Erie 2022 Wetland destruction

Climate change and habitat loss impacts Erie's migratory birds

Erie 2021 laketroutfry

First wild lake trout fry in 60 years found in Lake Erie

Erie 2018 Dire future

The Erie Canal destroys important wetlands

Erie 2019 Algal Bloom

Record algal bloom on Lake Erie

Erie 2018 direfuture

National Climate Assessment report predicts dire future for Lake Erie

Erie 2018 stillintrouble

The Cuyahoga River is still in trouble

Erie 2015 Wetland restoration

$1 million for the Lake Erie Coastal Wetlands Project

Erie 2015 phosphorus

Targets set for Lake Erie phosphorus reduction

Erie 2015 greencity

Green city, blue lake

Erie 2013 Pollution

Pollution levels climb

Erie 2013 Presque Isle

Presque Isle removed from areas of concern list

Erie 2012 whereiscoast

"Where Is the Coast?"

Erie 2012 Buffalo River

We must highlight the progress

Erie 2009 algal

Algal blooms return to Erie

Erie 2007 AshtabulaHarbor

Cleaning up Ashtabula Harbor

Erie 2003 Walleye

"Walleye Capital Of The World"

Erie 2001 binational

Binational Wildlife Refuge created

Erie 2001 sturgeon

Sturgeon return to the Detroit River for the first time In 30 years

Erie 2000 Botulism

Botulism in Lake Erie

Erie 1989 Zebra Mussel

Invasive mussels and the canals

Erie 1986 DrSuess

Dr. Seuss removes disparaging remarks from The Lorax

Erie 1986 UNESCO

Long Point World Biosphere Reserve designated by UNESCO established

Michigan 1978 waterqualityagreement

Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement

Erie 1976 Least Bittern

The least bittern

Erie 1975 improving

Lake Erie improving

Erie 1971 Shoreline

The Lorax

Erie 1970 alliance

Alliance for Great Lakes established

Erie 1969 Cuyahoga Burns

Polluted Cuyahoga River Burns For the 13th Time, Galvanizing Environmental Movement

Erie 1965 deadsea

Lake Erie becoming a dead sea

Erie 1960 extinction

Lake Erie’s fish are near extinction

Erie 1960 opensewer

Lake Erie is essentially an open sewer

Erie 1958 nooxygen

2,600 square miles of Lake Erie has no oxygen

Great Lakes 1955 Great Lakes Fishery Commission

Great Lakes Fishery Commission Treaty

Erie 1954 mayfly

Mayfly hatch fails with disastrous repercussions

Michigan 1946 failtoimplement

The US and Canada fail to implement fishing regulations in an effort to eradicate the sea lamprey

Erie 1945 longpoint

The desolation and resurrection of Long Point

Erie 1945 beaches

Beaches close due to heavy pollution

Great Lakes 1938 Sea Lamprey

Sea Lamprey invade all of the Great Lakes

Erie 1933 brightgreen

Lake Erie turns bright green

Erie 1929 industrialpollution

Industrial pollution everywhere in the Erie-Niagara watershed

Erie 1925 Whitefish

Whitefish population dwindles

Erie 1922 Cuyahoga River

Trade wastes from manufacturing plants pollute the Cleveland water supply

hist-4181-photo-Invasive Sea Lampray Introduced to Lake Erie

Invasive Sea Lampray Introduced To Lake Erie

Erie 1920 drainingPerrysburg

The draining of Perrysburg

Erie 1917 FordMotor

Ford Motor Company construction begins On Ford Rouge River Plant

Erie 1912 pollution

International Joint Commission pollution of boundary waters

Erie 1908 sewage

Excessive sewage in Lake Erie

Erie 1905 fish

Fish in the Maumee River basin

Erie 1898 Bursting with Life

The waters are bustling with life

Erie 1853 ironandsteel

Iron and steel made possible by the Great Lakes

Erie 1850 destroyed

Everything has been destroyed or displaced

Erie 1800s lakeerie

Lake Erie

Erie 1831 extraordinaryenergy

Extraordinary energy on the water

Erie 1826 Fish Market

Detroit’s first shipment of whitefish and lake trout

Erie 1825 canalopens

The Erie Canal opens

Erie 1815 progress

Progress is suddenly everywhere

Erie 1814 charming

Such a charming land

Erie 1811 Blue Water

Beautiful, blue water

Erie 1784 whitefish

An abundance of whitefish

Erie 1718 swamps

 Swamps full of birds

Erie 1698 hennepin

Erie Tejocharontiong

Erie 10000BCE Anishinaabe

The third stopping place in the migration of the Anishinabe

Superior 10000 Skywoman

Skywoman

hist-4163-photo-Erie Tejocharontiong, Father Louis Hennepin

Pollution

Stormwater drainage, aging and failing sewer systems and agricultural runoff have long created a steady stream of pollution into the lake. This has led to the contamination of public water supplies in communities around Lake Erie and its surrounding waterways. The Cuyahoga River is a primary example, often a discharge site for trade wastes from the industrial plants which line its banks. Coated with slicks of oil and debris, the Cuyahoga caught fire for the 13th time in the 1960s. Presently, efforts to clean and rehabilitate the river are in effect, but it, along with many other rivers and streams that flow into Lake Erie, contain dangerous viruses and bacteria. 

Wetland Loss

Lake Erie’s coastal wetlands have been drained and dredged for farm land and waterways, such as the Erie Canal, and most of the habitat along the coast and at the mouths of the flowing rivers is now lost. Damaged wetlands are also unable to filter out the water systems which flow into the lake. As a result, native fish and bird populations dwindle and the waters are more prone to algal blooms. 

Development

Starting in the nineteenth century, much of the land surrounding the Great Lakes was cleared and cultivated for industrial development. Human development in the form of building, mines, power plants, coastal roads & recreational infrastructure has been disrupting natural environments for centuries. Resulting deforestation and improper waste disposal destroyed fish spawning grounds, introduced heavy metals to the ecosystem, and triggered rapid warming of the lake waters.

Algal Blooms

The extent and duration of anoxia/ hypoxia [oxygen-depleted bottom waters that cause blooms] in the central basin continue to increase annually. The extensive deforestation has led to an increase in nitrogen, the leading cause of excess algal growth. Additionally, warming water temperatures, also due to deforestation as well as global warming, provides a prime environment for exponential growth. The algae depletes oxygen levels of the lake water, suffocating fish populations and breeding bacteria.

Invasive Species

Invasive species such as the Asian carp, sea lamprey, alewife, zebra mussel, and the round goby are just a few of the species that have wreaked havoc on the Great Lakes. These invasive species decimate native populations both by lacking predators and creating low oxygen environments which trigger the production of bacteria that cause botulism. The zebra mussel and sea lamprey were first introduced to Lake Ontario from ships arriving from the Atlantic Ocean, and gained access to the rest of the Great Lakes in 1919 when the Welland Canal was deepened. In the 1960s, Alewives made up 90% of the fish in the Great Lakes, posing a major threat to native populations. 

Most Pressing Issues

Alliance for Great Lakes

The Alliance for Great Lakes works with scientists, policymakers, businesses, community groups and everyday citizens to protect and restore the lake.

Western Reserve Land Conservancy

Western Reserve Land Conservancy is the largest land trust in Ohio and is dedicated to preserving natural areas, farmland and coastal lands in northern and eastern Ohio.

Freshwater Future

Freshwater Future is an environmental community working to protect and restore the Great Lakes and its many waters by involving residents in civic decision-making.

Friends of the Rouge

Friends of the Rouge engages thousands of people each year in hands-on restoration and stewardship efforts throughout the Rouge River watershed.


Great Lakes Fishery Commission

The Great Lakes Fishery Commission coordinates fisheries research, controls the invasive sea lamprey, and facilitates cooperative fishery management.

 How You Can Help