The Great Lakes

As a result of my latest excursion up to Bayfield, WI  (which is located on Lake Superior), I have decided to dedicate a post to our Great Lakes.  Yes, they are fresh water and not oceans, but they are MASSIVE bodies of water that plastic can just as easily collect in, as our seas.  To put this into perspective, together, they make up 21% of the worlds surface fresh water.  That's huge!  Their ecosystems are just as important and ought to be talked about!

For those of you that don't know, (perhaps I have some international readers??), the Great Lakes are made up of Lake Erie, Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, Lake Ontario, and Lake Huron.  They are located in the Midwest of the United States and, actually, Lake Michigan is the only one that is completely bordered by the US.  Otherwise, the lakes share borders with Canada.  The waters of these lakes are beautiful.  On certain days, their waters can be crystal clear - almost on par with Lake Tahoe (another beautiful body of fresh water).  It is important to keep them this way!

Can you name the Great Lakes?

In comparison to our oceans, these lakes are small.  And they are, in some cases, surrounded by cities on all edges.  Now you would think that this would create a lot of pollution.  And honestly, not a lot of research has been done on the lakes in this aspect, especially when it comes to plastics.  In fact, as we speak (I type), a professor from the University of Wisconsin - Superior, is out on a research ship collecting samples by trawling.  Dr. Lorena Rios-Mendoza is aboard a tall ship named Niagara and will be taking samples from Huron, Michigan and Erie.  She left on July 12th, 2012 and will be on the waters until July 30th, 2012.  Rios-Mendoza wants to know if the same thing is happening in our Great Lakes as is in the oceans.  I am very excited to see what she comes up with and am eagerly awaiting her research.  I will gladly share once it's relayed! 


The micro-plastics that are being consumed and contaminating fish in the oceans, could possibly be having the same effect on the fresh water fish.  Believe it or not, commercial fishing was a big industry on the lakes starting around 1820.  The big fishing boom died in the late 1950's due to a decreased number of fish.  This was caused by numerous things including but not limited to overfishing, habitat (shoreline and stream) destruction and the frustrating introduction of invasive and non-native species (Boy, invasive species really grind my gears!).  Major ones that still seem to be a problem today are the ugly sea lamprey and the alewife.  The main native fish coming out of the Great Lakes are whitefish, smelt, bloater chubs and perch (feel free to google some of those because I know I had to). 


If Rios-Mendoza's research tells us that the waters of the Great Lakes are, in fact, contaminated with micro-plastics to the degree the GPGP is, we'll have a serious problem that will need to be addressed immediately.  If not, we need to work towards keeping them that way!  For those of us that grew up on a coast (be it East, West or South), we know how important those waters are to us.  These Great Lakes are considered our "North Coast" and a lot of people hold them dearly in their hearts.  We need to take responsibility for our trash.  Lets not let it get into these beautiful waters. 

Beautiful Lake Michigan Beach

Tip-of-the-Day:  If RE-cycling seems like it's just not enough to help, try PRE-cycling.  Look at what you're buying.  Look at the packaging and base your purchase decision on that.  Don't buy eggs in a plastic carton.  Get your milk in a paper carton.  Refill your hand soap bottles.  These little steps can help in advance and it's a great way to really acknowledge how much plastic you actually go through in your daily life.  


What do you do to help?  Share your tips!