Janeya Begum
Research Mentor(s): Geoffrey Lewis
Mentor Department: Center for Sustainable Systems
Authors: Janeya Begum, Geoffrey Lewis
Session: Session 3 (11:00am – 11:50am)
Presentation Type: Poster 7
Abstract
The Great Lakes are the largest freshwater lake system on Earth and are a valuable resource for millions of people in the U.S. and Canada. The Great Lakes are a major contributor to the U.S. economy, providing thousands of jobs in boating and fishing industries, both recreational and commercial, and in other maritime occupations. This Center for Sustainable Systems factsheet covers recent patterns of use in water quality, as a drinking resource, in climate change, economic activity, as well as the diverse ecosystem in the Great Lakes. The factsheet’s impacts section covers physical, biological, chemical, and economic impacts, as well as challenges the region faces from climate change and human activity. It also addresses governance over the Great Lakes and organizations that work on restoration projects in order to preserve the lakes. The factsheet concludes with practical solutions/alternatives to address Great Lakes sustainability. This factsheet was created through a qualitative analysis of government technical reports, policy documents, restoration initiatives, and international agreements. While progress has been made to preserve the Great Lakes–such as reducing toxic contamination and habitat loss–there is still much work to do in order to address ongoing areas of concern (AOC), such as the spread of harmful algae blooms (HABs) caused by excess nutrients in all lakes, especially Lake Erie; the invasion of non-native species through ballast water; and fluctuating lake levels causing shoreline erosion and a need for dredging. This factsheet is a concise resource for those interested in understanding Great Lakes sustainability issues.
