State of the Great Lakes
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Environment Canada released the 2007 State of the Great Lakes Highlights Report. Overall, the chemical, physical and biological integrity of the Great Lakes ecosystem is mixed, with some conditions improving while others are getting worse. Every two years the Great Lakes community reports on the condition of the Great Lakes ecosystem at the State of the Lakes Ecosystem Conference.
Some positive news for the lakes include:
Over the past 30 years there has been a marked reduction in the levels of toxic chemicals in the air, water, flora, fauna and sediment. The Great Lakes continue to be a good source for treated drinking water.
During 2005, 74 percent of monitored beaches in the U.S. and Canada were open more than 95 per cent of the swimming season. The finding that wildlife waste can be more of a contributing factor in bacterial contamination than previously thought may help in beach closings.
Air quality is improving, although there still are regional areas that continue to have ozone and smog problems. Significant natural reproduction of lake trout is occurring in lakes Huron and Superior.
And now the bad news:
New chemicals of concern, like polybrominated diphenyl ethers (flame retardants) and various pharmaceutical and personal care products are being detected more frequently. Decline in contaminant concentrations has not eliminated the need for sport fish consumption advisories. Non-native species (zebra mussels, spiny water fleas) continue to invade the Great Lakes and impair the food web.
Declines in the duration and extent of ice cover on the Great Lakes and declines in lake levels due to evaporation during the winter are expected to occur in future years. Continuing wetlands loss and degradation results in loss of habitat for birds, amphibians, fish and wildlife. Aquatic habitats on the coasts continue to deteriorate due to development, shoreline hardening and non-native species.
June 8, 2007 6:38 AM | Category: Great Lakes