Transcript The Great Lakes

Sixth Graders have
Fun With the
GRRR-GREAT LAKES
What’s so GREAT about the
Lakes?
• The Great Lakes--Superior, Michigan,
Huron, Erie and Ontario--and their
connecting channels form the largest
fresh surface water system on Earth.
If you stood on the MOON..
you could see
the lakes and
recognize the
familiar wolf
head shape of
Lake Superior,
or the mitten
bounded by
lakes Michigan,
Huron and Erie
These Freshwater Seas hold an
estimated 6 quadrillion gallons of
water…
Great Lakes Water
20%
Other Sources
80%
About onefifth
of the world's
fresh surface
water
supply
And 9/10 –that’s right—nine
tenths of the U.S. Supply
Other Sources
Great Lakes
If they were spread
across the continental
United States,
The Lakes' water would
be about
9.5 feet deep.
Freshwater is our most precious
natural resource
BUT the gift of the Great Lakes is
even greater.
The Great Lakes Basin area
is home to over
37 million people
and a rich and unique diversity of plants
and animals.
The Great Lakes’ natural
bounty have played a defining
role in the region’s history.
And support the economic
activities of the region
agriculture,
industrial manufacturing,
steel production,
shipping,
commercial and sport fisheries,
recreation and tourism.
“Healthy” Great Lakes?
Pollution, habitat destruction,
invasive species along with other
environmental problems
have led to a significant decline of
many important Great Lakes species
…including the
lake sturgeon,
black tern,
American coot,
lake trout,
and river otter.
The United States Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) has
identified five categories of
concern in the Great Lakes basin.
1. Climate Change
Climate in the Great Lakes region is
changing. Some of the changing
precipitation and temperature
patterns are:
a) Shorter winters
b) Warmer annual average
temperatures – some very hot days
c) Heavy rains / heavy snow events
Climate Change
d) Air and water temperatures are
increasing
e) Lake ice cover is decreasing
Lake Superior Ice Cover
March 2009
Projected Changes in Climate for the Great Lakes Basin
Airshed Effects:
√ Increase in air temperatures
√ Increase in precipitable water
in warmer atmosphere
• Change in frequency and
intensity of storms
Nearshore Effects:
Watershed Effects:
√ Increase in water
√ Warmer air temperatures
temperature
√ More precipitation (decreases in
• Increase in
key seasons)
evaporation Inlake Effects:
√ Less winter precipitation as
√ Increase in water
snowfall and more rain
temperature
√ Less snowpack
• Higher evaporative losses
√ More intense precipitation
from lakes
events
√ Less ice cover (shorter
• Increase in evapo-transpiration
duration)
√ Checkmarks indicate observed effects.
Projected Changes in Climate for the Great Lakes Basin
Diagram and information credit: Linda
Mortsch, Environment Canada.
State of the Great Lakes 2009 Highlights
EPA -- Canada
Pollution and Contaminants
Contaminants: Toxic chemicals
that are released into the
water and contaminate the
water, sediment, shorelines and
groundwater.
Pollution and Contaminants
I. The Good News
A. Releases of some toxic chemicals
have declined since the 1970’s.
B. Contaminants in the eggs of food
web predators, such as herring gulls
which eat fish, have declined 90%
since 1974.
C. Even though this is happening
throughout the Great Lakes Basin,
there are still “hot spots” to be
concerned about.
Pollution and Contaminants
II. The Not – So -Good News
A. Newer contaminants are now being
found in the Great Lakes
1. “Flame retardant” chemicals
2. “Water Repellant” chemicals
3. Pharmaceuticals such as
medications, needles, etc.
4. Personal care items
III. Working towards cleaner waters
A. Goals of the United States and
Canadian EPA’s:
1. Eliminate excess algae growth by
controlling phosphorus dumping
2. Remove exisiting sources of
PCB’s in the Great Lakes basin.
3. Continue to monitor and control
the dumping of the new contaminants
into the Great Lakes.
Coastal Zones and Aquatic
Habitats
I. Coastal areas and aquatic habitats
include:
(write down 3 of the following 5)
A. Wetlands
B. Alvars – open habitats
on flat
limestone bedrock
Coastal Zones and Aquatic
Habitats
C. Cobble Beaches
D. Sand Dunes
E. Islands
F. These areas are being negatively
impacted by several factors.
II. Changing Lake Levels
A. Water levels can change naturally
through drought / warmer than
normal
B. . Water levels are regulated in some
Great Lakes
C. This results in shorelines that have
less water / less protection for plants
and aquatic animals
III. Shoreline Development
A. In order to control erosion in coastal
areas that are being developed,
shoreline hardening takes place.
This includes (2)
1. Concrete seawalls
2. Bulkheads
3. Breakwaters
B. These Man Made structures can
cause (write 2)
1. The number and quality of
Cobble beaches decreasing
2. .Sand dunes being damaged
3. Habitats being destroyed.
4. Shoreline is being developed for
homes, condos and resorts
Invasive Species
I. Invasive Species are NOT NATIVE
to the Great Lakes
A. Number of I.S. continues to
increase
B. Currently there are 185 aquatic
species and 157 land species
C. Linked to lower populations of native
species
II.
Invasive
Species
Origin
A. Ships used for global trade and
travel
B. Canals from waterways to the Lakes
C. Aquarium and Fish Bait Industries
providing Invasive Species for personal
use
Invasive Species
III. Problems Caused by Invasive
Species
A. DNR Video
B. Asian Carp Video 1
C. Asian Carp Video 2
It’s not too late to remove the Lakes
from the “Endangered Waters” list.
We just need to find a way to do it!