green guide v3

8/8/2019 Green Guide v3

1/16

An introduction to the challenges facingthe lakes, and what we can

do to solve themThe power of waterefficiencyWater conservation and efficiencyis about more than low flowtoiletsits about rethinking howwe use water and what it canmean for the lakes,

Greener gardeningWhen the summer dry spellcomes, will your gardenwithstand the heat?

Battling back theAsian carp

This invasive fish woulddevastate the Great Lakesfishery. Its not too late tokeep it out, but we need to actquickly.


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3/16| www.glu.g |The GreaT Lakes UniTed Green Book

CONTENTSThe power of waterefficiencyAmericans and Canadians use

more water than anyone else inthe world. Cutting this waste helps

protect the health of the GreatLakes, saves energy, and cuts

costs.

page 4

Great Lakes invadersFor decades, invaders like the

zebra mussel have been ravagingthe Great Lakes. Today, a new

threat is on our doorstep. The

Asian carp is poised to devastatethe Great Lakes... unless we actquickly to stop it.

page 6

Toxic pollution and theGreat LakesWhat is in your water? Understand

the toxic threat around the Great

Lakes, and what is being done tokeep these waters clean.

page 12

PLUS:

Sustainable shipping on the GreatLakes...page 8

How to build a rain garden(and other tips for your outdoor oasis)...page 9

Doing wind right...page 15

Welcome to Great Lakes Uniteds

Green Bookyour guide to the

health of the Great Lakes.

The waters that lie within these five majestic lakes areamong the most important in the world, and we are doingeverything we can to protect them.

Great Lakes United was founded on the belief that co-operation is the only way to restore these waters. As theonly binational coalition dedicated to protecting the GreatLakes and St. Lawrence River, we have been a powerful

voice for articulating the concerns of thousands of citizensand community organizations across a broad spectrum ofinterests. Together, we find consensus among controversyand build bridges between disparate interests, organiza-tions, and individuals.

The Great Lakes provide an ecological backdrop on which

42 million people thrive. They provide us with unparal-leled recreational opportunities, a unique natural land-scape, and the drinking water that makes all life possible.

They are truly a wonder of our wor ld.

We are hopeful about the future of the Great Lakes,but we know there are serious challenges that they faceeveryday. From the on-going threat of invasive species likethe Asian carp, to toxic pollution from our industries andmunicipalities, to the fact that a warmer global tempera-ture threatens the stability of our water, the Great Lakesface truly serious challenges.

But the solutions are well within our grasps. As clearly aswe recognize the problems, we understand the answers.The challenge is not one of knowledge, but of will. Dowe have the will to invest in cleaning up these waters? Tomake the decisions today that will protect these waters forthe next decades? Everyone who has touched the lakes hasbeen touched by them. Their power, their immensity. But

within that strength, there is also fragility. Despite theirsize, the Great Lakes are a delicately balanced ecosystem.

The slightest disruption can have far-ranging consequenc-es.

This guide is intended to provide a primer on just a fewof the most pressing issues facing the Great Lakes, and

what we are doing to help solve them. With your supportwe can protect the health of these waters for our children,friends, and family, not to mention the millions of plantsand animals that call these waters home. To learn moreabout our campaigns, or to get involved, visit www.glu.org.

Together, we can heal and sustain these precious waters.

Buloc/o Daemen College

4380 Main Street

Bualo, New York, 14226

716-886-0142

Ottw302-260 St. Patrick Street

Ottawa, ONK1N 5K5

613-482-1324An international coalition to protect and restore

the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River


4/16 The GreaT Lakes UniTed Green Book | www.glu.g|

T w fwater efciency

Water powers our world. It spins the turbines in hydro-electric dams, cools thermal and nuclear plants, and helpsextract oil f rom the earth. Meanwhile, that same energy isused to pump, treat and heat water.

Because water and energy are inextricably linked,when we reduce our water consumption or use water moreefficiently, we also lower our energy consumption. Thisreduces greenhouse gas emissions, curbs global warming,

and saves taxpayers money.Every day, each Great Lakes state and province uses

nearly 300 litres (79 gallons) of water. This is more thandouble many European countries. Queensland, Australia,

which has been battling an ongoing drought, successfullyreduced their residential water use to 140 L per person (40gallons) in just a few years. For consumers, all of this canhappen by simply using more efficient washers, showers,and toilets.

An effective water conservation and efficiency pro-gram saves energy and money. In Ontario, heating wateris the 2nd largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in

homes. Meanwhile, energy to pump and treat water con-sumes 12% of Ontarios electricity and 40% of its naturalgas. Multiplied across the other 8 Great Lakes states, the

WaTer ConservaTion

Water powers our world. It spins the turbines in hydro-electric dams, cools

thermal and nuclear plants, and helps extract oil from the earth. Meanwhile, that

same energy is used to pump, treat and heat water. It also generates steam forresidential, industrial and agricultural uses.

Toilet 31%

Laundry 25%

Showers and baths 21%

Faucet 18%

Other 5 %

Flug t tlt, wg clt, wg ccut f ly 80%

f t wt u m. By tllg lw-w tlt w

ug m fct wg mc yu c cut yu wt u by

20% m but 60 lt 16 gll every day.

Water se in the home:Flshing mone and energ down the toilet



potential savings from conservation and efficiency aresignificant.

In the United States, the WaterSense program is suc-cessfully promoting greater water efficiency by labeling themost efficient fixtures. Similar to the EnergyStar program,the most efficient showerheads, toilets, faucets and otherappliances bear the WaterSense logo. In 2008, higher ef-ficiency toilets and faucets alone saved 9.3 billion gallonsof water, $60 million in electricity, and lowered water and

sewer bills by $55 million.Innovative communities in Canada and the U.S. arechoosing to conserve their water, and reaping the benefits.Here are just a few examples:

Guelph, ON: Guelph is undertaking the first grey-water reuse pilot program in Ontario. Through the2009 pilot program 30 residential grey-water reusesystems will be installed in both new and existinghomes.

Albuquerque, NM: A new water pricing system

along with educational programs about water conser-vation for indoor and outdoor projects has successfullyslowed the groundwater draw rate for the area to astable rate. Per capita water use dropped by 45 gallonsfrom 1995 to 2001.Cary, NC: A multi-program approach to conserva-tion using public education, landscape and irrigationcodes, residential water audits, a water reclamationfacility and other programs has set the city up to

reduce retail water production by a remarkable 4.6million gallons per day by the year 2028. Not bad for apopulation of about 100,000.

Water conservation is part of a green lifestyle that manypeople are already choosing to adopt. Whether it meansmaking small changes at home so that our taps and toiletsdont leak and are more efficient, or becoming involved ina campaign for a conservation program, more and morecitizens are undertaking a conservation lifestyle.

Install low-flow showerheads, facets, toilets andwashing machines. In some cases, your local water utilitydistributes showerheads, faucets and low flow toilets forfree. And look for the WaterSense models, which use 20%less water than the average.

Check forand immediatel repairleak pipes andfacets. The tiniest leak has far greater impact than youdthink. An estimated 30 gallons of water per day is wastedbecause of a small leak (and even more water is wasted

because of a bigger, more noticeable drip).

Make sre the dishwasher is fll before o trn it on.There is no need to pre-rinse, since most of todays modelscan handle any kind of grime.

Inslate hot water pipes: pre-slit foam pipe insulation ischeap and easy to install, and keeps the water in your pipeshotter. This means less time running the faucet and waitingfor the water to heat up.

If you cant install a low-flow toilet, redce the amont of

water sed b placing a jar or other closed containerfll of water into or toilet tank.

Consider cutting a little water usage from your morningroutine. Keeping a timer in or bathroom will shortenor shower, and may even help get you to work a little bitsooner. Showering for just 2 minutes less saves the equiva-lent energy of a 60-watt light-bulb running for 12 hours.

Put rain water to work. Collect the rain that falls in abarrel or cistern and se this for landscaping, or evenpipe it into your house for flushing toilets.

Trning off the water while brshing or teeth cansae a famil 5 to 10 gallons per da. Rinse hand razorsin a filled sink rather than under running water.

Plant more natie species in or garden, which aremore resilient during summer dry spells.

For cold drinks keep a pitcher of water in the refrigera-tor instead of rnning the tap. This way, every drop goesdown you and not the drain!

10 Water-saving tips for your homeThere are plenty of inexpensive and easy ways to reduce water usage in your home.



For the longest time, the zebra mussel has been the poster-child of this threat. When it arrived over 20 years ago inthe ballast water of an ocean-going ship, it quickly spreadacross the Great Lakes region, and is now wreaking havocfrom California to Quebec. It has left in its wake billionsof dollars worth of damage to municipal and industrial

water infrastructure, fishing and wildlife watching, pilesof mussel shells on beaches, and wildlife populations thathave been devastated.

Today, a new invader lurks on the doorstep to theGreat Lakes: the Asian carp. In August 2009, a new sam-pling technique led to the discovery of Asian carp DNA inthe Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, an artificial con-nection between the Mississippi River watershed and theGreat Lakes watershed. Even worse, the carp DNA wasdiscovered on the Lake Michigan side of an electric barrierdesigned to keep the carp away from the lakes.

When dealing with an invasion like this, the situationchanges rapidly and without warning. Great Lakes Unitedhas been working hard with its allies to respond to thesechallenges as they occur. One of the best defenses that wehave against an Asian carp invasion is an engaged public.

You can help stop an Asian carp invasion by telling yourleaders to support the permanent separation of the GreatLakes from the Mississippi.

Since the fall of 2009, there has been an unprecedent-ed effort by U.S. federal and state agencies, in cooperation

with the Canadian government, to prevent Asian carpfrom establishing breeding populations in Lake Michigan.

While this progress and cooperation is encouraging, muchmore needs to be done. Short-term emergency actionsmust ensure that Asian carp do not establish in the GreatLakes. At the same time, we need to close this artificialdoor permanently. The solution is hydrological separa-tion. Simply put, it means making physical changes to theChicago Waterway System that completely eliminate anydirect connection of Mississippi River and Great Lakes

waters that might allow aquatic organisms to move be-tween the basins.

Asian carp are bearing down on the Great Lakes.Only by acting today can we stop them.

Gt L

InvadersThe zebra mussels, sea lamprey, and round goby have become ubiquitousreminders of what can happen when plants and animals are brought to the Great

Lakes from the far reaches of the Earth. Invasive species like these have no

predators or enemies to keep them in check, allowing their numbers to explode

and causing serious damage to the natural ecosystem. It is time for all of us to

help prevent the invasion of another non-native species.

aquaTiC invasive speCies



What is the Asian carp?The term Asian carp refers to four different species of fish: the bighead, black, grass and silver carp. The bighead and silvercarp are the closest to invading the Great Lakes. The bighead can grow to over 100 pounds (about 45 kilograms) and the silvercarp is a live missile leaping out of the water when startled.

What sort of threat does this fish pose?The bighead and silver carp are voracious filter feeders that can quickly come to dominate a waterbody. If they establish popula-tions in the Great Lakes, the carp could cause irreversible harm to the ecosystem by consuming large quantities of algae andzooplankton, muscling out native fish populations in their search for food.

Where are the now?Recent DNA testing results show the presence of Asian carp on theLake Michigan side of an electrical barrier meant to prevent the carpfrom travelling from the Mississippi Basin to the Great Lakes. Fur-ther testing has detected carp DNA in the Lake Michigan watershed,and in Lake Michigan waters itself.

How did it the get here?The fish were imported in the 1960s and 1970s and used exten-sively in the southern United States for aquaculture operations. They

are also being imported into Canada for the live food trade. In theU.S., flooding in the early 1990s allowed them to escape, establishreproducing populations, and begin migrating up the MississippiRiver basin.

What is the Chicago Sanitar and Ship Canal?The Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal is par t of the Chicago Water-way System, a complex mix of artificial connections linking tributaries to the Great Lakes and Mississippi basins. During thelate 1800s Chicago suffered severe water quality problems, and to overcome health problems caused by the position of sewageoutflows near drinking water intakes, the flow of the Chicago river was reversed and the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal wasbuilt to connect the river to the Mississippi basin.

Can the artificial connection be closed?Yes. Many environmental groups are working on feasible solutions to this situation. This separation is necessary to halt the

transfer of all aquatic organisms between the two basins, including the Asian carp and other invasive species. Separation is acritical piece of invasive species prevention in the Mississippi and Great Lakes region, and a cornerstone to Great Lakes restora-tion.

What will stop the next costl inader from being imported to North America?The Asian carp crisis was preventable. Asian carp were purposely imported into both the United States and Canada without de-termining beforehand whether their potential escape from captivity could cause harm. We need new protective federal screeningpolicies in the U.S. and Canada to screen live importations before they arrive in North America and to prevent the introduction ofnon-native animals that could become damaging invaders, and to ensure that a preventable crisis like this never happens again.

Asian carp: Freqentl asked qestions

Take action on the Asian carp

Support Emergency ActionSeparate the Mississippi

from the Great LakesImplement Preventative

Pre-import Screening Measures

Asian carp are at the doorstep of the Great

Lakes and its our responsibility to act.

Let your state, provincial, and federal

elected leaders know that you support

strong emergency action to stop the Asian

carp from establishing populations in the

Great Lakes. Let them know that the Asian

Carp Control Strategy Framework should

be fully implemented, fully funded, and

regularly strengthened.

We need to move beyond emergency

actions as quickly as possible. Let your

state, provincial and federal elected

leaders know that you support ecological

separation of the Mississippi River and

Great Lakes basins at the Chicago Area

Waterway System. This is the only perma-

nent way to stop the movement of aquatic

species between these two watersheds,

and the only way to ensure the Great Lakesstay free of Asian carp.

The Asian carp crisis was preventable. Tell

your federal elected leaders that we need

new legislation to prevent the introduction

of non-native species. New legislation

must empower the federal agencies to

rapidly identify risky species before they

are imported and give them the authority

to keep them out of the country, instead of

having to react after they are here and the

damage is done.



However, just as the regions industrial growth has putextreme pressures on the natural environment, so too hasthe expansion of shipping channels and practices.

In 1959, the St. Lawrence Seaway was opened toocean-going deep draft vessels, through the constructionof the St. Lawrence Seaway (two U.S. and five Canadianlocks located along the St. Lawrence River). The construc-tion of the St. Lawrence Seaway was preceded by a seriesof eight locks that circumvent Niagara Falls (the WellandCanal) and four locks that allow vessel passage into LakeSuperior (the Soo Locks). Used together, these channelsand locks allow large lakers to ply all of the Great Lakesand allow ocean-going vessels access from the AtlanticOcean to the western end of Lake Superior. The immedi-ate changes to the natural environment associated with

this construction were staggering. Along the St. LawrenceRiver, villages were submerged, islands removed, and wet-lands destroyeddigging wide, deep connecting channelsthroughout the basin changed the hydrology of the system(for example, the water levels in Lake Michigan and Hu-ron were permanently lowered).

The ongoing consequences of this massive engineer-ing project have been tremendous. International shippingopened the doors to a new and intense wave of invasivespecies which weakened native species, including impor-tant fish populations. Meanwhile, artificially stabilized

water levels are damaging valuable near-shore habitat to

this day.The economic revitalization of the region depends

on the health of our freshwater ecosystem. Great LakesUnited has identified seven principles that address allaspects of the shipping industrys environmental per-formance, from the introduction of invasive species andcontinued pressure to physically expand the system, to airemissions and ice breaking. If followed, these principles

would make shipping on the Great Lakes an environ-mentally-sound and economically feasible industry, andhelp restore some of the historic damage done during theindustrys development. These principles outline the basis

of how commercial navigation can benefit the people andeconomies of the Great Lakes region, ensure its own vi-ability, and become a true steward for this spectacular, yet

susTainabLe shippinG on The GreaT Lakes

The time is right for a better

Seaway

Navigating the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River is a central part of the historyof North America. From the indigenous peoples who first plied these waters, to

the European explorers and traders cutting routes west, to commercial ships that

transport cargo across these waters, waterborne transportation is an entrenched

part of our culture and economy.

fragile, natural wonder. The Seaway and shipping industryare at the headwaters of a challenging and exciting future.

The decisions they make today will create a legacy that

lasts well beyond the next 50 years.

Ships must not introduce

or spread aquac invasive species.1

Climate change is a real threat, and proacve

steps must be taken to meet this challenge head

on.

2

Unnecessary and costly system expansion

proposals must be abandoned.3

Air emissions should be cleaned up for shipping

to truly be the cleanest mode of transportaon

in regards to air polluon.

4

Work towards the eliminaon

of all pollutants into the Great Lakes.5

Minimize ice-breaking, especially in sensive

areas.6

Cizen engagement and industry transparency

should become the norm in Seaway governance.7

Seven principles

for a sustainable Seaway

www.abetterseaway.com

on the web



1. Find the Best Site

Your rain garden should be placed somewhere on your property that already collects rain water

naturally. Ideally, the spot will receive sunlight all day, but at a minimum, it needs to see sunshineat least of the day. Your lawn should slope downward to thisspot. Ensure your rain garden is 10 feet away from your hometo prevent damage to your foundation. Dont put the rain gardenunder trees as the excess water can damage the roots.

2. Dig your Garden

Remember to call your municipality before you dig! Start byremoving any sod or grass in the garden spot and dig a shallowdepression, about 6 inches deep. Slope the sides gradually fromthe outside of the garden to the center. A 6 inch depth is ideal for

limiting mosquito breeding in your garden. As for the size of the garden, watch the water activityin the spot you plan on digging out and use the area it encompasses as a rough guideline. Make

GreeninG your yard

How to

build a

Rain Garden

A rain garden is an inexpensive and relatively simple project that you canundertake on your property that will provide an environmentally-sound

solution to urban stormwater runoff. Rain gardens help decrease pollution in

groundwater and are a unique and beautiful addition to any yard.



sure the garden is as level as possible so that the water will reach all parts ofit equally. Add some compost to the garden to help encourage new growth.

If you want to create a small pool for birds or fish, dig a bit deeper and con-

sider lining the pond to prevent drainage.

3. Build a Berm

A berm is simply a dam made out of earth. You will need to ensurethat the water doesnt just drain out the bottom of your rain garden.Reinforce the base and sides of your garden by piling up extra soilfrom the digging process. Shape the berm so that both the insideand outside edges have a gentle slope. The berm should be round-edyou dont want to make a sharp vertical wall. Compact the bermby stomping on it with your feet. The berm must be well compactedto prevent erosion.

4. Direct Water Flow

Point your roof downspout towards the garden to help ensure the waterreaches it. If needed, you can also dig a small trench or lay pipe to direct a

water flow to the right area.

5. Plant!

Using native species will help your rain garden thrive. They toleratethe climatic conditions of your region and require little care. Clumpsof three to seven plants of the same variety will look better than apatchwork of singles. Be sure to mix native ornamental grasses and

sedges in with your perennial wildflowers to ensure the garden has astrong root mass that will resist erosion and inhibit weed growth.

6. Add a layer of mulch

A 2 layer of mulch will help keep weeds down and help your plants get offto a good start. Be careful not to submerge the crowns of the new plants.Heavier mulches, such as pine straw, wood chips, or shredded wood, arepreferable to lighter mulches because the lighter materials tend to float andget displaced or carried away if overflow occurs.

7. Plant a ground cover or grass on the berm

A ground cover or grass is essential to help reinforce the berm andprevent erosion. Its also important at the top of the rain garden,where water flows in, because it slows down the water to preventsiltation and disturbance of the garden.

8. Maintenance and Care

Help ensure new plants take root by watering lightly every other day

for the first two weeks. After that, the garden should thrive without any ad-ditional watering. No fertilizer should be needed and there should be minimalweeding after the first year of growth is established.

How to build a Rain Garden(continued)


11/16| www.glu.g |The GreaT Lakes UniTed Green Book 11

CompostTurn your unused scraps o organic matterlike vegetable

peels, cores and husksinto nutrient-rich compost that will

revitalize your garden. There are plenty o cheap and easy

ways to start composting, and as an added benet, you will

produce less waste and ease the burden on landlls.In an apartment or other small space? Check out vermicom-posting- using earthworms to compost indoors!

Wte wiselI you must water, do it the eco-

riendly way by watering in the

early morning, when it wont

evaporate so quickly. Use a drip

or soaker hose to get water to

the roots where it s needed. The

most eco-riendly solution would be not

watering at all. Native plants will thrive in your climate, soconsider planting these.

Plt tive, o-ivsive speciesWhen choosing which plants to add to your garden,

choose native species and be sure to avoid invasive species.

Invasive species have the ability to take over large areas o

land and can wreak havoc on not only your lawn, but any

surrounding area. Native plants will thrive in your climate

and require little care. These plants also attract garden

riends like butterfies and songbirds.

Use push moweThe new generation o reel mowers are ar less clunky than

the mowers o your youth but still give you a workoutand

can cost less than $100. As an added bonus, they emit

nothing but that satisying slicing noise.

Use beefcil isectsMany insects are riends o the gardener. Ladybugs, spiders,

praying mantis, ground beetles and wasps all eat insects

that destroy plants. In the spring, put down a thin layero mulch to attract spidersthis will oer them the cool

environment they like and encourage them to stick around

and gobble up pests. Plant-

ing herbs, fowers and clovers

around the borders o a vege-

table garden also helps attract

a wider variety o insects.

Spice up ou gdeTo deter digging dogs, try combining a

clove o garlic, some onion, Tabasco sauce

and cayenne pepper in a bucket o water,

then ater allowing it to steep, dribbleit over soil where dogs arent welcome.

(Substitute the garlic and onion or

powdered mustard and four to deter

cats.) Tabasco sauce, chili powder andcayenne pepper will also get stuck

to the small eet o squirrels and

mice, irritating them so much they

wont dig up your bulbs.

DivesiPlant a wide variety o plants close together. The pests o

one plant are requently the dinner o the pests o another,so its ar easier to keep them in check when they live in

the same neighborhood. A bio-diverse garden will help

encourage a diversity o insects that will help control the

overall pest population.

Plt Smt o hetig d coolig

ou HomePlant large deciduous trees so that they shade the west side

o the house, providing shade in the summer and letting

sun through in the winter. Planting trees strategically will

help you lower energy usage and costs throughout the year.

More ways you can put the green into your garden



But, to a parent taking their kids to the lake, or to theangler taking the boat out for the day, it all comes down to

just a few simple questions:

How clean are the lakes?

Is the water safe to drink and swim in?Are the fish safe to eat?

Is the situation getting better or worse?

There is no satisfactory answer to these questions. Indeed,the simplest answer is, it depends. It depends on where

you are, what youre most concerned about, what youre do-ing, how old you are, what sort of pollution youre measur-ing, and so on. Read on in the next few pages to find outthe chemical pollution situation in the Great Lakes and

what the future holds for this fragile ecosystem.

Legacy pollution

The Great Lakes have always been an attraction for in-dustry. Their abundant, cheap, and accessible water enticedmany pulp and paper mills, chemical plants, refineries,steel mills, and other industries to set up shop on ourshores. Until the early 1970s there was little concern aboutthe impact that waste discharged into the Great Lakessystem would have on human and wildlife health. At thesame time, other wastes were buried in toxic dumps, onlyto spring leaks and seep out of the ground.

Blatant signs that something was amiss began to ap-

pear in the 1960s and 1970s. Cormorants were born withtwisted beaks. Bald eagle eggshells were thin and easilycrushed. Contaminants caused disfiguring tumors in fish.

And algae growth was strangling Lake Erie.These were serious signs of an ecosystem on the verge

of collapse. Excessive nutrients from sewage dischargescreated a large de-oxygenated zone in Lake Erie wherelife could not survive, and toxic substances in the water,including DDT (a pesticide), PCBs (used in electricaltransformers and other places), mercury (emitted fromcoal plants) and dioxin (from the industrial and municipalincineration), were having devastating impacts on wildlife.

The problems were becoming too large to ignore.Understanding that Canada and the United States neededto work together to end this threat, the two countriescommitted to reducing nutrient discharges and crackingdown on toxic chemical releases. The Great Lakes region

Toxic pollution

and theGt L

ToxiCs

For many people, the perception of the Great Lakes is one colored by toxic

pollution in the water, concerns over drinking water safety, and advisories about

what fish are safe to eat. The headlines in the news offer a soup of acronyms: DDT,

PCBs, POPs, PBDEs, and so on.

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steadily climbed out from under the reputation of beinga toxic soup, as world-leading chemical research led to anunderstanding of the causes of these problems, resulting intightened pollution controls.

Today, discharges of some of these harmful, persistentchemicals have been reduced substantially, though mercury

emissions from coal-burning plants and new mining op-erations are still a major problem. Overall, wildlife popula-tions are recovering, and the concentration of contami-nants in open water is lower than in the past.

Toxic hotspots

While we have reduced the amount of pollution enteringthe Great Lakes, the most troublesome chemicals take a

very long time to break down. That means old toxic con-tamination is still in our water. In the Great Lakes region,the most heavily polluted places are c lassified as Areas of

Concern. In all, there are 43 of these toxic hotspots, 17in Canada, 26 in the United States, and 5 shared betweenboth countries. Currently, only 4 have been delisted, whileanother 2 are considered in recovery clean up actionsare done, and natural processes are expected to finish the

job.

We know how to c lean up these toxic hotspots:eliminate the pollution sources, clean up toxic sediments,and upgrade sewage treatment systems. All that is lackingis the political will to put the necessary funding in place.

While it s an expensive job, remediation projects breathenew life into a community. These are typically places

where the big polluter was also the big employer. A chang-ing economy has often meant the industry has left town,leaving behind a broken environment and a disheartenedpeople. Cleaning up toxic pollution opens the door to newinvestments while the natural beauty of the Great Lakesdraws tourism.

Onl se non-pollting materials on or lawn andgardens to control weeds or to fertilize. These chemicalsend up in rivers and contaminate the Great Lakes and St.Lawrence River.

Redce emissions from dirt coal-fired plants bsing less energ in or home. Turn down your ther-mostat in the winter and turn it up in the summer, turn offlights when you are not in a room, line-dry your laundry,

and buy energy efficient light bulbs and appliances. Sup-port alternative energy sources

Pressre companies to prodce alternaties to toxicprodcts b bing greener hosehold prodcts.

Safel dispose of toxic hosehold waste such as bat-teries, compact florescent light bulbs, paint, etc. Contactyour municipality for more information about how this isdone.

Retrn nsed medications to or pharmacist and

ask them to ensure proper disposal. Never flush drugsdown the toilet or sink, or throw them in the garbage.

Actions you can take

Continue to tell or goernment representatiesthat o dont want harmfl chemicals in or water.And reiterate that it is vital that they provide adequatefunding to clean up existing toxic contamination.

Demand that federal officials force manfactrers toprodce safe alternaties to the toxic products theynow make and sell, and require them to pay for the safedisposal of their products, clean up contaminated sites,

and stop mercury pollution from coal-fired plants.

Demand that the principles of Green Chemistr beapplied to the industries that pollute in the Great Lakes.

Demand rigoros safet testing before new chemicalsare allowed to be used to ensure that they dont becometoxics that later devastate the Great Lakes system,

Demand that toxic chemicals now in se, sch as fireretardants and PBDEs (polbrominated dephenlethers), are remoed from prodction and actions are

taken to clean up their sources that are now entering ourLakes.

Actions you can support

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The new concerns

While we have grappled with the pollution of the past, weare also learning that some of the chemicals in consumerproducts we never thought were dangerous are havingharmful effects. Flame retardants, for instance, can befound in everything f rom furniture to building materials,to electronics. But, certain kinds of flame retardants, calledpolybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), have beenfound to be endocrine disruptors these substances mimic

and interfere with our bodys natural hormones and cancause permanent damage to the nervous and reproductivesystems.

Were also learning more and more about the impactthat pharmaceuticals can have on human and wildlifehealth. From birth control, antibiotics, painkillers, andthose drugs used to treat high cholesterol and epilepsy,anywhere from 50-90% of the active ingredients are notabsorbed by the body. This means they are excreted intothe sewer system, and because water treatment plants can-not remove them f rom the water, they eventually get intothe environment.

Even in small amounts, these drugs can have animpact. Deformities in fish and f rogs have been linked topharmaceuticals, while the risks to human health are stillunknown. Meanwhile, old problems are reappearing ex-cessive algae growth in Lake Erie is once again creatingplaces in the lake where no life exists.

What can I do?

This is probably enough to scare anyone f rom setting footin the Great Lakes again, or turning on the tap for a glassof water. But there is hope. We know how to clean up oldpollution, and a commitment to the precautionary prin-ciple and prevention can ensure history does not repeatitself. Meanwhile, a wave of public concern over the toxicburden in our environment is forcing government leadersto take action.

We must keep this up. We must call on our govern-ments to clean up existing pollution and strengthen lawsthat prevent new toxic chemicals from entering our waterin the first place. Meanwhile, we as individuals must bediligent about the materials we buy to make sure we donot use toxic chemicals. If we have no choice, we must usethem only as needed and properly dispose of medicationsand unused chemicals.



While offshore wind facilities existin the ocean off the coasts of severalEuropean nations, there are currentlyno offshore wind installations in theUnited States or Canada, and no tur-bines in freshwater anywhere in the

world. While wind energy may not

have the obvious risks inherent in nu-clear or coal, there are environmental,social, and economic considerationsthat must be addressed for potentialoffshore wind projects. It is crucialthat each new energy solution becarefully examined; jumping full forceinto developing any new project couldlead to devastating consequences.

For the Great Lakes, one such con-sideration is the impact that off-

shore wind installations will have onlakebed habitat. Currently, offshorewind technology can only be used inwater that is no deeper than 30 meters(98 feet). In every Great Lake, andespecially in Lake Erie, this depthrestriction could limit offshore windprojects to the ecologically sensitivenearshore areas.

Most life in a lake is concentratedin the nearshore area, which extends

out to 15 metres (49 feet) of depth.It is here that sunlight penetrates the

water, providing energy for the plantson which the Great Lakes food chainis founded. The nearshore providesspawning grounds for fish, and habitatfor birds, frogs, turtles, and otheranimals.

While we understand the importanceof the nearshore, we know very littleabout how it would be impacted by

offshore wind installations. With littlescientific research on lakebed habitat,the most pressing priority is to map

and monitor the lake bottom in orderto identify and protect rare and sensi-tive habitats, those that are economi-cally important, such as fish spawningand nursery habitats, and habitatsthat support rare or endangered spe-cies before we start approving and

placing turbines. This informationwould allow for the development of aproactive basin-wide plan to guide theecologically sustainable managementof Great Lakes bottomlands.

Wind and WaTer

Doing wind energy right

There is a change blowing across the Great Lakes. As we begin to shake off our

dependence on dirty fossil fuels, governments and energy companies are looking

at wind power to fuel our energy needs. And harnessing the winds that blow across

the Great Lakes is near the top of the list.

How you can act on wind

Learn more about the potential for wind energy around theGreat Lakes at the Great Lakes Wind Collaborative:www.glc.org/energy/wind/

Keep an eye on your local media for wind proposals nearwhere you live

Tell your elected officials at the municipal, state or

provincial, level about how you feel about wind energy inthis region.


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Join Great Lakes United Today! We are the onlycoalition that works in Canada and the United States toprotect and restore the Great Lakes and St. LawrenceRiver. Our members are united in a single belief: everyonein this region has a role in ensuring a safe, healthy, and

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When you join Great Lakes United, you add your voice toa chorus calling for change. With your membership, wellsend you a copy of our quarterly newsletter, Great LakesNews, and youll have the opportunity to join special e-mail lists and working groups to further get involved in theissues that matter to you.

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