Bronte Wells
Lake Michigan is the largest freshwater lake entirely within the US, with 1600 miles of shoreline. It is a source of drinking water and a place for swimming and recreation. However, pollution is threatening its delicate ecosystem. Millions of pounds of plastic and other pollutants enter the lake every year, and invasive species are also causing problems. While regulations and conservation efforts have helped, new contaminants are always emerging. The health of the lake is further threatened by climate change, nutrient runoff, and contamination. These issues could have a significant impact on the communities, businesses, and industries that rely on Lake Michigan.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Status of Lake Michigan pollution | Lake Michigan is not labelled as polluted, but it could become like Lake Erie if no action is taken. |
| Sources of pollution | Industrial waste, sewage, fuel residue, agricultural runoff, fertilizer, pesticides, microplastics, and other contaminants. |
| Impact on species | Loss of suitable fish habitat, decline in zooplankton and prey fish, and the introduction of invasive species that threaten native species. |
| Efforts to address pollution | Regulations, conservation initiatives, public education, and cleanup programs aim to reduce pollution and protect the lake's ecosystem. |
| Water quality | Lake Michigan is a good source of drinking water, but restrictions on fish consumption are advised in certain areas due to contaminants. |
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What You'll Learn
Microplastics and plastic pollution
Lake Michigan is the largest freshwater lake entirely within the United States, with 1,600 miles of shoreline. The Great Lakes, of which Lake Michigan is a part, hold 20% of the world's fresh water and about 85% of North America's. They are a vital resource and home to some of the most beautiful waterways and shorelines in the US.
However, the Great Lakes are under threat from plastic pollution, with an estimated 22 million pounds of plastic entering the lakes every year. This plastic breaks down into microplastics, which contaminate the waterways and pose a threat to wildlife and drinking water. Microplastics are plastic particles under 5mm in size, which can be intentionally manufactured or formed from the degradation of larger plastics. They can be created when larger plastic items break up over time, or they can be made purposely small, as in microbeads and pellets.
Microplastics have been found throughout the Great Lakes, with larger amounts near urban areas and locations where rivers, stormwater, and wastewater discharge. A study of 37 National Park beaches found microfibers at every site, making up 97% of the microplastic debris. In addition, a recent study from the University of Toronto found that 90% of water samples taken from the Great Lakes over the past 10 years are contaminated with microplastics at levels unsafe for wildlife.
The contamination of the Great Lakes with microplastics threatens the ecosystem of over 3,500 species of plants and animals, as well as the drinking water supply of more than 40 million people. Zooplankton, fish, mussels, algae, invertebrates, and birds in the Great Lakes have been found to ingest microplastics, mistaking them for food. Microplastics can also absorb and release chemicals, such as flame retardants and PFAS, which are then ingested by wildlife. Studies have shown that animals that come into contact with microplastics may experience developmental delays, reduced mental processing, infertility, and weakened immune systems.
Efforts are being made to address the issue of plastic and microplastic pollution in the Great Lakes. The Alliance for the Great Lakes has implemented a volunteer program called the Adopt-a-Beach program, which gets tens of thousands of people out to the Great Lakes shoreline each year to clean up plastic. They have also developed a Great Lakes Plastic Toolkit to educate people on advocating for policies to stop plastic pollution at its source. In addition, the US has passed legislation such as the Microbead-Free Waters Act of 2015, which banned rinse-off cosmetics containing intentionally added plastic microbeads.
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Invasive species
Other invasive species in the Great Lakes include the sea lamprey, zebra and quagga mussels, round goby, and phragmites. The invasive alewife fish experiences huge die-off events, which can clog up water valves, causing problems for nuclear power plants around the Great Lakes that use lake water in their cooling systems.
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Nutrient runoff
While Lake Michigan is not considered a polluted lake, it is threatened by pollution. Nutrient runoff is a major concern, as it can lead to eutrophication and harmful algal blooms, which can be toxic to humans, wildlife, and fish. These algal blooms can also create hypoxic zones, or "dead zones", where oxygen levels drop sharply, making these areas uninhabitable for aquatic life.
In Lake Erie, a neighboring lake to Lake Michigan, nutrient runoff has caused significant problems with algal blooms. In 2017, Lake Erie experienced the third largest algal bloom on record, believed to be caused by excess runoff from agricultural areas with high concentrations of phosphorus. Similar issues have been observed in Green Bay, Saginaw Bay, and Lake Erie, where hypoxic zones form regularly during the summer and fall seasons.
The impact of nutrient runoff on Lake Michigan is not fully known, but it is a significant concern. The MI EnviroImpact Tool, a decision-support tool for short-term nutrient application planning, has been developed to help farmers reduce nutrient runoff into the lake. Additionally, the Environmental Protection Agency's Great Lakes Restoration Initiative aims to address historically contaminated areas and reduce excess nutrient runoff.
While eliminating all nutrient runoff is not desirable, as lakes require nutrients to sustain life, managing and reducing nutrient pollution is crucial for protecting the delicate ecosystem of Lake Michigan and other Great Lakes.
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Climate change
Rising water temperatures are a direct consequence of climate change, and this has critical implications for the lake's ecosystems. Warmer water temperatures can cause harmful algae blooms, which create toxic conditions for aquatic life, including fish and other species that rely on the lake as their habitat. These blooms can also produce dangerous conditions for human recreation and impact the quality of drinking water sourced from the lake.
Altered precipitation patterns, including more intense rainfall and droughts, also disrupt the natural balance of Lake Michigan. Increased runoff from heavy rains can carry pollutants and excess nutrients into the lake, contributing to the growth of algae blooms and creating oxygen-depleted dead zones where fish and other aquatic organisms cannot survive. Drought conditions, on the other hand, can lead to lower water levels, concentrating pollutants and reducing the available habitat for aquatic species.
Extreme weather events, such as storms and floods, are becoming more frequent and intense due to climate change. These events can cause significant damage to the lake's ecosystems and infrastructure. Storms can result in erosion, sedimentation, and the destruction of habitats, while floods can overwhelm sewage systems, leading to the discharge of untreated wastewater into the lake, introducing harmful bacteria and contaminants.
The effects of climate change on Lake Michigan also extend to the disruption of natural cycles and ecological relationships. For example, changes in water temperature and nutrient availability can impact the timing and success of spawning and migration patterns for fish and other aquatic organisms, affecting their populations and the food sources of other species that depend on them. Additionally, climate change can favor the survival and proliferation of invasive species that can outcompete native species, further destabilizing the lake's ecosystems.
Mitigating the impacts of climate change on Lake Michigan requires collective efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the changing conditions. Implementing measures to improve water quality, such as reducing nutrient runoff and treating wastewater more effectively, can help increase the resilience of the lake's ecosystems. Additionally, monitoring and managing invasive species, restoring habitats, and promoting sustainable practices in industries and communities surrounding the lake are crucial steps toward preserving the biodiversity and health of Lake Michigan in a changing climate.
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Algal blooms
Large algal blooms can create a condition called hypoxia, a sharp drop in oxygen levels when the blooms die off, making large zones of lakes inhospitable for aquatic life. Certain algal blooms can also spoil water quality by producing odours or a thick scum and can be highly toxic to humans and other animals. Such blooms in western Lake Erie have led to significant problems, including shutting down water supplies to the city of Toledo.
Blue-green algae, or cyanobacteria, are a common cause of harmful algal blooms (HABs). These blooms can produce toxins that are harmful to animal life and humans, including a wide array of neurotoxins, liver toxins, cell toxins, and skin irritants. The most dominant blue-green algae in the Great Lakes is Microcystis, which can produce microcystin, a liver toxin, and skin irritant.
Harmful algal blooms do naturally occur in the Great Lakes but have increased since the mid-1990s. Blue-green algae thrive in conditions with excess phosphorus or nitrogen, which can come from sources like malfunctioning septic systems, detergents, lawn fertilizers, and urban and agricultural runoff. Blooms are also more common in warm, sunny, calm waters.
To address the issue of algal blooms, the Environmental Protection Agency launched the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative to reduce trash and excess nutrient runoff. Additionally, organizations like the Alliance for the Great Lakes have volunteer programs to clean up plastic pollution from the Great Lakes shoreline and educate people on advocating for policies to reduce plastic pollution.
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Frequently asked questions
Lake Michigan is not labelled as polluted, but it is threatened by pollution.
Lake Michigan is threatened by microplastics, algal blooms, fertilizer runoff, and other forms of waste pollution.
Runoff carries nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus from fertilizers into the lake. These nutrients promote the growth of algae, which can crowd out other aquatic life and cause hypoxia, a sharp drop in oxygen levels.
Pollution has led to a loss of suitable fish habitats and affected the lake's food web. It has also contributed to the decline of certain fish species, such as pike and whitefish, and impacted recreational activities.
Scientists and organizations are working to combat pollution and protect the lake's ecosystem. Efforts include public education, volunteer programs to clean up shorelines, and initiatives to reduce nutrient pollution. Regulations and conservation efforts have helped reduce pollution, but new contaminants, such as pharmaceuticals and microplastics, continue to emerge.
