Climate Change

in the

Lakes Region

June 15, 2017Maine Lake Science Center

Presented by: Amanda Pratt, Staff ResearcherLakes Environmental Association

Overview

• About LEA

• Climate Change Basics

• Lake Science 101

• Expected Effects & What we’re seeing now

• What can we do?

About LEA

• Regional Lake Association

• Non-Profit, Membership-based

• 40+ years of data

• Diverse Programs & Initiatives

Climate Change Basics

GlobalWarming-Facts.info

Global CO2 Concentration Increasing

https://www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/ccgg/trends/full.html

Record High Temperatures

https://climate.nasa.gov/vital-signs/global-temperature/

Paris Climate Accord

• December 2015

• Prevent global average temperature from rising beyond 2 oC (Preferably no more than 1.5 oC)

• Provide funding for developing nations

• Voluntary

Lake Science 101

• Stratification

• Coldwater Fish & Oxygen Depletion

• Phosphorus and Lakes

• Watersheds

Lake Stratification

http://www.aquatic.uoguelph.ca/lakes/season/seasnfrm.htm

Oxygen Depletion

Phosphorus and Lakes

http://winnipesaukeegateway.org/lake-management/plan-1-meredith-paugus-and-saunders-bay/issues-of-concern/

Watersheds, Erosion and Development

http://beckleysanitaryboard.org/impervious-surface/

Expected Effects to the Northeast

• Earlier, longer, hotter summers• Longer growing seasons• Less snow • Rising sea surface temperatures

and sea levels• Increased instances of drought• More extreme weather events

https://nca2009.globalchange.gov/northeast/index.html

Heavier Precipitation

Warmer Temperatures Drought

Later Ice-In/Earlier Ice-Out

Depleted Oxygen

Invasive species

Algae blooms

Increased runoff

Higher nutrient levels

Lower lake levels

Changes to flow regime

Loss of Coldwater Fish

Shift in plant and animal communities

Lower property values

Poor recreation

Higher water temperatures

Effects on Lakes

Later Ice-In/Earlier Ice-Out

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Ice Out is Happening Earlier

Coldwater Fish Stressed

http://fisheyeguyphotography.com/brown-and-brook-trout-photos/

Invasive Species

http://www.mda.state.mn.us/plants/pestmanagement/weedcontrol/noxiouslist/knotweed.aspxhttp://www.co.bingham.id.us/weed_department/variable_leaf_milfoil2.htmlhttp://www.lakegeorgeassociation.org/what-we-do/Invasive-Species/ChineseMysterySnail.asphttp://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/dcr/water-res-protection/watershed-mgmt/spiny-water-flea-alert.html

Water Quality - Drought

Water Quality – Heavy Storms

https://fundforlakegeorge.org/threats/stormwater-runoff

It’s Already Happening

http://statesatrisk.org/maine/all

http://cci.siteturbine.com/uploaded_files/climatechange.umaine.edu/files/MainesClimateFuture_2015_Update2.pdf

Impacts on our Community

• Rising Sea Levels

• Tourism

• Human Health

https://climatesight.org/2011/10/18/climate-change-and-young-people/

Sea Level Rise

https://sites.duke.edu/urbaneconomics/?p=416

http://www.pressherald.com/2011/05/12/architects-design-two-day-event-to-explore-issue-of-sea-level-rise_2011-05-12/

Economy/Tourism Impact

https://www.odh.ohio.gov/odhprograms/eh/HABs/algalblooms.aspx

http://www.islandwatersports.com/blog/blue-green-algae/

Human Health

Case Study: Stormwater Infrastructure

http://bangordailynews.com/2014/08/20/news/freeport-reopens-roads-washed-out-by-record-setting-rain-storm-pegs-damage-at-about-100000/http://bangordailynews.com/2015/09/30/news/state/heavy-rains-cause-flooding-travel-headaches-in-much-of-maine/

What Can We Do?

http://www.climatecentral.org/gallery/graphics/states-at-risk-a-preparedness-report-card

Individual Changes

• Reduce Energy Use• Use your car less• Insulate your home• Conserve Water• Use your dryer less• Reduce, Reuse, Recycle• Compost• Choose High Efficiency appliances• Plant native trees and plants• Eat less meat• If you live on a lake, do your best to prevent erosion and to

treat runoff

http://efc.web.unc.edu/2016/06/09/financing-energy-efficiency-nc/

Collective Action

• Get Involved in your town

• State and Federal: call your representatives

• Get Involved in local environmental groups: LEA, LELT, MLS, NRCM, etc.

• Get on email lists

• Talk about Climate Change: make it an issue

• Education is Essential

Bottom Line

• Learn: Know what’s coming & educate others

• Prepare: Put systems in place now

• Adapt: Factor Climate Change in to decisions

Resources

• Conservation Law Foundation

• 350.org

• Maine’s Climate Future 2015 report: climatechange.umaine.edu/research/publications/climate-future

• NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration): www.ncdc.noaa.gov/climate-information

• toolkit.climate.gov/

• cci-reanalyzer.org/

Questions and Comments