What are some effects of pollution of a lake?

What are some effects of pollution of a lake?

Fertilizers and pesticides from agricultural and urban runoff and sewage seepage from the groundwater enter lakes and cause elevated levels of nitrates and phosphates. These can lead to harmful algal blooms and eutrophication, which can be harmful to both aquatic life and human health.

What are the threats to Lake Superior?

In spite of their majesty, the Great Lakes are fragile and face serious threats from invasive species, toxins, water diversion, wetland destruction, sewage overflows, and climate change.

What is the major pollution problem and cause facing the Great Lakes?

Heavy industry, manufacturing and agriculture are three of the major causes of pollution of the Great Lakes system. The production of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) such as PCBs, DDT and dioxins, had previously been of principal concern.

How does Lake Superior affect the climate?

And because Lake Superior is so big, it has a kind of a temperature memory. A super-cold winter means there will be a cool summer because a lot of heat energy has left the lake and it doesn’t come back immediately. So, there’s less evaporation over the summer.

Why is Lake Superior so clean?

Over 300 streams and rivers empty into Lake Superior with the largest source being the Nipigon River in Ontario. 12. The average underwater visibility of Lake Superior is about 8 metres or 27 feet, making it the cleanest and clearest of the Great Lakes. Underwater visibility in some spots reaches 30 meters.

How serious is the pollution in the Great Lakes?

Consumption of polluted fish from The Great Lakes is the primary factor in human mercury exposure. Contact with PBDE’s is serious in humans, as it has been linked to thyroid disorders, infertility, birth defects, and cancer.

Which is the cleanest of the Great Lakes?

Lake Superior is the largest, cleanest, and wildest of all the Great Lakes.

What is the current temperature of Lake Superior?

Water temperature throughout Lake Superior is not yet warm enough for swimming and does not exceed 68°F. The warmest water temperature in Lake Superior today is 63.3°F (Ashland), and the coldest temperature is 55.9°F (Grand Marais).

How is the pollution control agency helping Lake Superior?

The challenge with Lake Superior is to keep it as clean as it is now and to clean up the problems that have been found. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is tackling the restoration and protection of Lake Superior through a variety of approaches.

Who is responsible for the protection of Lake Superior?

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is tackling the restoration and protection of Lake Superior through a variety of approaches. Our Lake Superior programs include the following (note that the MPCA staff listed below can also be reached at 1-800-657-3864)

What’s the challenge of cleaning up Lake Superior?

Slowly, carefully, and with considerable effort and expense, those waters are being reclaimed. The challenge with Lake Superior is to keep it as clean as it is now and to clean up the problems that have been found.

Why is Lake Superior so important to Minnesota?

Lake Superior. Although Minnesota is rich in lakes and streams, Lake Superior is easily the most spectacular waterbody in Minnesota. Despite its immense size, Lake Superior is surprisingly vulnerable. The year-round cold temperatures of Lake Superior and small amount of nutrients entering the lake result in a simple and fragile food chain.