendipedldae. As
130
-------
an example in the island area, Tubificidae have increased from 10 or-
ganisms per square meter in 1929 to 550 organisms per square meter in
1957. During the same period Tendipedidae increased from 60 to 300
organisms per square meter- The Sphaeriidcje showed a three-fold in-
crease at two index stations near South Bass Island.
The pollution-sensitive caddis fly larvae (Tricoptera) and the
mayfly (Hexagenia spp.^ have been drastically reduced in numbers.
Beeton (1961) reported that the formerlv abundant Tricoptera larvae
averaged less than one per square meter in 1957. The burrowing mayfly
nymph, which lives in soft mud and feeds on detritus, was the most
common macro!nvertebrate in the western basin prior to the early I950's.
Wright (1955) found 285 and 510 nymphs per square meter in 1929 and
1930, respectively, in the island area. Chandler (1963) summarized
studies made between 1942 and 1947 and reoorted an average of 350
nymphs per square meter for that period. Wood (1963) found an average
of 235 per square meter for 204 samples collected in 1951 and 1952.
In June 1955 Britt (1955) found approximately 300 nymphs per square
meter. After sampling again in September following a five-day period
of thermal stratification and bottom oxygen depletion Britt found only
44 nymphs per square meter. The succeeding year showed a good re-
covery but Beeton in 1959 found only 39 per square meter . In June I9C4
1he U. S. Public Health Service found only two nymphs in samoles from
47 island area sites. None were found In the Michigan waters of the
basi n.
Published quantitative data are not available on the bottom fauna
of central and eastern Lake Erie. Newspaper articles, datirg back to
I927 describe "immense swarms" of mayflies blown into the city of
Cleveland. A decline was first noted in I949 but they reappeared in
I950 and were reported yearly through I957. They were net reported
after I958.
Ferquson (personal communication), on a transect between Port
Burwell and Conneaut in the spring and summer cf '^5?, :^,owed popula-
tions of Tubificidae. Tendipedidae, Sphaerlldae, Amonipoda, Tricoptera,
and Gastropoda. Gut contents of blue pike demor>strated that the pol-
lution-sensitive Tricoptera and Amphlpoda were common focd.
The results of bottom fauna surveys of Lake Erie by the U. 5.
Public Health Service in I9*>3 and I964 are summarized in Fiqjre 48.
It shows the relative abundance of the pollution-sensitive scud to the
more tolerant studqeworms, bloodworms, fingernail clams and nematodes.
Figure 49 divides the lake into four zones based on the benthic fauna
populations. It is evident that most of the western and central basins
were characterized by the lack of pollution-sensitive scud and prepon-
derance of pollution-tolerant species of sludgeworms, bloodworms,
fingernail clams, and nemat- -. A few areas in the western basin, the
I3I
-------
LAKE ERIE
BENTHIC POPULATIONS
SPRING, SUMMER, AND FALL
1363 AND 64 COMBINED
-------
LAKE ERIE
BENTHIC FAUNA DISTRIBUTION
1963 and 1961
-------
eastern part of the central Das in, and the eastern basin support a
good population of pollution-sensitive scud and are Indicative of the
more favorable environmental conditions in these areas. The four
zones shown in Figure 49 are described as follows:
Zona A - Contains only the ilIution-tolerant groups, sludge-
worms, fingernail clams, nematooui, and pollution-tolerant species of
bloodworms.
Zone B - In addition to groups in Zone A, the following groups of
intermediate tolerance were found: aquatic sowbuas. snails, leeches,
and several additional species of bloodworms.
?one C - May contain any organisms found in Zones A and B but
tne two species of scuds (Gamn.arus fasciatus and/or Hyalella a?teca)
are always present.
Zone D - May contain any g-oup of organisms listed in Zones A,
B. and C but always contains the intolerant scud (Pontoporeia affinis).
Zones C and 0 had the greatest variety of bottom-dwelling organ-
isms and were characterized by the presence of scuds at each station.
Gammarus fasciatus was found regardless of bottom type and Hyalella
azteca was present at many locations associated with a sand, gravel,
or rock bottom. Pontoporeia affinis which requires cold, deep, clear
and we I I-oxygenated water occurred on!y in Zone D.
The variety of bloodworms is also important. AM lakes have a
variety of bloodworm (midge) larvae as part of the ber.thic fauna, and
their habitats vary according to the quality of the overlying water.
Curry (Unpublished) classified the larvae according to one of four
categories depending upon their environmental requirements. The cate-
gories (I) Pollution-tolerant, (?) Cosmopolitan, (3) Clear-Water, and
(4) Others, adequately covered the 38 species identified in Lake Erie.
The Pollution-tolerant species include larvae existing even for
a snort period of time in habitats having sediments with a high per-
centage of organic matter, low dissolved oxvqen, rather high tempera-
ture, and possible septic conditions. The Clean Water species in-
cluded larvae that were found in the colder, doeper waters of 01igo-
trophic lakes and streams. In these areas the temperatures were
lower, dissolved oxygen high, and septic conditions were never present.
Larvae classified as Cosmopolitan species were found in both pollution-
tolerant and clean-water environments. The Other species group in-
cluded larval forms found only occasionally in any oottom samples.
Usually these larvae were restricted to isolated regions of the lake.
This could be due to one or more factors including t^epth, temperature,
food, carbon dioxide, or oxygen.
134
-------
Of the 38 identified species in the lake, t/4 percent were
Pollution-Tolerant, 4} oorcent Cosmopolitan, I percent Clean Water,
and 2 percent Otner. The population of bloodworm larvae inhabiting
the central portion of /one A was composed of 80 percent Pollution-
Tolerant species. Zone A is also the erea that contained the fewest
number of species of bloodworm larvae. Curry, in unpublished data,
gives a more detailed treatment of the bloodworm distribution data.
Dissolved oxyqen data from studies conducted by the Public Health
Service, bureau of Commercial Fisheries, and the Great Lakes Institute,
are summarized in Figure 50. This map shows that ^one A is approx-
imately the area in which dissolved oxyqen concentrations of less than
2.0 mq/l have been found in the hypolimnion durinrj the summer. Not
only was the number of species much less in the area of low dissolved
oxygen, but the following table indicates that total numbers were
lower as well. Stations chosen for this comparison were between 13
and 22 meters deep where a persistent thermocline 's present from mid-
June to mid-September. Bottom deposits were mostly mud in the low
dissolved oxygen area aid mud and sand in adjacent
BENTHIC FAUNA
Numut.r of Organisms per sauare meter
West of Low
DO area
Tub! f icidae
Tendipedi dae
Sphaeri i dae
Amphipoda
Other
Total
Spri ng
1 ,850
47
350
1
121
7,369
Fall
1 ,830
407
502
7
145
2,891
Low DO
Area
Spri ng
186
39
187
0
26
438
Fal 1
1 ,460
156
137
0
31
1 ,7B4
East of Low
00 area
Spring
354
107
162
69
73
765
Fal 1
2,300
278
307
465
221
3757T
The dissolved oxygen deficit not only limits the number of species
but limits the total numbers as well, even though "the sediments are
higher in organic matter.
Zone B Is a transition area where the pollution-intolerant scuds,
mayflies, unionld clams, and caddis flies were absent. Intermediately
tolerant forms such as the aguatic sowbug (AselI us militari s?, snail
(Gastropoda), and leech (mostly Helobdella sp.) were found. 7one B
approximates the area where dissolved oxygen was between 2.0 and 4.0
mg/l in the hypolimnion during the summer of 1964.
135
-------
- «BE« Of IMtRM»v STBtTlf "HT'ON
LAKE tRIE
DISSOLVED OXYGEN
BOTTOM WATERS
AUGUST 14-31, 1964
-------
The distribution of the mayfly nymph (Hexagenja spp.) is diffi-
cult to plot graphically because of erratic occurrence. This qenus
can apparently survive only a short time when dissolved oxygen in the
water is less than 4.0 mg/l and water temperature relatively high.
The genus rarely occurs In water deeper than 50 feet, and since it
requires a soft bottom its absence cannot always be attributed to poor
water quality. Data from Inshore stations where bottom type and depth
were suitable for Hexagenia spp. showeu the nymph was absent along the
south shore except at one station northeast of Ashtabula. HexagenI a
was abundant at all stations in Long Point Bay and in small numbers
at most suitable locations near the Canadian shore of the eastern
basin. A few Hexagenia spp. nymphs were found near the Canadian shore
at the mouth of the Detroit River in 15 feet of water and near Colchester
and Kingsvllle, Ontario.
A special study was conducted in the island area o* Lake Erie in
June 1964, to determine Hexagenia populations where they were formerly
tne most abundant macro invertebrate inhabiting the bottom. The entire
island area was sampled at 47 stations and only two nymphs were found.
The bottom dwelling animals, except in shallow rocky areas, were pre-
dominately sludgeworms, bloodworms, and fingernail clams with only a
few union id clams and snails.
LAKE WATER BIOLOGY
ALGAE
Algae are indicators of water quality. Increases in total pro-
ductivity and decreasing variety indicate degradation resulting from
increased nutrient content in the water.
Increases In productivity of both phytoplankton and the filamen-
tous green alga, Cladophora sp., have been noted in the literature.
Nuisance growths of Cladophora have been reported for many years in
the island area (Langlois, 1954). However, in recent years island
residents report the problem has become worse. Reports indicate that
Cladophora nuisance problems nave also increased on beaches around Erie,
Pennsylvania and on New York beaches in the last several years. Neil
and Owen (I964J report many Canadian beaches are also experiencing
increased problems.
Chandler (1940, 1944) and Chandler and Weeks (1945) evaluated
extensive phytoplankton, chemical, and physical data collected between
1938 and 1942 around the Bass Islands. It was concluded that phyto-
plankton populations were highly variable from year to year and that
phytoplankton productivity based on only one year could be misleading.
Chandler and Weeks believed these variations to be related to physical
changes such as temperature, turbidity, and solar radiation rather than
chemical changes. During the study period, diatoms never comprised
137
-------
less than J.1 percent of trie total, and Total numbers r,evt-.'
1,000,000 units per liter. Blue-green algae were rarely p. etfomi nar.t
and never exceeded '")? percent of the total. Goner a!'> > > '"•'• ' r:;.1,.tj|. Samples c.ii lfc<. ! ' .-. ..- reported during h.e , J,,;;-I'M* ;,tu';y.
Davis (1964) nas summarized plankton data accumulated C> ' <-
Cleveland Division Avenue Filtration Plant binco 1^19. AI f, ..^.lon y..»r'y
variations are large, a definite long-term increoso if !i I .m-1: n |,ro
ductivity is apparent a1. >nov»n in Figure 51 . Tho datrf r,:<->.- tl.-ii plft'i^-
ton counts have increased from a yearly average of /GO---* :i c^ •••,•••!
between 19.'0 and 1930 to j current average of I ,'300-i', Vj . -^ i . ,/.TI'.
Th i a indicates an increase in algal concentration of L inC'-t^i'-.o
in duration rt pulses. A pulse ir. a urofusion of aif.ti-:. .ir -t cur'^io
period of the y^dr. Comparing the phytop I an^ton abundance be'^•.:en
I9t?7 and "•)('.?, Figure ^\f:, the incroaje in duration i:, v«ify .v<>art;;Vi.
Tiio spring :ind autumn Dulses in I9?7 occurred from Marc*, t-, '•,.;-;. .inr1
from I at.j August to mid-September, respectively. in I'f:. . ih< -,,1 '"(j
ana auturi<> pulse1, occurred from mi d-Febr-.arv ir w\;:-i-.i '• •• rt ; ~''-
mid-June r ! i Tor
have increasea ccnsi derjD I y . ihnre has also been a si gf dominant genera of 1he spring and autumn phytop! anktoi. pulsi ,5-j
indicated in T3t;le 3!. Tr>^ dominant spring genera have ( mnged from
Astor ione I i a to Me I os i ro . ^ ;;orrespon-J i nq shift in lr,«.- t -.11 pus .•;
rias been tro"i by_neora to Velojira to P rag i I aria. nurin'-, I'tKem /<: i .
the dutunn pulso has jf.orfn an increase in importance or .jiee'i <,i>C
blue-green algae S'jcn as fjeoi aj. tr_um, Anabaona, and us«.- i i I nTor i n re-
piaclnt'j in p.ir ' t'-e prev i CT- iomi r,a:'^t- :-y Jifltom:.. \> :* *• .•: u t
jr. »!-^ cenT'-,)| ^n/1 i-.i^tr.rr: '. ,•.',•} in I'.V8- Jr' showed ; Vi.--' -^o., w i •
the don'iridnt qro^p c< ph / t.-p I an*. »ers durir.g June and .' of d:>!'(ji>i_ *e green jno f I ne- ;;reo,"i oei . >-.i- ..
mi r!-Geptember , ^.^Jlr»evor, f • Oialons "ince aqoi;. were u> :-.• i.'u- iiMntj-1. t
group. Tho dv, or neve'
exceeded 2,000 oer li*er.
During the spring and :..;jivner of \['MiA. ('•. S. P;jt>tir M.--Ti-.i ' <• - / i < >:
personnel T-a^e several vi'.its +f' *ho inland .ire^ r.-f ««?:.'. <• i ")-':• ;•!•
to netarminr the extant of CI 3dt.>phcr •:; qrrjuths. Ar ..-unJ '• rie i >!ai'";s,
the rocky shorelines anrj reef areas provide an ideal :»u> •: r '•"• te "-•;
Cl adophorj attdch.-nont. Under these condition? the m,jj..r facti-r.. in-
fluencing aljjndance are nutrient supply, sol^r rjdiailon, tij-oio"'1/,
and adeouate wrwe
Reproduced from
best available copy
-------
u 1000-
• 400'
• 000'
20 SO
•0
40 §O
A. YEARS
Average phytoplanKton cells p«r
mi Hi liter for all years with
complete records, 1920 to 1963.
1946
««oo.
tOOO'
UJ
o
III
u
M A M J J A • 0 N D
1927
AMJJASOMD
1957
2
«0
UJ
u
X
^,
in
' 4 ' f MAMJJ • • O MD
C. 1935 F. 1962
PHYTOPLANKTON ABUNDANCE
LAKE ERIE (CLEVELAND WATER INTAKE RECORDS)
139
FIGURE 51
-------
TABI£ 31
DOMINANT PffifTOPLANKTERS DURING SPRING AND AUTUMN
PHrTOPLANKTOIJ PUIBES, 1920-63*
(The dash signifies that there was no pulse)
Spring pulse
Year
Autumn pulse
Aster1 onella
Asterionella
Asterionella
S;Tiedra, Asterionella
Asterionella, Melosira
Asterionella
Aster-lone lla
Asterionella
Melosira, Synedra
Asterionella
Asterionella
Asterionella
Asterionella, Melosira
Melosira, Asterionella
Asterionella, Cyclotella
Asterionella
?
Melosira
Melosira
Frarilaria, Melosira
Melosira
Fragilaria, Tabellarla
Melosira
Melosira
Melosira
1920
1921
1922
1923
1927
1928
1929
1930
1931
1932
1933
Synedra
Synedra
1935
1936
1937
191*7
19U9
1955
1956
1957
1958
1959
I960
1961
1962
1963
Synedra
Melosira, Synedra
Synedra, Melosira, Stephenodiscus
Asterionelle, Melosira
Melosira
Melosire
Melosira
Melosira
Melosira
Melosira
Melosira
Synedra, Melosira
Melosira
Melosira
Synedra. Melosira
Melosira, Synedra
Melosira, Pediastrum
Melosira, Asterionella
Synedra, Pedisstrum
Melosira
Synedra, Melosira
Pediastrum, Frapilaria
Fragilaria, Melosira, Anabaena
Fragilaria
Melosira
Fragilaria, Melosira, Anabaena
Melosira, Anabaena, Oscillatoria
Fragilaria, Synedra, Stephanodiscus
Sane of the Included information has been adapted from an undergraduate
project written by Mr. John WoIk.
From Chandler's (l9M) report of tne Filtration Plant records for
140
-------
Around Kelleys Island the water is usually clear and seech I disc
readings were 8-12 feet except during heavy phytoplaokton blooms when
readings of less than two feet were recorded. Observations by scuba
divers revealed heavy Cladophora growths extended from the surface to
a depth of II feet and then gradually decreased until extinction at
a depth of 15 feet. At maturity in late June and early July, strands
of algae three to six feet In length were common. Growths were heav-
iest on the east side of Kelleys Island around Gull and Kelleys Island
shoals. T.ie more turbid waters around the Bass Islands did not permit
adequate light penetration for growths in water depths greater than
5 feet. The Investigation detected approximately four square miles
covered with luxurious Cladophora growth In the Island region alone.
Throughout the island region, and along the shores of Lake Erie,
where the conditions are suitable, generally along rocky shores, these
heavy growth* exist. Upon maturity, wave action, etc., the strands
of algae are broken from their attachment enabling wind and currents
to deposit the massive quantities of Cladophora on beaches. In harbors,
and In deeper waters of the lake. It has also been noted that mats
of decomposing algae settle to the bottom in the central basin (Zone
A of Figure 49) and become part of the sediment after decomposition.
During interviews, local residents reported that growths have been
increasing" rapidly in the pest 20 years and that each succeeding year
was becoming worse. Canada and other communities along the lake shore
are experiencing this increasing problem.
It is clear from the literature that phytoplankton productivity
In Lake Erie is highly variable from year to year and evaluation of
phytopIankton dsta based on one or two years sampling could be mis-
leading. Extreme care must be taken in comparing data under these
conditions. Due to limited phytoplankton analysis from 1963 and 1964
the data will be treated generally to show ranges and to illustrate
seasonal variations in productivity and species composition.
The phytoplankton data were averaged from all stations and sep-
arated according to basins and seasons. The tables below illustrate
differences between diatoms and others which consisted of green and
blue-green algae forms tor each basin and season.
PHYTOPLANKTON 1963 - 1964
Diatoms vs. Total Number of Organisms
(Percent)
Basin Diatom - Spring Diatom - Fall Total Annual Average
Western 79.2 3.0 8.8
Central 44.4 12.9 27.3
Eastern 49.8 35.4 40.0
141
-------
PHYTOPLANKTON 1963 -
Greens and Blue-greens vs. Total Numoor of Organisms
(Percent)
Bas 1 n
Western
Central
Eastern
G-BG - Spring
20.8
55.6
50.?
G-BG - Fa I I
97.0
87.1
64.6
Total Annual Average
91.2
72.7
60.0
The data show a spring pulse composed primarily of diatoms In the
western basin, mainly Cvclotella-Stephanodlscus. It |j indicated that
diatom blooms occur ir the wesfe.n bisin during the spring when the
dissolved silica contert Is high. Diatoms assimilate silica In skel-
etal formation. The spring diatom pulse was also noted in the central
and eastern basin but not to the extent of that in the western basin.
It was followed by a low »evel bummer population composed mainly of
diatoms in the central and eattarn basins and greens or blue-greens
in the western basin. Due to lack of data, a comparison was not made
with the other seasons. In la s summer and early fall another pulse
developed in which greens and blue-greens were dominant over the entire
lake. Greens and blue-greens comprised a much higher proportion of the
total population In all basins ?.s indicated by the table of percentages.
The following table shows popuic.tions and types of algae with reference
to basin and season. As expectad, the decreasing west to east trend
is very pronounced when considering the total averages.
PHYTOPLANKTON
Average Numbers of Organisms per ml
Type of
Algae
Green
Blue-green
Diatom
Total
Green
Blue-green
Diatom
Total
Total
Season
Spring
Spring
Spring
Fal 1
Fal i
Fal 1
Average
Western
375
1,430
1,805
10,475
325
10,800
8,000
Basin
Central
650
•520
1 .170
875
130
1,005
1,100
Eastern
290
285
575
1 15
65
'GO
300
142
-------
Reproduced from
best available copy
Ar, it x
L ,-i K f - • r i • •
bl<.x;-r, ;•;,,
Of i)':~i 1 1 )
3 lenod i n i .11
iMximum CT
area these
but the in
ton
« '!J ' i
•,-.•>- i
m Jk
1 '
ma •:
t«nv
Iankton bloom in western
r; in September I9tj4 (Casper, I 96t>) . The
"••'I/ HOO squan; mih>s, consisted primarily
i i ../menon holsaticum, Anacystls cyonea, and
njinbers were <>8,hOfl orqanisms per ml with a
,nr, per ml. According to residents of the
have been occurring for a number of years
•cy, and duration have been increasing.
The cnanrjf-
productivity of lake Erie have been ac-
companied t/v chanqt?' in tre f i <>h populations. As far as man is con-
cerned to chr'm»", i,,'ei ; :-rt /ears *• ave neen for the worse. Fisfi
desirable for human conjumpticn have declined in abundance (Figure 52)
and have t-nen replaced bv lec,s desirable spocies.
Man is responsible for thj accelerated eutrophicat ion of Lake Erie
witn its consequent changes in the Quality and quantity of fish present.
He catches the desirable fish when available n.th qreat efficiency, and
returns the less desirable; he direcfiy alter- the fish habitat by
introducing his wastes t;, the ».-iter ^nd sediment. The resulting tur-
biditv, oxvqen depletion, ano toxirity have eliminated preferred fish
food lorcinq tfif deii'dDle fir,h to vacate and ar dfis i rah 11:- specie-. tNen [.-, re I j furate since competition for available
food has decreased. tJrif crtunatel y most of man's activities have been
detrimental .
1 .mm<:r<_
i,i).'Vi!.>;r i. ill t
danc_e c.f dt'
F i q 11 r o '. .. )
oy federal 'j
i.vi It'S Cif f i
P'.rl S i ti I t' .
i i '. j i ; . . tat i st ir. >, ,,ril r-,ert;0 by the n, j. Bureau of
i-.ii-rie1 , hd-'t: provided a I onq record ot the relative abun-
iraol'' 'i h pntinijina surve'/s have been introduced
•"id Idl" ijuncies i >n th»; r «pi iduct i ve phase of the I i f e
' ,* ••::, "i • : ' i .,ii t'._ •! '! 1 I •" t l r.'j ) r f 1. t ill'-; [)Opll 1st I ofi S til O nCiW
I r>(- -, r :
t urn of 1 ho
mercidl cat
recovery, -i
dras T I <.a I I v
dec I ine i r. I
fori^rlv rr
in
,Je; I i
t ' e c
/i j;.0frir ei" rr.'r -r('. st :)1 i st i ••;.:, ,jt abcut the
-i SCO, once thfl oominant spPti^'S of the com-
•' a sudden decline in H?r>, showed a sllqht
i i r.^ioni f icarice in I1)1;/. Wt, itefish declined
i i .1 rat<:h in I f'L/; . Ihe walleye bei^an a drastic
ill in qred' di'.trt.-'-s. Tho blue pike, which
'mil inn pou..;i-- .tnr ,t.-cjr became nearly extinct
The T'|,I* i^-
signs of weakening
fish remain in.; of 'he t
commercially exp Im tdL i
the t i sh i nq industry in
i 'T ^ •...>;() t , h(1 1 (I Its own, but it also shows
n the commercial eaten. It is the f >n I y plentiful
r-»», many pri/ed varif-ties. Tne smelt Is now
; MJ it, filonq with yellow perch, is sustaining
t :•-<' Lrie.
-------
10-
HIGH YIA«
CISCO
US. LAKE ERIE
FISH CATCHES
S-YEAR RUNNING
AVERAGES
MIILIONS OF POUND
» « O M
I i 1 I
4-
0,
BlUEPIKE
HIGH YIA«
1*,*O*,OOO IBS.
•:::$i: HIGH TIA«
: f.+f: _^^ ».ui,ooo isi.
X X-XX-: WAltETS
•&•&&:& ~~< ..:...:.:.:.:.:.:.. k
mm-K /
:::::::x:::.x: A,.,.-.;.,.;.:,^:,:::::,;,:;,:,; /
:.,;.:,,.::.:: . m- ^
4jiii»*ft^ jj^...'.'.!;.'.t.'.
l»10 ' 1*40 ' l»'»0
YIA«
FIGURE 52
-------
TABLE 32
Average combined annual ynited States and r
production for specified periods of major- commercial species of
(thousands of pounds)
Period Stur-
geon
1879-190i3/ 1
3/
1& 10-191i-
3/
li,2 0-192*-
Id30-1934
i9j5-1939
1940-1944
1J45-1S4C
1»50-1S54
1S55-19SS
.. .30-1964
,-argest catchC
Year of Larg-
est catch
,052
77
3D
39
31
22
25
14
14
4
,187
1685
No.
Pike
1,356
1,250
77
62
29
37
21
12
14
2
2,873
1308
Cisco
25,625
27,201
14,126
764
1,070
283
3,067
475
128
8
48,323
1918
gei—
3,700
3.65S
2,437
1,943
1,414
878
567
354
21
1
6,181
1916
White-
fish
2,402
2,945
1.075
2,094
2,696
4,058
4,701
2,297
749
19
7,092
1949
Blue
Pike^'
10,797-
9,277
11,292
14,623
18 , 526
13,517
12.509
13,535
10,078
3
26,768
1936
Wall-
eye
1,756
1,577
2,113
3,515
3,779
5,307
7,566
1C ,267
1,484
15,405
1956
Yellow Smelt
perch
2
3
5
12
6
3
4
6
19
20
.791
,017
,356
,382
,444
,86S
,245
,784 8SO
,£40 4,345
,219 13,508
23,954 11,435
1959 1960
Sh«eps-
hoad
1,061
2,439
2,367
2,381
3,359
3.624
3,365
S,4£8
4,020
£,770
S,5S6
1960
Whit9/
bass—
611
383
36C
447
655
553
701
3,485
5,092
4,111
3,451
1954
I/ Species that have bad an annual production greater than 1 Billion pounds.
2/ Species normally less than 1 million pounds (goldfish, bullheads, burbot).
3/ Average for years of record.
4/ U.S. catch only until 1952.
5,' Includes bullheads through 1951.
6, Catches of walleye and blue pike combined through 1914.
7/ Probably couponed of 8-9 Billion pounds of blue pike and the remainder walleye.
From "Report on Commercial Fisheries Resources of the Lake Erie Basin,"
U. S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, 1966.
'43
-------
TABLE 32
Average combined annual ynited Statea and Canadian
for specified periods of major- commercial species of I*ke Erl»
(thousands of pounds)
White-
fish
2,402
2,945
1.G75
2.C&4
2,696
4,058
4,701
2, 297
749
19
7.09S
1949
Blue
Pike2
10,797-
9,277
11,292
14,623
18.526
13,517
12,509
13,535
10,378
3
26,788
1936
Wall-
eye
1,756
1.577
2,113
3,515
3,779
5,307
7,566
1C, 267
1^484
15,405
1956
Yellow Smelt Sbaeps-
perch huad
2,791
3,017
5,356
12,382
6,444
3.86S
4,245
6,784 980
19.540 4.345
20,219 13,508
28,954 11.495
1959 1960
1,061
2,499
2,367
2,381
3,359
3.624
3,365
3.4S8
4,020
£.770
6,566
1960
Whit|/
bass—
611
383
36C
447
655
553
7C1
3,485
S.C92
4,111
3,451
1954
S ;clf7 Channel . '-arp
"/ 5/
ei— catfish-
1,3 5l-
1.120
1,030
1.462
980
c23
bCo
6C1
41S
3C "
2,024
1930
604
1.110
631
70C
641
348
1,093
1,583
1,770
1,484
2,228
1317
2,480
7,544
3,180
2,659
2.639
2,593
2.077
3.0C7
4,171
-------
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The capaDility of i.^ke trie 1o support fish, considered ds a
total population of all -species, has apparently been maintained ana
may be increasing. Ini means that the habitat is chanqinn in favor
of such fish as can., .jic-wifc-, shad, sheepshead, etc. These are
generally considered as indicators of qeneral water quality deqra-
dat ion.
Massive adult dn.j ru.-dr-ddul t fish kills occur in Ldke trio and
nave o urred on various occasions for many years. Those kills are
not associated with the decline of desirable spe< «>s. Species which
have beei susceptible to kills nave commonly been percn. white bass,
alewiffc, smelt, gizzard shad, and carp. Kills seem to be more common
in the months of June and August. Occasionally during times of largo
commercial catches, the appearance of a local kill may be qiven by
the discarding of fish from commercial fishinq operations. Sometimes
fish kills have boon called natural die-off, but this does not appear
to be a qood explanation. At any rate, it dons not appear that massive-
fish kills have had a measurable effect on any speri«s in Lake Erie.
Doubtless the changing t.enthic fauna of Lake trie have had
-------
CHAPTER 5
LAKE ERIE BACTERIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS
WATER BACTERIOLOGY
The U. S. Public Health Service conducted microbiological Inves-
tigations of Lake Erie and its drainage basin in the spring, summer,
and fall of 1963 and 1964 in order to determine present microbiological
quality of the waters. Further objectives were to determine points of
influx and extent of sewage and fecal contaminated waters and to aid
in the evaluation of microbiological water quality criteria for major
uses. The following table shows the groups measured and the frequency
of measurement.
Groups used
I. Total col i form, 3b°C
a. Membrane f i Iter (MFj
b. MPN (most probable number)
?. Fecal col i form, 44.5°C
a. MF
b. E.G. (Escherichia coli.)
c. MPN - E.G.
3. Fecal streptococci , 3'>0C
a. MF (Kenner, etc.)
4. Total bacterial count
a. MF, 20SC
b. MF, 35°C
5. Enteric pathogens
a. Salmonel la, Shigel la
b. Enterovi ruses
Frequency
a 11 rout i ne samp Ies
selected samples
a 11 routine samples
10-201 of a I I samples
\0% of all samples
a 11 routine samples
all lake and inshore samples
all lake and inshore samples
Tributary 4 bathing beach samples
Tributary 4 bathing beach samples
All determinations were made in accordance with procedures set
forth in Stardard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater,
llth Edition, I960, or in accordance with those established through
research at he Robert A. Taft Sanitary Engineering Center, Cincinnati,
Ohio, and described in Recent Developments in Water Microbiology, 1964.
The coli form group is defined as consisting of aerobic and faculta-
tive anaerobic, gram-negative, non-sporeforming, rod-shaped bacteria
which ferment lactose with gas formation within 48 hours at 35 C.
148
-------
The members of the coliform group are found in the feces of warm-
blooded animals, including man; In the guts of cold-blooded animals,
in soils, and on many plants. The presence of coliform bacteria de-
rived from warm-blooded animal feces in a body of water is interpreted
as indicative of the possibility of the presence of enteric pathogens.
Increased densities of coliform bacteria found in water are related to
the greater possibility of their association with enteric dlsease-
producinq groups found in the gut of ill persons.
The fecal col i form group is that part of the conform group asso-
ciated with fecal oriqin in warm-blooded animals. The purpose of the
test is to separate the members of the coliform group into those of
fecal and non-fecal origin. The test is based on the ability of coli-
form bacteria associated with warm-blooded animals to grow at 44.5°C *
0.5°C and the failure of coliform bact&ria from cold-blooded animals,
plants, and soil to grow at that temperature.
The sanitary significance of the fecal coliform bacteria in a body
of water is described (Public Health Service, l%3) as follows:
"In untreated »,jter5, the presence of fecal col i forms
indicate recent and possibly danqerous pollution. In
the absence of fecal col i form-;, the presence of inter-
mediate or aerogenes organisms suggests less recent
pollution or runoff. Present informrition indicates
that non-fecal subgroups tend to survive longer in
water and resist chlorination more than E. coli."
High total coliform densities, accompanied by high fecal coliform
densities, indicate the presence of human wastes and the possibility
of human enteric pathogens capable of causing enteric infection and/or
di sease.
The fecal streptococcus group is any species of streptococcus
commonly present in significant numbers in the fecal excreta of humans
or other warm-blooded animals, rarely occurring in soil or in vegeta-
tion not contaminated with sewage. The Public Health Service (1963)
states that:
"The presence of fecal streptococci means that the fecal
pollution is present in amounts no qreater than orig-
inally present or in reduced amounts comparable to the
combined effects of natural purification processes, tor
they do not multiply in water to produce overgrowths as
sometimes occurs with the coliform groups."
Recent research studies (Geldreich et.al., 1964) indicate that
when the ratio of fecal coliforms to fecal streptococci exceeds 7:1
the fecal bacteria have originated from domestic sewage, whereas ratios
140
-------
of 1:1 or less are indicative of wastes from Mann-blooded animals
other than man, such as stockyard and dairy animals.
The total bacterial count was determined after Incubation at 35°C •
t 0.5 for 24 hours * 2 hours, and at 20°C ± 0.5 for 48 hours ± 3 hours.
The method was used to determine an approximation of all viable bacter-
ial populations able to produce colonies under the test procedures.
The tests were used to provide information applicable to water quality
evaluation and to give support to the significance of coliform test
results.
Enteric pathogens were detected according to mothods described
by fcdwards and twinq (1962). The resulting data were used to demon-
strate the existence of enteric pathogenic bacteria such as Salmonella
and Shi gel la in streams draining into the Lake Erie basin. The data
were correlated with associated bacteriological data.
The presence of enteric pathogenic bacteria in a body of water
indicates a potential health hazard.
Enterovi rus studies were conducted by Dr. Norman Clark, of the
Kobert A. Taft Sanitary Fnqineering Center. Enteroviruses such as
infectious hepatitis, polio, coxsackle, and echo viruses and adeno-
viruses may be found in large quantities in the feces of infected
individuals, and in sewage. Infections with these agents are wide-
spread in the normal population especially during the summer and
early fall. Presence of these viruses in a body of water is indica-
tive of the presence of fecal matter containing them.
WESTERN BASIN
Bacterial water quality in western Lake Erie in offshore waters
was measured in 308 samples collected in 1063 and 1964 from the fixed
depths of surface, 5, 10, and 20 meters, depth permitting. In order
to achieve a more valid picture of bacterial distribution, it was
necessary to separate the values according to "surface" and "lower-
most" conditions. Samples collected from mid-depth and deep waters
revealed a substantial reduction in bacterial densities from those of
the surface, and this was true in all three lake basins. A consistent
and significant increase in bacterial densities at all depths was
found at the inflow areas of major tributaries.
Median total colifornn densities for surface and lowermost samples
are shown in Figure 53 and Figure 54, respectively. Surface coliform
concentrations are expressed in six ranges: less than I, I to 10, 10
to 100, 100 to 500, 500 to 1,000, and 1,000 to 2,400 organisms per 100
ml of sample. Lowermost coliform values include just the first five
ranges.
150
-------
MICHIGAN
< I ORGANISM /100m'
-10 ORGANISMS /100ml
IO-IOO ORGANISMS/100ml
IOO-5OO ORGANISMS/100ml
500-IPOO ORGANISMS /lOOml
UJOO-2,«OO Om»ANISMS/IOOml
PENNSY L V ANIA
MEDIAN COLIFORM
CONCENTRATION IN
SURFACE SAMPLES OF
LAKE ERIE
1961-64
-------
I 1 c I ORGANISM 1100 ml
PENNSYLVANIA M0 ORGANISMS/WOrnl
10-KX) ORGANISMS
-------
It is evident mat extensive bacterial pollution exists at the
mouth of the Detroit River. Off the mouth, median col i form values
of 1,000 to 2,400 organisms per ml were found in the surface sampler
and 500 to I ,00u per n| in the lowermost samples. Fecal coliforrr.
densities ranged from M to !)4 percent of the total col i forms. Num-
bers of fecal st>-oplfj.rocci were less than either fecal or total co I i -
forms. The ratio of fecal col i form to fecal streptococcus exceeded
2: I at all depths, indicating the presence of human wastes derived
from domestic sewago. Total bacterial counts near the lietroit hiver
mouth exceeded 20,000 nor ml in the maximum valuer, indicating the
presence of a largo amount of organic matter.
From this zone southward to east of Stony Point, Michigan, noth
surface and subsurface samples showed median total col i form concen-
trations between bOo and 1, 000 organisms per 1 00 ml, exceeding tnis
range in maximum values. Fecal streptococci de,is i t i es were tjelow /
organisms per 100 ml. I ho ratio of fecal coiiform to fecal strepto-
coccus averaqed I' :l, indicating the presence of domestic sewage.
Total bacterial densi'ies at .'(1°C am: 34°^ ranged from ^ ,/!)<.• tc
organisms per ml, with slightly higher values at .'•'V.
A zone of median coliform densities of IJJ to L->00 per ml » i t -i
three to six percent fec-3l coiiform, along Tse west snore, *•! , sr>o*-
only in the lowermost similes, with surface samples showing meJi-in
counts of less tM.jr I < i per 100 ml. It appeared tf,jt the K,I i .
was supplying pollutod water. Similar total colitorm densiti' <•>'.
.' : I , indicating r> sinjr^ii from warm-l.. I ooiied in i m,i I s otr.or tsin i-, m .
A ^one of r*vjit)n (• liform densities of hi tc I01 per h> ri in
surface samples radi.ited south, sout^wnst, ard southeast from t'e
;>etrc;it f, IT, 70
30, 40, and bCl motors, depth permitting. fj ampins t.iken ,it mi d-
and "'e I Ow are referred to as "lowermost" sample's.
i v<
Reproduced from
best available copy
-------
Samples collected from surface waters showed higher bacterial
densities than the lowermost samples except for an area around the
mouth of the Chagrin River (see Figures 53 and 54).
The highest median total col I form values in the central basin,
100 to 500 organisms per 100 ml, were shown in deep water samples in
the offshore area near the Chagrin River. Maximum values reached
3,000 organisms per 100 ml. Fecal coliforms ranged from 4 to 14 per-
cent of the total col I form densities. The ratio of fecal coliforms
to fecal streptococci ragged from 6:1 to 15:1, indicating pollution
by domestic sewage.
Median total coliform values of 10 to 100 organisms per 100 ml
were found in surface samples from two offshore areas. One area was
around Cleveland, extending approximately 20 miles north and 30 miles
northeast (Figure 53). Maximum coliform values for +his area exceeded
5,000 organisms per 100 ml. Median total coliform densities in lower-
most samples (Figure 54) ranged from 10 to 100 per ml, but did not
exceed 5,000 per 100 ml. Median fecal coliform densities ranged from
4 to 70 percent of the total, indicating the presence of pollution
from domestic sources. Fecal streptococcus densities exceeded 20 or-
ganisms per 100 ml in the maximum values. The ratio of fecal coliforms
to fecal streptococci was 2:1 or greater at all depths, indicating the
presence of human wastes derived from domestic sewage. Total bacterial
counts in this area at 20° and 35°C at all depths ranged from 91 to
740 per ml in median values and from 570 to 73,000 per ml in maximum
values. The pollution effect of the Cuyahoga River was evident. The
gross pollution from the Cleveland area was apparently kept close to
the United States shore and followed the shoreline east of Cleveland.
The second area of median total coll form densities of 10 to 100
organisms per 100 ml was located along the Canadian shore near Port
Stanley and was shown in surface waters only (Figure 53).
Median total coliform values of I to 10 organisms per 100 ml were
found in a major portion of Central Lake Erie offshore surface and
lowermost waters as shown in Figures 53 and 54, Maximum coliform
densities were below 1,000 organisms per 100 ml. The ratio of fecal
coliform to fecal streptococcus was 1:1 or less. Total bacterial
counts at 20° and 3>°C ranged from 5 to MO per ml in median values
at a 11 deoths.
EASTERN BASIN
Bacterial values were also measured in 255 samples of eastern
basin water. As in the other basins, the lowermost samples showed
lesser densities than surface samples.
An area of median total coliform densities of 10 to 100 organisms
154
-------
per 100 ml in surface samples was located around FYesquc Isle, Penn-
sylvania. Maximum values were 3,400 coliforms per 100 ml, fecal
conforms of 44 percent, and fecal streptococcus of 1,200 organisms
per 100 ml. In general , the col i form population from the Presgue
Isle area was diffused in a fan-like pattern and dissipated in a
distance of approximately five miles from the shore. Hiqh coliform
densities in maximum values accompanied by hiqh fecal coliform values
were indications of domestic sewage pollution.
Another major /one witn median total coliform values in the sur-
face samples of 10 to 100 organisms per 100 ml extended over most of
the eastern half of the basin (Figure 535. The lowermost samples nail
a median range of I to 10 coliform bacteria per 100 ml decreasing to
less than I north of the international boundary (Figure b4). Median
fecal conform and fecal streptococcus values ranged from less than I
to 12 organisms per 100 ml. Total bacterial counts ranged from 60 to
420 at ?0°C and from 10 to bO per ml at 35°L in median values.
LAKE KRIK HARUOKS (SOUTH SI10RK)
Evaluation of the quality of these waters was made in 1464 from
the examination of water samples collected from reprosentative Gdm-
pIing points at surface and mid-depth levels, bacterial pollution
was measured in terms of total coll forms, fecal coliforms, fecal strep-
tococci, and enteric pathogens.
Gross bacterial pollution was demonstrated at the mouths of Ottawa,
Maumee, Portage, Black, Rocky, Cuyahoqa, Chagrin, Grand, Ashtabula,
and Buffalo Rivers.
OTTAWA RIVhR AND MAUMEE RIVER
A median total colitorm value of 90,000 organisms per 100 ml *>ir>
observed in the Ottawa Hivor which empties into Maumee hay. 1 he rnout
of the Maumee River contained ri median of I90,G3;> coliform orgjt. i sm'
per 100 ml. High median fecal coliform (125,000/100 ml) and fecol
streptococcus (1,300/100 ml) densities were accompanied Ly enteric
pathogenic bacteria. Siv species of SaJmoneJ l_a were isolated in tnc
Ottawa and Maumoe Rivers. The peak incidence of SalmonelI a oo^urreo
from January through April 1964.
Bacterial pollution in the Toledo Harbor became well diluted witf if>
2 to 4 miles lakeward of the mouth where median coliform values ranged
from 100 to 1,000 organisms per 100 ml, with 10 to ")C rercent fecal
coli forms.
PORTAGE KIVFR
Results from Portage River, at its mouth, showed a median coliform
155
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level of 17,500 organisms per 100 ml, with 14 percent fecal coliform.
The median fecal streptococci count was 1,100 organisms per 100 ml.
Salmonella organisms were found during the spring survey.
SANOUSKY HARBOR
Sandusky Harbor median total coliform densities ranged from 800
To fc.OOO organisms per 100 ml with correspondingly high fecal coliform
results. The median total coliform value of 6,000 organisms per 100
ml with a fecal col:form to fecal streptococcus ratio of 18:1 was dem-
onstrated rt a sampling point east of the Sandusky sewage treatment
plant. From the tip of Cedar Point lakeward, median total coliform
values were less than 1,000 per 100 ml. In the Sandusky River highest
bacterial densities were found near the Fremont treatment plant and
the presence of SaimonelI a was revealed.
LORAIN HAHBOR-BLACK RIVER
Results from Lorain outer harbor, lakeward of the river mouth
showed a median total coliform range of 100 to 9,000 organisms per
r.,i; ml with 16 to •}} percent fecal coliform. Fecal streptococci
ncaian values ranged from 14 to 540 organisms per 100 ml. Median
+otal bacterial counts at ?0°C and J5°r: ranged from 600 to 150,000
(..•nanisms per ml. The coliform numbers in th« outer hirbor corres-
pond to those in the Black River above the Lorain sewage treatment
p I ant,
Tho median total coliform counts at the mouth of the Rlack River
ramed from r,,'»00 to 78,000, while maximum values exceeded 2,000,000
organisms per 100 ml. Median fecal coliform densities ranged from 2
to r>4 percent of the total, and median fecal streptococci showed
values of 200 to bOO organisms per 100 ml. Salmonella organisms were
found just ahovo the nouth of the river.
The outflow of the Black River was traced, bacteriologically,
into Lake trie approximately one mile to the north and east. Stations
wost of the broakw^ll showed median total coliform values of less than
1,000 orgari'.ms per 100 ml.
iiOLKY ANu UJYAHOCA RIVLHS - LLLVtLAND HARBOR
Median coliform densities greater than 3,000 organisms per 100 ml
wore observed at the mouths of Hocky and Cuyahoga Rivers. Maximum
coliform densities ranged from bbO.OOO to 1,200,000 organisms per 100
ml. Fecal coiiform oopu'a*ion ranged from 8 to 10 percent of the
total coliform, and focal streptococci showed values from 90C to
49,000 organisms per 100 ml. Fourteen SaImonella seretypes were
isolated from the mouth of Cuyahoga River and ten from the mouth of
-tocky River. These findings are attributed to the gross pollution of
156
-------
human wastes entering these streams. The water leaving Rocky and
Cuyahoga Rivera carries oacterial pollution into Lake Erie. Results
obtained from sampling points north and east of the Rockv River,
approximately one-half Hie from the shore, showed median col i form
densities in excess of 1,000 organisms per 100 ml, reaching a level
of H( ,000 in the maximum values. The total coliform results inside
and immediately outride <-f the breakwall in Cleveland Harbor showed
median col i form values from 3,300 to 10,000 organisms per 100 ml with
< t<; 30 percent fecal coliform. The ratio of fecal col i form to fecal
streptococcus ranged from '; : I to 30:1. Maximum total coliform values
showed a level of Vf.OOO organisms per 100 ml north of the broakwall.
T-ie maximum total bacterial counts at :>Q*C and ^9C. inside and outside
of the breakwall ranged from 13,000 to 060,000 organisms por nl.
These results indicate th.jt the water inside and immediately outside
of the r.roai-w.tll is polluted to the extent that it cannot safel/ be
used for municipal water source, recreational, or for other uses in-
volving body contact. A marked decrease in total coliform and an
increase in percentaqe of fecal coliform organisms in the tnrbor was
noted during the study.
The gross bacterial pollution from these two tr i hutari os is lo'-t
within a distance of 2 ^o 5 miles into the lake (Figure '-1?). The
pollution tends to flow northeast and east of the harbor, becoming
r.if fused and diluted -is it moves into the lake. It is apparently
for, <;d close to the United States shore and follows the shoreline east
of ^ I "ve I and.
CHAGRI', KlVLR
iP coliform density in the Chagrin i^iver at its mouth showed
a level of / , 300 organisms per 100 ml, reaching a maximum of 40,000,
with /3 to ^0 percent fecal coliform. The ratio of fecal strepto-
coccus ranged from 7:1 to 3:1. Three species of Salmonel la were
isolated from river samples indicating pollution from human wastes.
GRAND RIVIF< - FAIRPORT HARBOR
The hignest bacterial densities in the Orand River were observed
2.3 miles above the mouth. The median total coliform value was I'l.OOO
organisms per 100 ml with 40 percent fecal coliform. The maximum coli-
form was 340,000 organisms per 100 ml. The median ratio of fecal coli-
form to fecal streptococcus was 8:1. Two species of Salmonel la werp
found at this sampling point and represented the presence of pollution
from domestic focal sources. Median coliform densities of 1,400 or-
ganisms per 100 ml with 7 percent fecal coliform were observed just
above the river mouth. The maximum total col 'form densities reached
a level of 8,000 organisms per 100 ml. The median ratio of fecai coli-
form to fecal streptococcus was 1:1.
157
-------
NOTTlMGMAH INT»«£
••(0 OH ••« D*T4-MOI*II
CO«I»THTIO»«
D OK*AIIIIU> UK IOO«I.
CLEVELAND SHORELINE
TOTAL COLIFORM CONTOUR MAP
-------
In the Fairport Harbor, inside the breakwalls and tieyond the
river mouth, median total colitonr densities ranqed from 15 to 540
organisms per 100 ml with 4 to 67 percent fecal coliform. The median
fecal streptococci count exceeded the fecal coliform count at one
station. A count of 3,?00 organisms per 100 ml was observed during
the study. These findings indicate pollution from sources other than
man. A maximum total coliform density encountered was 54,000 organ-
isms per 100 ml. Median total bacterial counts at 20°C and 35°C
ranqed from ?80 to h,700 organisms per ml, reaching the highest level
of 710,000 organisms per ml.
ASHTABULA RIVtR
Median values of total coliform levels in the Ashtabula River
at its mouth, and in the Ashtabula Harbor, inside tho breakwall. ex-
ceeded 1,000 organisms per 100 ml. A range of 17,000 to 64,000 co I i -
form organisms per 100 ml was demonstrated in the maximum values.
Median fecal coliform densities ranged from II to /8 percent of tne
total coliform IT the mouth of the Ashtabula River and from t, to 40
percent in the Ashtabula Harbor inside the breakwall. The ratio of
fecal coliform to focal streptococcus was as high as l/h:l in the
harbor. Salmonella he I del berg^ was isolated at a sampling point d.l
miles upstream". Th~e"waters" in Ashtabula River, at its mouth, and in
the Ashtabula Harbor, inside of the breakwall, were found to be in
a continual state of gross pollution in terms of microbiological
parameters. Bacterial quality of these waters were unacceptable for
recreational purposes and at times for municipal or other uses. Water
west of the breakwall was of good bacterial quality. Waters north and
northeast of tho breakwall showed total coliform densities of 7,700
to 3,300 organisms per 100 ml in the maximum values.
ERIE HARBOR - PRESQUE ISLE
Study of tne microbiological result' of samplinq in the t'resnue
Isle area reveals low coliform densities on the west side of the
peninsula near tho snore. The results from sampling stations located
north and northeast of the islw indicate a substantial increase in
coliforn densities in the maximum values. A correspond i nn incrt;a:-o
in col i ton values was observed in Erie Harbor. Median total colitcrr,
values of ?,IOO to 17,000 organisms per lOU ml were demonstrated ;••
samples collected from Erie Harbor stations located near Mill Lree^
and in the ship channel. Maximum total coliform in this area reached
a value of 520,000 organisms per 100 ml. Median fecal coliform dei-
sities in waters north and east of Presgue Isle ranged from 3 to I?
percent of the total coliform densities and fecal streptococc' counts
averaged from I to 10 orqanisms per 100 ml. The ratio of fecal coli-
form to fecal streptococci ranged from 2:1 to 5:1 in the median values.
The source of this pollution is probably Mill Creek. Salmonclla or-
qanisms were isolated from HO percent of the samples collected in both
Mill Creek and the harbor. The same organisms were fo'jr.j in Erie's
159
-------
sewage. Generally, the water quality at the stations west of Presque
Isle was of satisfactory quality for swimming purposes. The water
quality north and east of Presque Isle varied considerably. The max-
imum total coliform values of 2,800 to 15,000 orqan.sms per 100 ml
indicated the pollution entered the lake intermittently, constituting
a health hazard in the immediate vicinity along the eastern shore.
BUFFALO MV1R
The Buffalo River showed a median total coliform concentration
of 2-5,000 organisms per 100 n, I near its mouth with 14 percer. fecal
coliform. Salmonella was isolated from this area. The Buffalo R.ver
is grossly polluted bacterially.
160
-------
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