by Danielle L. Hunter

Created on: June 11, 2009   Last Updated: March 15, 2010

The North American Great Lakes holds twenty percent of the world's fresh water and is a diverse ecosystem of plants, fish and wildlife. Thirty-seven million people drink water from these lakes, yet most do not even consider the toxins, bacteria and invasive species that have started to take over the region. Habitats have been destroyed while wildlife are dying from botulism and people are experiencing health problems.

Over one hundred years ago, the Great Lakes region was dramatically altered as the shipping, lumber and fishing industries began to expand and population increased. Each of the five lakes proved to be important to local economies and no one thought about the consequences of such rapid development. Today, we are just beginning to see the negative effects of this particular environment and the United States government is funding the Great Lakes clean-up and trying to keep foreign species out.

Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) are not found in the original Great Lakes ecosystem and include Asian carp, sea lampreys and zebra mussels. Asian carp can grow up to 100 pounds and have already taken over the Illinois River with efforts being put forth to stop them from entering Lake Michigan. Sea lamprey have no known predators in the Great Lakes. They attach to fish such as trout and walleye to feed and eventually kill these native fish. Zebra mussels are small invaders who take the nutrients out of water and are easily spread by attaching to traveling boats and ships.

Various industries have contributed to the contaminated sediments within the lakes. Chemicals, heavy metals, drugs and sewage pollute these lakes and the people who eat fish from these waters are exposed to toxins such as mercury and DDT. Children and pregnant women are advised against consuming the fish to avoid adverse health effects.

The health of all species along the Great Lakes coastline are also in danger due to E.coli and other harmful bacteria. There are several swim advisories each year, dead fish and animals, garbage and algae blooms to be concerned about. Many species of plants and wildlife are endangered or threatened because of habitat loss and pesticide usage.

In addition to all the pollutants and foreign species, the global climate is warming and the temperature of the Great Lakes is rising. Warmer water will produce more "dead zones" in lakes. There will be a higher demand for water as summer temperatures increase. When less water is available, crops and plants are more vulnerable. At times, there could be too much water which will increase soil erosion, toxic bacteria and unwanted pests that bring diseases. With both extremes, all major industries of the Great Lakes will be affected.

Despite a myriad of problems, there is hope for the Great Lakes. Along with government clean-up efforts, various organizations are taking the initiative to positively impact the region. People can contribute by planting native species, avoiding pesticides, choosing organic produce, conserving water and disposing of trash properly when visiting the lakes. For more information on how to improve the Great Lakes, visit www.greatlakesforever.org.

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