Eutrophication In Great Lakes: A Case Study Of Lake Erie

Eutrophication in Great Lakes: A Case Study of Lake Erie Name Institutional Affiliation Eutrophication in Great Lakes: A Case Study of Lake Erie Introduction Increased conservation measures across the globe are focusing on increasing protection and effective use of freshwater supplies. These efforts face numerous challenges. One of the persistent ones over the last half a century is the increased eutrophication of freshwater sources (Kane, Conroy, Richards, Baker, & Culver, 2014). The Laurentian Great Lakes of North America that include lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario hold about twenty percent of the total surface freshwater in the world (Ho & Michalak, 2015). These lakes are also of critical importance in sustaining ecosystems and for recreational and economic use. The Great Lakes have been facing challenges due to the overwhelming eutrophication and re-eutrophication in recent years. Eutrophication is important to the understanding of how the water body ecosystems change. It refers to the increase in plant life within the water bodies as a result of increased nutrients that trigger plant growth (Kane, Conroy, & Peter, 2014). Eutrophication is characterized by increased plant and algal growth. It has naturally occurred over the years as lakes aged and filled with sediments. Nevertheless, increased human activities in the 20th century accelerated the rate and extent of eutrophication. The key contributing factors have been point-source products and non-point loading of compounds such as nitrogen and phosphorus and to some extent introduction of foreign organisms in new aquatic environments (Ho & Michalak, 2015; Kane et al., 2014). Recent studies show that there are rapid changes being experienced in the Laurentian Great lakes systems. Most of the key changes has been in the quality of the lake water, increased phytoplankton, zooplankton, and benthos. These detrimental changes have been attributed to the invasive species, nutrient imbalances, and ecosystem changes as a result of eutrophication. These assessments have been instrumental in addressing the eutrophication of these lakes, but more efforts need to be done. The intent of this paper is to understand the eutrophication phenomenon in the Great Lakes through a case study of Lake Erie. Problem Statement An array of studies show that Lake Erie is a highly susceptible water body among the Laurentian Great Lakes (Ho & Michalak, 2015; Lu, Meyers, Eadie, & Robbins, 2010; Scavia et al., 2014). The major characteristics of the lake that put it at risks are its shallowness and warm temperatures. Subsequently, it is susceptible to eutrophication and changes in climate. In the recent past, there has been a substantial increase in eutrophication experienced on the lake with impaired water quality, large algal blooms, hypoxia, and death of fish. These consequences of eutrophication have increased attention on efforts to manage and reduce the external inputs of total phosphorus (TP) (Scavia et al., 2014). Nevertheless, there has been an increase in the proportion of bioavailable form of phosphorus and soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP). These forms of phosphorus are identified as the main causes of eutrophication in the lake. Handling the challenge of eutrophication and re-eutrophication in the lake requires the engagement of various stakeholders, including governments and the local communities (Allinger & Reavie, 2013). Although there has been increased focus on reducing the impact of eutrophication, there are new challenges emerging, especially due to re-eutrophication at Lake Erie (Michalak, Anderson, & Beletsky, 2013). Subsequently, there is a need to identify the weakness of the strategies in place and find sustainabl...