Term Project Since the late 1960’s, the Great Lakes have been negatively affected by the excess amounts of phosphorus and nutrients that have been drained into the water, causing algae bloom populations to increase. These nutrients have runoff into the Great Lake’s clean water source through agricultural human influences. Since the cause has affected major biolife, the government has stepped in to, and has enacted preventatives to stop nutrients from consuming the Great Lakes, which in turn negatively affects life, on and off land. For example, in 1973, Michigan revised the Water Quality Standards, which included requirements for controlled discharge. (Source 1). While the trophic state of each lake has remained the same, there has been a …show more content…
(Fig 2.). The figure is the first figure to show the cumulative stress of most or all major stress factors on the lakes. The highest cumulative stress levels occurred in the regions near Lake Erie and Lake Ontario (Source 2). This in turn showed that the regions where the cities and areas were less population showed less stress levels. The map itself was a method collected by individual stressors, from coastal development, pollutants transported by rivers from agricultural and urban lands, fishing pressures, climate change, invasive species, and toxic chemicals that had all entered into the Great Lakes. (Source 2). This shows that not only one specific factor is a major influencing stress on the Great Lakes, but all combined have the deadliest effect on the biolife, and natural threats to society. It was highly correlated that areas with higher human population caused for a higher disruption of stress levels. (Source …show more content…
The Great Lakes Basin accounts of around seven percent of total agriculture production in the United States, and 25% of total production in Canada. (Source 4). To produce this amount of agriculture and livestock each year, millions of gallons of water is required. With higher temperatures, means higher levels of precipitation and evaporation. This is considered an issue because as more water runs off the basin, this causes flooding in the land area, which leads to erosion and nutrient-rich soil runs off fields into the Great Lakes. Not only does this negatively affect the Great Lakes by producing more algae blooms, but higher temperatures may also have the potential to increase crop damage. (Source 4). Methods to counteract the negative consequences of too many nutrients from running off into the Great Lakes and affecting biolife are improvements in CO2 fertilization ingredients and its effects, different techniques in using adaptive farm managements. (Source