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The Great Lakes are a chain of large freshwater lakes that span 750 miles from West to East across the midwestern region of the United States and Canada. They include Lake Michigan, Huron, Erie, Ontario, and Superior. Unfortunately, increased development around the shores of the Great Lakes has caused major pollution. Lake Erie is considered the most polluted of the Great Lakes due to the large industrial presence along its shores and the surrounding population of over 11.6 million people. On the other hand, Lake Superior is considered the cleanest and least polluted of the Great Lakes as it is the largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area and is surrounded by the fewest cities.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Least Polluted Great Lake | Lake Superior |
| Size | Largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area |
| Percentage of Freshwater | Contains 10% of the world's freshwater |
| Ecosystem | Rated as "good" |
| Pollution | No major pollution issues found |
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What You'll Learn
Lake Erie is the most polluted Great Lake
Of all the Great Lakes, Lake Erie is the most polluted. It is the smallest and shallowest of the Great Lakes, with a large surrounding population of over 11.6 million people living in its basin. The lake is largely agricultural, intensively industrialised, and highly urbanised. Due to its size, shallowness, and the surrounding population, Lake Erie is severely impacted by human activities.
In the 1960s, water quality issues in the Great Lakes became a concern, and Lake Erie was perceived to be "dying". The lake's problems were exacerbated by water flowing into it from various industrial cities. For example, Detroit was home to factories that dumped acids, iron, and oil wastes into the river that flowed into Lake Erie at its western end. Runoffs from Cleveland farms and other cities like Cuyahoga, Toledo, and Buffalo also carried large amounts of pollution into the lake.
The lake's shallowness and warmer temperatures make it the most biologically productive of the Great Lakes, which means it is more susceptible to issues like algal blooms. In 2014, toxins from an algal bloom forced officials in Toledo, Ohio, to shut off the public water supply for half a million people. Lake Erie also surpasses all the other Great Lakes in the amount of effluent received from sewage treatment plants and is the most subjected to sediment loading.
The increased development around the shores of the Great Lakes has caused major pollution. Trash, chemicals, and other types of pollution have skyrocketed, and they not only make the water unsafe for swimming and drinking but also harm the natural ecosystems. While the United States and Canada have begun working on ways to clean the water and prevent further pollution, Lake Erie remains the most polluted of the Great Lakes.
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Industrial waste and chemical pollutants
The Great Lakes have been a source of concern due to the high levels of industrial waste and chemical pollutants that have accumulated over the years. Lake Erie, in particular, has suffered from severe pollution, with its waters described as "dirty" and "dead" as early as the 1960s. This lake, bordered by Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and Ontario, has been a dumping ground for various wastes and chemicals. The large industrial presence along its shores, coupled with a sprawling population of over 11.6 million people, has resulted in chemicals, fertilizers, agricultural runoff, and other toxins ending up in the lake. This has led to ecological disasters, with dead fish and aquatic life washing up on the shores.
Lake Erie's pollution problem is not an isolated incident, as other Great Lakes have also faced similar issues. Lake Ontario, for example, has seen a decline in contaminant concentrations, but it previously experienced issues with pollutants such as PCBs, which were introduced in the 1950s and led to the decline of the lake trout population. Additionally, Lake Michigan has been impacted by human activities, with an Army Corps of Engineers dredging project contributing to the spread of oil, bacteria, and chemicals in the lake.
The sources of these pollutants are diverse and challenging to trace. While some, like PCBs, can be linked to large industrial sites, others, like PBDEs, are more diffuse and can enter the lakes through the air. These chemicals are persistent and toxic, accumulating in the bodies of wildlife and people living near the lakes. Efforts to clean up the lakes have been described as a mix of achievements and challenges, with both the United States and Canada working on creative solutions to prevent further large-scale pollution.
Despite these efforts, the Great Lakes continue to be at risk. With a total coastline of almost 11,000 miles and a vast watershed, the task of managing and reducing pollution is immense. The lakes are under constant pressure from urbanization, industrialization, agriculture, and climate change, which contribute to the complex mix of contaminants that threaten their ecosystems. As a result, only two of the five Great Lakes, Lake Superior and Lake Huron, are currently rated as having "good" ecosystems, while Lake Erie remains the most polluted.
To conclude, the Great Lakes, particularly Lake Erie, have been severely impacted by industrial waste and chemical pollutants. While efforts are being made to address this issue, the large-scale and persistent nature of these pollutants continues to pose a significant challenge to restoring the health of these vital freshwater systems.
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Sewage and agricultural runoff
The Great Lakes, comprising Lake Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, are collectively the largest surface of fresh water in the world, with a surface area of 94,250 square miles. However, despite their vastness, the lakes face significant pollution challenges, with urban and agricultural runoff being the most substantial source of pollution.
Agriculture occupies about a quarter of the land surrounding the Great Lakes, and farming practices have had serious negative impacts on the lakes and the rivers and streams that flow into them. When it rains, chemical fertilizers and manure from farm fields flow into waterways. This agricultural runoff can contain pathogens, bacteria, and excess nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus. While these nutrients are essential for plant growth, an excess in waterways can fuel harmful algal blooms that produce toxins, making the water toxic to wildlife and humans. When these blooms die off, the decomposing algae consumes oxygen in the water, creating "dead zones" where aquatic life cannot survive.
Historically, the Great Lakes Basin has also been used as a waste disposal site, with chemicals, toxic pollutants, pesticides, and heavy metals entering the lakes from factory discharge pipes, sewage plants, dumping sites, smokestacks, and runoff from cities and farmland. Lake Erie, in particular, has suffered extensively from pollution due to its smaller size, shallower depth, and proximity to a large surrounding population of over 11.6 million people. The uncontrolled pollution in Lake Erie reached a crisis point in the 1960s, with dead fish and other aquatic life surfacing along the shores, and it continues to be ranked as the "poorest" ecosystem among the Great Lakes today.
To address agricultural runoff, organizations like the Alliance for the Great Lakes are advocating for changes in farm bill programs at the national level. They propose tying funding for agricultural practices to clean water outcomes, incentivizing farmers to reduce pollution running off their lands. At the local level, the Alliance is partnering with governments and communities to find community-led solutions. Additionally, regulations and best practices need to be implemented to mandate and prioritize efforts to limit farm runoff and protect the lakes and their feeder waterways.
While Lake Superior, being the largest and least populated lake, is considered the cleanest of the Great Lakes, all the lakes are vulnerable to the impacts of pollution. Addressing agricultural and sewage runoff is crucial to restoring and preserving the health of these vital freshwater ecosystems.
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Lake Superior is the cleanest Great Lake
Of the five Great Lakes, Lake Superior is considered the cleanest. It is the largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area and contains 10% of the world's fresh water. Lake Superior is also the westernmost of the Great Lakes, which span 750 miles from west to east and are situated across nine states/territories in the US and Canada.
The Great Lakes are a popular tourist destination, but cleanliness is not their strong suit. The increased development around the lakes has caused major pollution. Between the major cities of Toronto, Rochester, Buffalo, Cleveland, Detroit, and Chicago, trash, chemicals, and other types of pollution have skyrocketed. This has negatively impacted the water quality, making it unsafe for swimming or drinking.
Lake Erie, in particular, has suffered from severe pollution due to the large industrial presence along its shores. With 11.6 million people living in its basin and a high population density, Lake Erie is vulnerable to human activities. Factories, cities, and farms have dumped chemical pollutants, waste, pesticides, fertilizer, and agricultural runoff into the lake, leading to the death of aquatic life and earning it the nickname "Lake Erie is Dead" in the 1960s.
In contrast, Lake Superior's clean reputation can be attributed to its larger size and fewer surrounding cities. However, it is important to note that even Lake Superior has not been entirely immune to pollution. For example, in the past, the Reserve Mining Co.'s plant at Silver Bay spilled taconite tailings into the lake. Nonetheless, compared to the other Great Lakes, Lake Superior remains the cleanest and, along with Lake Huron, boasts a "good" ecosystem, according to the State of the Great Lakes 2022 Report by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy.
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Lake Ontario is improving its conditions
Of the five Great Lakes, Lake Superior is the cleanest, while Lake Erie is the most polluted. Lake Ontario, on the other hand, is the only lake currently improving its conditions.
Lake Ontario's ecosystem is rated as "fair," with a trend that is "unchanging to improving." This is according to assessments of nine State of the Great Lakes indicators. The lake has shown improvements in two critical areas: fewer beach closings and a decline in contaminant concentrations in fish.
The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) has played a significant role in improving the lake's conditions. Since the Remedial Action Plan (RAP) was instituted, there has been considerable progress. This includes banning certain chemicals, tightening restrictions on sewage treatment plant discharges, reducing combined sewer overflows, and better managing stormwater. As a result, water quality has improved, with decreased levels of bacteria and total phosphorus. Additionally, levels of persistent toxic chemicals such as PCBs and mercury have declined in fish from the lake.
However, protecting the environment in an ever-growing urban centre like Toronto is an ongoing challenge. The human population in the Lake Ontario basin has increased by more than 60% over the past 50 years, the highest of all the Great Lakes basins. This rapid urban population growth, particularly on the Canadian side of the basin, continues to impact the lake.
To address these challenges, various initiatives are underway. For example, the Ministry of Natural Resources and four Conservation Authorities are leading the planning process to create an Urban Recreational Fisheries Plan for Greater Toronto and Area. This plan aims to improve access to shoreline fishing, enhance fish habitats, and promote diverse fishing opportunities. Additionally, the Lake Ontario Waterfront Development Program, established in 1980, classifies the shoreline into four sectors: the Etobicoke Sector, the City of Toronto Sector, the Scarborough Sector, and the Pickering/Ajax Sector. Each sector has unique characteristics, and efforts are made to manage and develop them sustainably.
In conclusion, Lake Ontario is indeed improving its conditions, and dedicated efforts from various authorities and initiatives are contributing to this positive trend. However, with the constant pressure of urban development and population growth, maintaining and further enhancing the lake's ecosystem requires continuous vigilance and collaborative work.
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Frequently asked questions
Lake Superior is the least polluted of the Great Lakes. It is also the largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area.
Lake Erie is the most polluted of the Great Lakes. This is due to the large industrial presence along its shores, with cities and factories dumping chemical pollutants into the lake.
Lake Michigan and Lake Ontario are also affected by pollution. Sewage and industrial waste have been dumped into Lake Michigan, and Lake Ontario has been affected by the sewage from the U.S. side of Niagara Falls.
