Lake Erie Overview: Physical Characteristics, Economic Importance, and Recreational Value

Ohio Sea Grant College Program

Jeffrey M. Reutter, Director

Lake Erie Overview: Physical Characteristics, Economic Importance, and Recreational Value

Dr. Jeffrey M. Reutter, DirectorOhio Sea Grant and Stone LaboratoryThe Ohio State University

Western Lake Erie Basin Conference10 March 2009


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Most Important Lake In the World?• “Its our lake. I see it every day. It can’t be the most

important lake in the world.”• Dead lake image of 60s and 70s.• Poster child for pollution problems in this country.• But, most heavily utilized of any of the Great Lakes.• Shared by 4 states and 2 countries.• Most productive of the Great Lakes.• Best example of ecosystem recovery in world.


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“I heard Lake Erie is the place fish go to die.”

--Johnny Carson, 1976


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Blue-green Algae Bloomcirca 1970, Lake Erie


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80:10:10 Rule

80% of water from upper lakes

10% from Lake Erie Tributaries

10% direct precipitation


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Lake Erie Cross Section


9 Forest / Agriculture / Residential /Other

Percent of Basin

Great Lakes Basin Land Use 1985

5 6 3 1 51

92 10 73

44

27

67

39

91

41

68

21

49

0%

10%

20%30%

40%

50%

60%

70%80%

90%

100%

L. Superior L. Michigan L. Huron L. Erie L. Ontario


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Most agriculture of the Great Lakes.


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As a Result, Lake Erie Gets:More sedimentMore nutrients (fertilizers and sewage)More pesticides(The above 3 items are exacerbated by storms,

which will be more frequent and severe due to global warming and climate change.)

And is still biologically, the most productive of the Great Lakes


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50:2 Rule(Not exact, but instructive)

Lake Superior: 50% of the water and 2% of the fish

Lake Erie: 2% of the water and 50% of the fish


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Lake Erie StatsDrinking water for 11 million peopleOver 20 power plants300 marinas in Ohio aloneWalleye Capital of the World40% of all Great Lakes charter boats$1 billion sport fisheryOne of top 10 sport fishing locations in the worldLargest freshwater commercial fishery in the worldMajor asset to Ohio’s $10.7 billion tourism industry


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Perspective on Lake Erie Problems• Our job is to solve problems, prevent them from

happening, minimize their impact, protect human health, and maximize the value of Lake Erie.

• While Lake Erie has many problems, it also has many values and is likely to always be the most important lake in the world and the most productive of the Great Lakes.


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Lake Erie’s Biggest Problems

• Sedimentation• Phosphorus and nutrient loading• Harmful algal blooms• Aquatic invasive species• Dead Zone• Climate Change—Makes the others worse


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Sediment Entering Lake Erie—4/2/08


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Impacts of Sedimentation

Water quality is reduced

Nutrients and contaminants enter the Lake attached to sediment particles

Can trace Maumee River sediments beyond Fairport

Open Lake Disposal Issue—1.3 million cubic yards annually from Maumee R.


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Why does Lake Erie get the most sediment?

Because it has the most agriculture in its basin.

Maumee River brings more sediment into Lake Erie than all tributaries carry into Lake Superior, and Lake Superior is 20 times larger in volume than Lake Erie.


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Nutrients and Phosphorus


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Why does Lake Erie get most nutrients?

Because it has the most agriculture in its basin and 5 major urban centers—Detroit/Windsor, Toledo, Cleveland/Lorain/Akron, Erie, and Buffalo.


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Blue-green Algae Bloomcirca 1970, Lake Erie


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Dissolved Reactive Phosphorus

Maumee

0.0

0.4

0.8

1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000

Sandusky

-0.2

0.2

0.6

1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000

Cuyahoga

-0.1

0.4

0.9

1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000

Grand

-0.3

0.0

0.3

1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000

Source: P. Richards, Heidelberg College


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Impacts of Increased Phosphorus Concentrations

HABs+ Microcystis+ Microcystin levels 60 times WHO+ Cylindrospermopsis

Nuisance Algae Blooms+ Lyngbya—Western Basin Attached+ Cladophora—Whole Lake Attached

Dead Zone


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HABs(Harmful Algal Blooms):Western Basin Problem


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HAB Requirements

Warm water (summer problem)

High phosphorus levels

Zebra/quagga mussels (remove competition)


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HABs:Western Basin ProblemBut Contribute to Oxygen Demand inthe Central Basin, i.e.the Dead Zone


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Dead Zone:Central Basin Problem


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Lake Erie Cross Section


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AISOver 180 species in Great Lakes

75% since Seaway opened

Zebra and quagga mussels

Phragmites and loosestrife

Round gobies

Next?

How do we close the door?


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Zebra Mussel vs Quagga Mussel


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Because Lake Erie is the southernmost, shallowest, warmest, and most nutrient-enriched of the Great Lakes, it is likely that AIS will always present the greatest problem, and have the greatest impact, in Lake Erie.


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Climate change is real and will make these problems worse!

• Warm water favors HABs• Warm water increases oxygen depletion rates• More severe storms will resuspend more sediment

and increase erosion and sediment loading• Lake levels uncertain


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For more informationDr. Jeff Reutter, DirectorOhio Sea Grant and Stone Lab

Ohio State Univ.

1314 Kinnear Rd.

Col, Oh 43212

614-292-8949

[email protected]

www.ohioseagrant.osu.edu/

Stone Laboratory

Ohio State Univ.

Box 119

Put-in-Bay, O 43456

614-247-6500


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Power Production Impacts

No Free Lunch

Wind+ Bird Mortality

Coal or Nuclear+ Cooling water impacts on fish+ Mining impacts+ Air pollution impacts+ Volume of material—fuel and waste


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Fish Impingement at Power Plants

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

Mill

ion

s of

Fis

h I

mp

inge

d /Y

ear

Fish Impingement

0100200300400500600700800900

MW

e (m

ean

)

Energy Output

Acme Bayshore Davis-Bessie


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Summers Are Warmer…..Summers Are Warmer…..

Source:RogerKnight, ODNR


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Winters Are Milder……….Winters Are Milder……….

# days <39oF

Source:RogerKnight, ODNR


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The Forecast:Increased sedimentation—lower water clarity

(also means reduced coastal property values)

Lower Lake LevelsMore nutrients—algal mats, flies, HABs and

toxinsAIS—new one every 8 monthsDead Zone—bigger and longer lastingWater treatment costs will increaseLake Erie will continue to be the most

important lake in the world


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Reasonable Goals+ Elimination of beach closures and water quality

improvements• CSO reductions will help• Everything else will likely be worse for Water Quality

+ Elimination of Dead Zone• Important to drinking water quality • May not be possible

+ Elimination of HABs• Very important to human health• Can be achieved• Will also improve Dead Zone and beaches

Documents

Lake Erie Overview: Physical Characteristics, Economic Importance, and Recreational Value