How are the Great Lakes Doing? Jackie Adams, U.S. Environmental - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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How are the Great Lakes Doing? Jackie Adams, U.S. Environmental - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Jul 31, 2023 39 likes •951 views

How are the Great Lakes Doing? Jackie Adams, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Nancy Stadler-Salt, Environment and Climate Change Canada Photo credit: Don Breneman Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement Indicator Commitment ..

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How are the Great Lakes Doing?

Jackie Adams, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Nancy Stadler-Salt, Environment and Climate Change Canada Photo credit: Don Breneman

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Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement

Indicator Commitment

“…..comprehensive, science-based

ecosystem indicators to assess the state of the Great Lakes to anticipate emerging threats and to measure progress”

Photo credit: NASA

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An Indicator

  • r i

is a S Signal

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Indicators Assess Status and Trends

STATUS: Good Fair Poor Undetermined TREND: Improving Unchanging Deteriorating Undetermined

Photo credit: Stacey Cherwaty-Pergentile

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A Robust Assessment Process

Parties Confirm Indicator Suite (Jan 2015) Identify Indicator Experts & Prepare Draft Reports (Jan-Dec 2015) Technical Review Webinars (Feb/Mar 2016) Develop Overall Assessments (mid-2016) Public Forum (Oct 2016)

State of the Great Lakes 2017 Reports

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Ministère de l’Environnement et du Changement climatique

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What Indicators Are We Using?

Watershed Impacts and Climate Trends Invasive Species Habitat and Species

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Nutrients and Algae Toxic Chemicals Groundwater

What Indicators Are We Using?

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Drinking Water Beaches Contaminants in Edible Fish

What Indicators Are We Using?

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General Objectives and Indicators

GLWQA General Objectives

Great Lakes Indicators Be free from other substances, materials or conditions that may negatively impact the chemical, physical or biological integrity … Watershed Impacts and Climate Trends Support healthy and productive wetlands and other habitats to sustain resilient populations of native species. Habitats and Species Be free from the introduction and spread of aquatic … and terrestrial invasive species … Invasive Species Be free from nutrients … in amounts that promote growth of algae … Nutrients and Algae Be free from the harmful impact of contaminated groundwater. Groundwater Be free from pollutants … that could be harmful to human health … Toxic Chemicals Allow for human consumption of fish and wildlife. Fish Consumption Be a source of safe, high-quality drinking water. Drinking Water Allow for swimming and other recreational use. Beaches

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The Waters of the Great Lakes should be free from other substances, materials or conditions that may negatively impact the chemical, physical and biological integrity of the Waters of the Great Lakes

Photo credit: Stacey Cherwaty-Pergentile

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Indicator: Watershed Impacts and Climate Trends Climate Trends Sub-Indicators: Precipitation Events Surface Water Temperature Ice Cover Water Levels Baseflow Due to Groundwater

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Watershed Impacts and Climate Trends

The Great Lakes are responding to a changing climate

Photo credit: Public Works and Government Services Canada ,Richard Vroom, 1976

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Precipitation Amounts Are Increasing

Percent

Year

More Precipitation

Less Precipitation

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Surface Water Temperatures Are Increasing

Photo credit: NOAA

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Surface Water Temperatures Are Increasing

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Ice Cover Is Decreasing

Year

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Water Levels Are Decreasing Over The Past 30 Years

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Climate Trends

SUB-INDICATORS LAKE SUPERIOR LAKE MICHIGAN LAKE HURON LAKE ERIE LAKE ONTARIO

Precipitation Events (1948-2015)

No lake was assessed separately Overall Great Lakes basin trend is

Surface Water Temperature (1979/1980-2014)

Undetermined Undetermined

Ice Cover (1973-2015) Water Levels (1985-2015)

No significant change

Baseflow Due to Groundwater

Overall the Great Lakes basin trend is Undetermined

= increasing trend = decreasing trend

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The Waters of the Great Lakes should be free from other substances, materials or conditions that may negatively impact the chemical, physical and biological integrity of the Waters of the Great Lakes

Photo credit: Stacey Cherwaty-Pergentile

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Indicator: Watershed Impacts and Climate Trends Watershed Impacts Sub-Indicators: Forest Cover Land Cover Hardened Shorelines Watershed Stressor Index Tributary Flashiness Human Population

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Forest Cover Helps To Improve Water Quality

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Land Cover Impacts Water Quality

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Land Cover Impacts Water Quality

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Hardened Shorelines Impact The Ecosystem

Photo credit: Stacey Cherwaty-Pergentile

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Watershed Stressors Help To Identify Areas Under Stress

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Watershed Impacts

Status:

GOOD POOR FAIR

SUB-INDICATORS LAKE SUPERIOR LAKE MICHIGAN LAKE HURON LAKE ERIE LAKE ONTARIO

Forest Cover

Unchanging Unchanging Unchanging Improving Deteriorating

Land Cover

Unchanging Unchanging Unchanging Unchanging Unchanging

Hardened Shorelines

Undetermined Undetermined Undetermined Undetermined Deteriorating

Watershed Stressors

Unchanging Unchanging Unchanging Unchanging Unchanging

Tributary Flashiness

No lake was assessed separately Overall Great Lakes basin trend is Unchanging

Human Population

Decreasing Increasing Increasing Increasing Increasing

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The Waters of the Great Lakes should support healthy and productive wetlands and other habitats to sustain resilient populations of native species

Habitat and Species

Photo credit: Environment and Climate Change Canada

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Indicator: Habitat and Species

Habitat and Species Sub-Indicators:

Phytoplankton Diporeia Lake Trout Coastal Wetland Fish Coastal Wetland Plants Coastal Wetland Birds Coastal Wetland Invertebrates Coastal Wetland Amphibians Coastal Wetlands: Extent and Composition Aquatic Habitat Connectivity Benthos Zooplankton Prey Fish Walleye Lake Sturgeon Fish Eating and Colonial Nesting Waterbirds

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Habitat & Species

Status: FAIR Trend: UNCHANGING

Photo credit: Pixabay

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Understanding the Aquatic Food Web

Credit: Modified from Carlson et al. ES&T 2010

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Phytoplankton Communities Are Changing

Photo credit: NOAA

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Diporeia Are Disappearing

2000 2003 2007 2012 Dreissenid Mussel Populations 2000 2003 2007 2012 Diporeia Populations

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Lake Trout Populations Are Improving

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Coastal Wetlands Are So Important

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Coastal Wetlands Are So Important

Source: Wikipedia , Davepape

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Aquatic Habitat Connectivity Is Important For Fish

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Habitat and Species

SUB-INDICATORS LAKE SUPERIOR LAKE MICHIGAN LAKE HURON LAKE ERIE LAKE ONTARIO

Coastal Wetland Fish

No lake was assessed separately Overall Great Lakes basin assessment is Fair and Improving

Coastal Wetlands: Extent an Composition

No lake was assessed separately Overall Great Lakes basin assessment is Undetermined

Coastal Wetland Invertebrates

No lake was assessed separately Overall Great Lakes basin assessment is Fair and Deteriorating

Coastal Wetland Amphibians

Unchanging Unchanging Unchanging Unchanging Unchanging

Coastal Wetland Birds

Unchanging Unchanging Unchanging Deteriorating Improving

Coastal Wetland Plants

Undetermined Undetermined Deteriorating Deteriorating Unchanging

Aquatic Habitat Connectivity

Improving Improving Improving Improving Improving

Status:

GOOD POOR FAIR

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SUB-INDICATORS LAKE SUPERIOR LAKE MICHIGAN LAKE HURON LAKE ERIE LAKE ONTARIO

Zooplankton

Unchanging Unchanging Unchanging Unchanging Unchanging

Benthos

Unchanging Unchanging Unchanging Deteriorating Unchanging

Diporeia

Unchanging Deteriorating Deteriorating Deteriorating Deteriorating

Lake Trout

Unchanging Improving Improving Improving Improving

Phytoplankton

Unchanging Deteriorating Deteriorating Deteriorating Unchanging

Preyfish

Unchanging Deteriorating Undetermined Improving Deteriorating

Walleye

Unchanging Unchanging Unchanging Improving Unchanging

Lake Sturgeon

Improving Improving Improving Improving Improving

Fish Eating and Colonial Nesting Birds

Unchanging Unchanging Unchanging Unchanging Unchanging

Habitat and Species

Status:

GOOD POOR FAIR

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The Waters of the Great Lakes should be free from the introduction and spread of aquatic invasive species and free from the introduction and spread of terrestrial invasive species that adversely impact the quality of the Water of the Great Lakes

Invasive Species

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Indicator: Invasive Species

Invasive Species Sub-Indicators: Aquatic Invasive Species Sea Lamprey Dreissenid Mussels Terrestrial Invasive Species

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Invasive Species

Status: POOR Trend: DETERIORATING

Photo credit: Pixabay

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20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200 1839 1864 1889 1914 1939 1964 1989 2014

Live Wells & Recreational Boating

Bait Release Escaped Culture Hitchhiker with OIT Aquarium Canals Planted/Stocked Unknown Shipping

Aquatic Invasive Species - No New Invaders Since 2006

Number of Invasives Year

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Sea Lamprey Controls Are Essential

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Dreissenid Mussels Have Caused Devastation

Mean density from deep sites

Lake Michigan Lake Huron Lake Ontario

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Terrestrial Invasive Species Can Impact Water Quality

Photo credit: Michigan Sea Grant

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[Insert Photo]

Emerald Ash Borer Is Wreaking Havoc

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Asian Carp Are Threatening the Great Lakes

MI Sea Grant

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Invasive Species

SUB-INDICATORS LAKE SUPERIOR LAKE MICHIGAN LAKE HURON LAKE ERIE LAKE ONTARIO

Aquatic Invasive Species

Deteriorating Deteriorating Deteriorating Deteriorating Deteriorating

Sea Lamprey

Improving Improving Improving Improving Unchanging

Dreissenid Mussels

Unchanging Deteriorating Deteriorating Improving Deteriorating

Terrestrial Invasive Species

Deteriorating Deteriorating Deteriorating Deteriorating Deteriorating

Status:

GOOD POOR FAIR

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The Waters of the Great Lakes should be free from nutrients that directly or indirectly enter the water as a result of human activity, in amounts that promote growth of algae and cyanobacteria that interfere with aquatic ecosystem health, or human use of the ecosystem.

Photo credit: Stacey Cherwaty-Pergentile

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Indicator: Nutrients and Algae

Nutrients and Algae Sub-Indicators: Nutrients in Lakes Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) Cladophora Water Quality in Tributaries

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Photo credit: NOAA

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Nutrients in Lakes Are Imbalanced

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Harmful Algal Blooms Can Be Toxic

Photo credit: NOAA

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Cladophora Is A Nuisance

Photo credit: USGS

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Nutrients and Algae

SUB-INDICATORS LAKE SUPERIOR LAKE MICHIGAN LAKE HURON LAKE ERIE LAKE ONTARIO

Nutrients in Lakes

Unchanging Deteriorating Deteriorating Deteriorating Deteriorating

Harmful Algal Blooms

Undetermined Undetermined Undetermined Deteriorating Deteriorating

Cladophora

Unchanging Undetermined Undetermined Undetermined Undetermined

Water Quality in Tributaries

Unchanging Undetermined Unchanging Unchanging Unchanging

Status:

GOOD POOR FAIR

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The Waters of the Great Lakes should be free from the harmful impact of contaminated groundwater.

Photo credit: Norm Grannemann, USGS

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Indicator: Groundwater

Groundwater Sub-Indicator: Groundwater Quality

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Groundwater Quality Is Important to the Great Lakes

Credit: OMOECC

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Groundwater

Status:

GOOD POOR FAIR

SUB-INDICATOR LAKE SUPERIOR LAKE MICHIGAN LAKE HURON LAKE ERIE LAKE ONTARIO

Groundwater Quality

Undetermined Undetermined Undetermined Undetermined Undetermined

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The Waters of the Great Lakes should be free from pollutants in quantities or concentrations that could be harmful to human health, wildlife, or aquatic organisms, through direct exposure or indirect exposure through the food chain

Toxic Chemicals

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Indicator: Toxic Chemicals

Toxic Chemicals Sub-Indicators: Atmospheric Deposition of Toxic Chemicals Toxic Chemicals in Great Lakes Herring Gull Eggs Toxic Chemical Concentrations Toxic Chemicals in Great Lakes Whole Fish Toxic Chemicals in Sediments

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Toxic Chemicals Status: FAIR Trend: UNCHANGING– IMPROVING

Photo credit: OMAFRA

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Chem emic ical P Pathways i in the Gr e Grea eat L Lakes es

Atmosphere Water Bird Eggs Sediments Fish

Credit: Modified from Carlson et al. ES&T 2010

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PCBs in Fish and Bird Eggs Have Dramatically Decreased

80%

Whole Fish

65%

Herring Gull Eggs

Chantry Island (Lake Huron) Middle Island (Lake Erie)

Concentration (ug/g wet)

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PCBs In Air and Sediment Have Decreased

30-40%

Atmosphere Sediment

60-70%

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PBDEs Are Everywhere In The Environment

Whole Fish Herring Gull Eggs

Toronto Harbour

Environment and Climate Change Canada

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PBDEs Are Everywhere In The Environment

Total PBDEs at Cleveland, OH Year 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Total PBDE conc. (pg/m3)

10 100 1000 10000

Atmosphere Water Sediment

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Toxic Chemicals

SUB-INDICATORS LAKE SUPERIOR LAKE MICHIIGAN LAKE HURON LAKE ERIE LAKE ONTARIO

Toxic Chemicals in Great Lakes Whole Fish (Trout/Walleye)

Unchanging Improving Unchanging Unchanging Improving

Toxic Chemicals in Great Lakes Herring Gull Eggs

Improving Improving Improving Unchanging Unchanging

Toxic Chemical Concentrations

Improving Unchanging Unchanging Unchanging Unchanging

Atmospheric Deposition of Toxic Chemicals

No lake was assessed separately. Great Lakes basin assessment is Fair and Improving

Toxic Chemicals in Sediments

Unchanging Unchanging Unchanging Improving Improving

Status:

GOOD POOR FAIR

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Can We Eat the Fish?

The Waters of the Great Lakes should allow for human consumption of fish and wildlife unrestricted by concerns due to harmful pollutants

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Indicator: Fish Consumption

Fish Consumption Sub-Indicator: Contaminants in Edible Fish

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PCBs in Edible Fish Have Declined But Are Still Above Guidelines

PCB concentration (ng/g) Year

Lake Trout Ontario Michigan Huron Superior Erie

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Fish Consumption

Status:

GOOD POOR FAIR

SUB-INDICATOR LAKE SUPERIOR LAKE MICHIGAN LAKE HURON LAKE ERIE LAKE ONTARIO

Contaminants in Edible Fish

Unchanging Improving Unchanging Deteriorating Improving

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Can We Drink the Water?

The Waters of the Great Lakes should be a source of high-quality drinking water

Photo credit: OMAFRA

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Drinking Water Sub-indicator: Treated Drinking Water

Indicator: Drinking Water

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26.5 million people 95% 4,100 water supply systems 6%

Treated Drinking Water in the US Great Lakes States is Good

Photo credit: Ohio EPA

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Treated Drinking Water in Ontario is Good

Microbial: 99.85% or better Chemical: 99.67% or better Radiological: 100% Overall: between 99.8 - 99.9%

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Drinking Water

SUB-INDICATORS LAKE SUPERIOR LAKE MICHIGAN LAKE HURON LAKE ERIE LAKE ONTARIO

Treated Drinking Water

No lake was assessed separately. Great Lakes basin assessment is Good and Unchanging

Status:

GOOD POOR FAIR

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Can We Swim at the Beach?

The Waters of the Great Lakes should allow for swimming and other recreational use, unrestricted by environmental quality concerns

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Beaches Sub-indicator: Beach Advisories

Indicator: Beaches

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Beaches Status: FAIR-GOOD Trend: UNCHANGING

Photo credit: Stacey Cherwaty-Pergentile

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Canadian Lake Erie Beaches US Lake Huron Beaches

Beach Advisories Reduce the Risk of Exposure

100% 80-100% 50-80% <50%

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Beaches

SUB-INDICATOR LAKE SUPERIOR LAKE MICHIGAN LAKE HURON LAKE ERIE LAKE ONTARIO

Beach Advisories

Unchanging Unchanging Unchanging Deteriorating Unchanging

Status:

GOOD POOR FAIR

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Overall Assessments

Great Lakes Indicators/ GLWQA General Objectives

Status and Trend Watershed Impacts and Climate Trends

Watershed Impacts: Status: Fair; Trend: Unchanging Climate Trends: Not Assessed

Habitats and Species

Status: Fair; Trend: Unchanging

Invasive Species

Status: Poor; Trend: Deteriorating

Nutrients and Algae

Status: Fair; Trend: Unchanging-Deteriorating

Groundwater

Status: Fair; Trend: Undetermined

Toxic Chemicals

Status: Fair; Trend: Unchanging-Improving

Fish Consumption

Status: Fair; Trend: Unchanging-Improving

Drinking Water

Status: Good; Trend: Unchanging

Beaches

Status: Fair-Good; Trend: Unchanging

Status:

GOOD POOR FAIR

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SLIDE 89

Photo credit: Stacey Cherwaty-Pergentile

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Lake-by-Lake Overall Assessments

Status:

GOOD POOR FAIR

Trend:

UNCHANGING DETERIORATING

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Our Great Lakes:

  • Economy. Environment. Home.

Photo credit: Environment and Climate Change Canada