BIRDS: 3 species are extinct and 3 are endangered
FISH: 2 species are endangered and 51 are rare
MAMMALS: 1 species is extinct
BIVALVES: 2 mussel species are endangered
INSECTS: Aquatic insects have been reduced by 70%
The territory of Lake Erie falls within the ancestral homelands of the Anishinabewaki, Attiwonderonk, Erie, Ho-de-no-sau-nee-ga, Mississauga, Myaamia, and Wenrohronon peoples.
Territorial recognition: https://native-land.ca/
Most Pressing Issues
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.
How You Can Help
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.
Learn More about Alliance for Great Lakes
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.
Learn More about Western Reserve Land Conservancy
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.
Learn More about Freshwater Future
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.
Learn More about Friends of the Rouge
Great Lakes Fishery Commission
The Great Lakes Fishery Commission coordinates fisheries research, controls the invasive sea lamprey, and facilitates cooperative fishery management.
Learn More about Great Lakes Fishery Commission
