Current Ecological Issues of the Great Lakes

Jim Diana, DirectorMichigan Sea Grant College Program

Current Ecological Issues of the Great Lakes

Jim Diana, DirectorMichigan Sea Grant College Program

The Great LakesThe Great Lakes

20% of world’s surface freshwater

5 of 9 largest lakes in world

Historic role in transportation and settlement

Large human population depending on the region

Multiple uses throughout history

20% of world’s surface freshwater

5 of 9 largest lakes in world

Historic role in transportation and settlement

Large human population depending on the region

Multiple uses throughout history

Take Home MessageTake Home Message Humans have had a love – hate relationship with

the Great Lakes The lakes have served for economic, societal,

and ecological value since humans first set foot in this region

The lakes have suffered massive damage due to human misuse, both intentional and unintentional

The lakes have also rebounded dramatically due to human intervention and luck

Challenges remain for the future

Humans have had a love – hate relationship with the Great Lakes

The lakes have served for economic, societal, and ecological value since humans first set foot in this region

The lakes have suffered massive damage due to human misuse, both intentional and unintentional

The lakes have also rebounded dramatically due to human intervention and luck

Challenges remain for the future

Early HistoryEarly History An important resource for aboriginal

communities – food, water, and transportation

An important resource for aboriginal communities – food, water, and transportation

Early HistoryEarly History

An important transportation route for development and discovery of middle America

An important transportation route for development and discovery of middle America

Early European HistoryEarly European History An important industrial resource for timber,

waste disposal, shipping, and food An important industrial resource for timber,

waste disposal, shipping, and food

An Important PointAn Important Point

By the early 1800s, the lakes were already dramatically altered (the Cholera epidemic)

By the early 1800s, the lakes were already dramatically altered (the Cholera epidemic)

Year Deaths Rate Per 100,000

1849 678 2,897

1850 420 1,402

1851 216 635

1852 630 1,626

1854 1,424 2,162

1855 147 184

1866 990 494

Clearing WetlandsClearing Wetlands

Clearing WetlandsClearing Wetlands

Ship CanalsShip Canals

DamsDams

Miles from River Mouth0 10 20 30 40 50

Ele

vati

on

(fe

et)

450

500

550

600

650

700

NowThenMap courtesy of Troy Zorn, Michigan Dept. of Natural Resources

LoggingLogging

•Very common in 1900s•Easy to catch•Degraded habitat from logging•Extinct in Michigan by 1930.

Fishing Lake SturgeonFishing Lake Sturgeon

Year

1880 1890 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950

Lan

din

gs

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

Commercial FishingCommercial Fishing

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

1860 1880 1900 1920 1940 1960 1980

Yie

ld (

Mill

ion

Po

un

ds)

Whitefish in Lake Michigan

High value Low value

Commercial FishingCommercial Fishing

PollutionPollution

Cholera epidemic of Chicago, 1854 Sawdust, tannery effluent by 1900 Eutrophication from sewage discharge in the early

1900s PCB and DDT contamination from manufacture by

1960 Serious water contamination from industry, sawdust to

petroleum products and animal wastes

Airborne contaminants and contaminated sediments

Cholera epidemic of Chicago, 1854 Sawdust, tannery effluent by 1900 Eutrophication from sewage discharge in the early

1900s PCB and DDT contamination from manufacture by

1960 Serious water contamination from industry, sawdust to

petroleum products and animal wastes

Airborne contaminants and contaminated sediments

Time Magazine (1965) – “Lake Erie is dead”

PollutionPollution

The Common Carp

Deliberate introductionsCarp, Pacific salmon

Deliberate introductionsCarp, Pacific salmon

InvasionsInvasions

InvasionsInvasions Unintentional introductions

Pink salmon, smelt

Unintentional introductionsPink salmon, smelt

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

1930 1935 1940 1945 1950 1955 1960 1965

Lake

Tro

ut

Abu

nd

ance

Sea

Lam

pre

y A

bun

dan

ce

Lamprey

Lake Trout

Immigration through ship canalsSea lamprey

Immigration through ship canalsSea lamprey

InvasionsInvasions

InvasionsInvasions

Immigration through ship canalsAlewife

Immigration through ship canalsAlewife

Ballast waterZebra mussel

Ballast waterZebra mussel

InvasionsInvasions

Ballast waterQuagga mussel, water flea, goby

Ballast waterQuagga mussel, water flea, goby

Round Goby Ruffe

BythotrephesQuagga Mussel

InvasionsInvasions

Salmon FishingSalmon Fishing

Introduced 1969 to control alewife

Now multibillion dollar industry

Introduced 1969 to control alewife

Now multibillion dollar industry

No predators

Overfishing

Lamprey

MassiveAlewifeDie-off

Lake Erie is dead

CuyahogaRiver burns

DDTBanned

LampreyControl

CleanWater

Act

Salmon stocked

DDT use banned

1966 1969 1972 1976

SalmonControl

Alewives

Lake troutReturn

PCB production

banned

1984

Alewives Decline

drastically

SportFishery

at $1Billion

RehabilitationRehabilitation

The Future? – Lake HuronThe Future? – Lake HuronThe Future? – Lake HuronThe Future? – Lake Huron

In my view, this is the current ecological change that is most important to our future

Mussel invasion and increased water clarity Reduced plankton and changes in food web Loss of stocked salmonids Rebound of native species Change in economic conditions

In my view, this is the current ecological change that is most important to our future

Mussel invasion and increased water clarity Reduced plankton and changes in food web Loss of stocked salmonids Rebound of native species Change in economic conditions

Mussels and clarityMussels and clarity Dreissenids consume energy and

nutrients that supported fishRound gobies have proliferated lakewide, can

feed heavily on Dreissena

Dreissenids consume energy and nutrients that supported fish

Round gobies have proliferated lakewide, can feed heavily on Dreissena

Loss of PlanktonLoss of Plankton

Loss of DiporeiaLoss of Diporeia

Change in Forage FishesChange in Forage Fishes

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

Bio

mas

s (k

iloto

nn

es)

round gobytroutperchsticklebacksculpinbloaterrainbow smeltalewife

Loss of Chinook SalmonLoss of Chinook Salmon

Rebound of NativesRebound of Natives

Rebound of NativesRebound of Natives Similar trends in other native fishes Similar trends in other native fishes

Smallmouth bassDo we change from a fishery supported by stocking to a much lower production of natural fish?

Economic effectsEconomic effects

Estimated $19 million loss in 10 coastal communities

Another Problem: Asian CarpAnother Problem: Asian Carp

Imported by fish farms Escaped into the Mississippi Now very close to Lake

Michigan DNA in water of Calumet

Harbor

Imported by fish farms Escaped into the Mississippi Now very close to Lake

Michigan DNA in water of Calumet

Harbor

Other Comparable Changes

Other Comparable Changes

Botulism spread through the system

Increased growth of nuisance algae and harmful algal blooms

Dead zones in deep water of Lake Erie

Botulism spread through the system

Increased growth of nuisance algae and harmful algal blooms

Dead zones in deep water of Lake Erie

SummarySummary

Dramatic deterioration and cleanup Has required continual reaction and money input Has resulted in significant improvement and environmental

law Needs continual intervention

Dramatic deterioration and cleanup Has required continual reaction and money input Has resulted in significant improvement and environmental

law Needs continual intervention

Contacts & QuestionsContacts & Questions

Jim Diana: jimd@umich.eduPhone: (734) 763-5834

Web: www.miseagrant.umich.edu

Jim Diana: jimd@umich.eduPhone: (734) 763-5834

Web: www.miseagrant.umich.edu