Superior 2022 arsenic

Arsenic and mercury found in wild rice beds

Superior 2022 Rainbow Smelt

"Forever chemicals"

Superior 2021 Wild Rice Decline

Wild rice harvests continue to decline, while restoration options remain futile 

Superior 2019 waterlevels

Water levels fluctuate as the Great Lakes region recovers from the aftereffects of the glacial period

Superior 2015 conservationact

Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area Act

Superior 2015 wildrice

Wild rice is vanishing almost entirely from Michigan

Superior 2013 Emerald ash borer

Emerald ash borer kills tens of millions of ash trees

Superior 2007 climatechange

Climate change causing Lake Superior water-level to drop

Superior 2007 marineconservation

National Marine Conservation Area established

Superior 2007 cormorants

In defense of double-crested cormorants

Superior 2005 apostle

Apostle Islands National Lakeshore voted most appealing national park

Superior 1999 Heritage Coast(1)

Ontario protects the “heritage coast”

Michigan 1978 waterqualityagreement

Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement

Superior 1974 daring

Daring to drink water from Lake Superior

Superior 1970 apostle

Apostle Islands National Lakeshore established

Superior 1966 Pictured Rocks

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore established as the first U.S. National Lake Shore

Superior 1956 Pacific Salmon

Accidental release of nonnative Pacific salmon

Great Lakes 1955 Great Lakes Fishery Commission

Great Lakes Fishery Commission Treaty

Superior 1950s factorybelt

A thousand-mile belt of factories

Michigan 1946 failtoimplement

The US and Canada fail to implement fishing regulations in an effort to eradicate the sea lamprey

Great Lakes 1938 Sea Lamprey

Sea Lamprey invade all of the Great Lakes

Superior 1929 Choice Fish

Choice fish populations dwindle

Superior 1926 fishpopulations

Fish populations close to extinction

Superior 1920 deforestation

Deforestation causes a timber famine

Superior 1914 pigeon

Passenger pigeon declared extinct

Superior 1900 nothing

Nothing compared to what it was

Superior 1900 plummeting

New fishing technologies lead to plummeting fish population

Superior 1900s copper

Millions of tons of copper tailings discharged into Lake Superior 

Superior 1896 deforestation

Deforestation of the Lake Superior watershed

Superior 1893 whitefish

Whitefish are gone

Superior Late 1800s Damming and Logging

Damming and logging drown out wild rice beds

Superior 1890 origin

The origin of small fish in Lake Superior

Superior 1890 Duluth Harbor

The collapse of Chequamegon Bay whitefish fishery

Superior 1890 asbestos

Asbestos slag dumped into Lake Superior

Superior 1900s mountainlion

Eastern mountain lions go extinct in the region

Superior 1874 lavishnature

Nature has been lavish in her gift of Superior

Superior 1873 wildbeauty

The wild beauty around Lake Superior

Superior 1871 civilizedman

Where civilized man disturbs the balance of nature

Superior 1865 trout

The best trout in the world

Superior 1851 expansiveness

The expansiveness of the lakes

Superior 1850 swamplandact

Swamp Lands Act decimates Great Lakes wetlands

Superior 1847 trout

Loads of trout at the sault

Superior 1807 destruction

Destruction of Great Lakes forest lead to early climate change premonitions

Superior 1768 magnitude

Superior in magnitude

Superior 1669 teeming

This place so teeming with fish

Superior 10000 Sault Ste. Marie

Baw-wa-ting’ became the fifth stopping place for the Anishinabe migration

Superior 10000 Thunderer motif

The Ojibwe welcome visits from the Thunderers

Superior 10000 Manoomin

Manoomin has been harvested by the Potawatomi for at least 2,000 years

Superior 10000 Skywoman

Skywoman

Superior 120000 Glacial history

The earth is still recovering from the glacial period

hist-4725-photo-Lake Superior Overview

Lake Superior

Water Levels

Water levels frequently vary within the Great Lakes. This is in part a natural phenomenon resulting from glacial rebound, but drastic fluctuations are due to changing precipitation levels - a result of global warming - and increased water runoff from human development. Environmentalists advocate for allowing natural water level fluctuations in surrounding wetlands. These changes contribute to the decline of the wild rice paddies, which are sacred to the native populations of the surrounding areas. Demand for drinking water, irrigation and climate change, leave many to worry about a future decline in lake levels.

Development

During the nineteenth century, much of the land surrounding the Great Lakes was cleared and cultivated for industrial and residential development. Building, mines, power plants, coastal roads & recreational infrastructure has been disrupting natural environments for centuries. Deforestation and improper waste disposal has destroyed fish spawning grounds, introduced heavy metals to the ecosystem, and triggered rapid warming of the lake waters. Enbridge Line 5, a 645-mile oil pipeline in the Enbridge Lakehead System, now runs through the Straits of Mackinac. If struck, the pipeline has the capacity to spill across hundreds of miles of shoreline, taking years to clean up and decimating the ecosystem. 

Diminished Fisheries

Early commercial fishing operations received dangerously relaxed regulations. Fish populations were extorted year-round, and over time were not able to reproduce enough to keep the species from extinction. Seasonal regulations were eventually placed to allow for natural breeding cycles, but in some cases the damage was irrevocable. Efforts to manage fisheries have been further complicated by many accidental and purposeful species introductions, pushing out native fish. 

Chemical Waste

Previously relaxed environmental regulations allowed nearby industrial plants and mining operations to dump their waste into the Great Lakes without any repercussions. Resultantly, sludge at the bottom of the waterways and lakes of the basin contain myriad toxic chemicals ranging from PCBs to radioactive waste. Arsenic and mercury have been detected in wild rice paddies, and many early fish populations dwindle. Restrictions have been placed on the number of fish one can safely eat from Lake Superior. 

Invasive Species

Invasive species such as the Asian carp, sea lamprey, alewife, zebra mussel, and the round goby are just a few of the species that have wreaked havoc on the Great Lakes. These invasive species decimate native populations both by lacking predators and creating low oxygen environments which trigger the production of bacteria that cause botulism. The pathogen moves through the food chain, causing major die offs of thousands of birds and fish annually. Additionally, the Emerald Ash Borer, a jewel beetle native to north-eastern Asia, has destroyed millions of Ash trees across the eastern United States. 

Most Pressing Issues

Alliance for Great Lakes

The Alliance for Great Lakes works with scientists, policymakers, businesses, community groups and everyday citizens to protect and restore the lake.

Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition

The Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition works to protect the unique environmental qualities of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan by educating the public and acting as a watchdog to industry and government.

Freshwater Future

Freshwater Future is an environmental community working to protect and restore the Great Lakes and its many waters by involving residents in civic decision-making.

Lake Superior Watershed Conservancy

Lake Superior Watershed Conservancy is dedicated to ensuring the long-term sustainable health of the watershed by working with communities, Aboriginal peoples, resource industries, interest groups and the government.

National Wildlife Federation, Great Lakes Region

National Wildlife Federation, Great Lakes Region is a leader in protecting the Great Lakes for the wildlife and humans that depend on this invaluable resource.

How You Can Help