History of the Great Lakes

1. History of the Great Lakes All was flowing calmly until June of 1969. One hot summer day, the Cuyahoga River that ran through Cleveland, OH, on it’s way to Lake Erie, caught fire because of it’s pollution level. Obviously this was a serious event, because what body of water have you heard of catching fire? A year later, after the flames on the Cuyahoga, the Great Lakes Water Quality Act, and Clean Water Act were introduced to protect the Great Lakes from such levels of pollution.

2. How did Cuyahoga happen? In the 18th and 19th century people believed water could dilute any substance. Industries and individuals began dumping everything into the streams, rivers, and other bodies of waters. Including, but not limited to industrial run-off, sewage, and animal carcasses. In the 20th century, people started realizing how important it is for clean water, and how it correlates directly to our health. However as more people and businesses moved to the Great Lakes area, the more rivers and lakes became polluted. Now, pollutants enter the lakes in many different ways, but the three main ways are point source, nonpoint source, and atmospheric pollution.

3. Point Source Pollution This is when pollution enters a waterway through a specific location. An example would be a drainpipe, draining directly into a nearby river. Industrial plants, and sewage plants are the main culprits of point source pollution. Point source pollution can include many different organic and inorganic substances, including toxic metals and human waste. The name point source is sensible because you can pin point where the pollution came from. Since you can find the specific location, this form of pollution has been the easiest to control of the three.

4. Nonpoint Source Pollution (NPS) On the other side of point source, non point source pollution, like it sounds, you can not pin point the specific location because it comes from many different sources and is extremely difficult to control. Therefore, this form of pollution may be the top hazard facing our Great Lakes today, yes including Lake Michigan. NPS pollution is mainly caused by run off. When rain and melted snow move across the land, they pick up numerous pollutants along the way, and eventually dump them into rivers and lakes. Other common NPS pollutants include fertilizers and pesticides from farms and homeowners. Oil, grease, and salt from roadways also contribute. Along with sediment from construction sites, eroding shorelines, and animal and human waste.

5. Atmospheric Pollution Atmospheric pollution is also known as air deposition. It is another form of NPS, but instead of being spread through run off, the pollution falls from the sky. As water moves through the hydrologic cycle it falls to earth as either rain, or snow. After that it evaporates into the air from land and surface water. Pollutant emitted through the air, such as smoke from power plants, take the same path and can be deposited into waterways hundreds of miles away from it’s source. Acid rain is the most well-known form of atmospheric pollution. Other major sources include coal-burning energy plants, the combustion of fossil fuels and waste, such as from hospitals, produces extreme amounts of mercury in the air. Mercury is a toxic chemical that is fatal to humans and animals in large quantities.

6. Clean Water Act of 1972 (CWA) Consisted of a set of rules to control pollution. The CWA set wastewater standards for industry, along with quality standards for all contaminants in surface waters. Because of the CWA it is unlawful to discharge any pollutant from a point source into navigable waters, unless a permit was obtained. This act was made to protect the recipients of the Great Lakes water. This act is also often referred to as the Great Lakes Water Quality Act

7. Lake Superior Lake Superior is the largest Great Lake by surface area and volume. The Northern edge of the Lake is touching Wisconsin and stretches between the U.P to Ontario, Canada. Some compare Lake Superior to a freshwater ocean because it can’t be seen from the other side of the Wisconsin shoreline. Some common fish found in the lake are Rainbow Trout, Walleye, Lake Trout, and Carp.

8. Lake Michigan Lake Michigan is the only one of the Great Lakes completely located in the U.S. It is the second largest by volume, and the third largest by surface area. It is bounded West to East by WI, IL, IN, and of course MI. The word “Michigan” referred to the lake itself, believed to come from the Ojibwa word “Mishigami” meaning “great water.” Typical fish found in this lake are Yellow Perch, Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, and Lake Trout.

9. Lake Huron This lake is the third largest of the five. Hydrologically it is inseparable from Lake Michigan, because the two are joined by the Straits of the Mackinac. On the East of the lake is Ontario, and on the West, Michigan. Common fish found in the lake consist of, but are not limited to, Sea Lamprey, Northern Pike, Lake Sturgeon, and Walleye.

10. Lake Erie Fourth largest, or second smallest of the Great Lakes. This lake is the southernmost, and shallowest of the five. Ontario is to the North, and Ohio, Pennsylvania, and NY are to the South of this lake. Michigan is to the West. The lake is named after the Erie tribe that used to inhabit the surrounding area. Outflow from this lake provides hydroelectric power to Canada and the U.S, as it spins turbines at Niagra Falls.

11. Lake Ontario The smallest of the five lakes. North and southwest it is touching the Canadian province of Ontario, and South and East by NY. This lake is an outlet to the Atlantic Ocean via the St. Lawrence River. This is the only Great Lake that doesn’t share a shoreline with the state of MI.

12. Now that you all understand geographically where the lakes are located, we can move on to the problem and steps to solve it.

13. The Problem The first step to solving a problem, is admitting there is one. The pollution level in the Great Lakes is ridiculously high. What isn’t entering our lakes? There’s mercury, sewage, human waste, animal waste, hospital waste, bacteria, food, plastics, pesticides, acid rain, the list could go on and on. Pollution is plaguing our beautiful lakes and turning the Great Lakes to the Garbage Lakes.

14. The Solution To clean up our lakes there are many precautions we can all take. First off, I would like to establish meetings bi-weekly, open to the public. In the meetings we will discuss ways we can all help to clean up our water, along with new legal standings, legal hearings, local projects, etc. After all, dirty water is Michigan’s biggest health risk, and continues to threaten both quality of life, and public health. When water from rain and melting snow runs off roofs and roads into our rivers, it picks up toxic chemicals, dirt, trash and disease-carrying organisms along the way. Many of our water resources also lack basic protections, making them vulnerable to pollution from factory farms, and industrial plants. This can lead to drinking water contamination, habitat degradation, and beach closures. Together we will work to protect our water from pollution by…

15. Decreasing impervious surfaces around your home. Having fewer hard surfaces of concrete and asphalt will reduce runoff from your property. Landscape with vegetation, gravel or other porous materials instead of cement. Planting vegetation at lower elevations than nearby hard surfaces allows runoff to seep into soil, not into our lakes. 2. Use native plants and natural fertilizers. Native plants need less water, are more tolerant of drought conditions, cost less to maintain and provide habitat for birds and butterflies. Apply natural fertilizers and soil conditioners, such as compost, to stimulate plant growth. Compost bins are widely available for purchase, or you can make your own. Composting decreases the need for chemical fertilizers, helps soil retain moisture, and diverts waste from landfills. 3. Don't over-water lawns and gardens. According to the EPA, "nationwide, landscape irrigation is estimated to account for almost one-third of all residential water use, totaling more than 7 billion gallons per day." Limiting irrigation to vegetated areas, preventing overspray onto sidewalks, driveways, and street curbs can help. To know how much water your lawn is getting, use a rain gauge. Over-watering lawns not only wastes water, but can also increase the leaching of fertilizers into groundwater. Watering before the sun comes up, or after it sets, will also decrease the amount of water lost to evaporation.

16. 4. Recycle and dispose of all trash properly. Never flush non-degradable products such as, disposable diapers or plastic tampon applicators down the toilet. They can damage the sewage treatment process and end up littering beaches and waters. And make sure to properly dispose of all pet waste from your property to keep it out of storm drains and water supplies. 5. Correctly dispose of hazardous household products. Keep paints, used oil, cleaning solvents, polishes, pool chemicals, insecticides, and other hazardous household chemicals out of drains, sinks, and toilets. Many of these products contain harmful substances, like ammonia and formaldehyde. Contact your local sanitation, public works, or environmental health department to find out about hazardous waste collection days. If a local program isn't available, request one. Incorrect disposal of personal care products leads to the presence of harmful residues in our waterways and, ultimately, in our drinking water. 6. Use nontoxic household products when possible. Discarding harmful products correctly is important, but not buying them in the first place is even better. Ask local stores if they carry nontoxic products. If they don’t, I’m sure you can work something out with them, or find another store that does.

17. 7. Recycle used motor oil. Don’t pour waste oil into gutters or down storm drains. Resist the temptation to pour it on the ground too. A single quart of motor oil that seeps into groundwater can pollute 250,000 gallons of drinking water. If you don't have a place to recycle used motor oil in our community, ask your local sanitation or public works department to create one. Keep up with car maintenance to reduce leaking of oil, coolant, antifreeze and other hazardous fluids. 8. Be "green" when washing your car. Skip the home carwash. Take your car to a professional carwash. Carwashes are required to drain their wastewater into sewer systems, where it is treated before being discharged. This spares our local rivers and bays from the brake fluid, oil and automotive fluids that could otherwise contaminate our water. Many carwashes also recycle their wastewater, and use about less than half the amount of water of a home carwash. 9. Help identify, report and stop polluters. Our plan is to monitor industries and sewage treatment plants that are discharging wastes, along with citizens doing so. We can be effective working together with state environmental agencies.

18. Last, but not least 10. Be an activist. Come to the bi-weekly meetings to educate yourself about water issues in our community. We will contact our public officials and attend hearings to encourage them to support laws and programs to protect our water. We will ask officials to control polluted runoff, ensure protection for wetlands and other aquatic ecosystems, reduce the flow of toxics into our waterways, and strengthen enforcement. In the summer months we can volunteer for a beach or stream clean up project. If us, residents of Michigan don’t care about our lakes, protect our lakes, and take pride in them, who will?