This research aims to discover the impact of water conservation and why it is so important to the Great Lakes of Michigan.
The Great Lakes contain 1/3 of the world's fresh water. The Great Lakes provide drinking water to over 42 million people, across the United States and Canada.
The Great Lakes provide a home to over 3,500 plant and animal species, some being found only in the Great Lakes. Keeping plenty of biodiversity is crucial for our lake's ecosystems.
Over 1.5 million jobs, and $60 billion in wages, rely on the Great Lakes. Whether it's for industrial or conservation, the lakes help our state in more ways than one. $6 Trillion alone is provided by the lakes to the US economy!
Recreation is one of the main attractions of our Great Lakes. From boating, to hunting and fishing. It is incredibly important to keep our lakes protected, clean, and safe for everyone who wants to enjoy Michigan's greatest attraction!
The Great Lakes impact more than just the state of Michigan...
“Future climate change and its impact on the Great Lakes is a critical issue for water supply planning in Illinois. Future water levels not only could affect water supply and quality for those Illinois residents that live within the Lake Michigan basin but also have significant repercussions regarding the diversion of Lake Michigan water down the Chicago River” (Angel, 2009). This means not only is it important for the state of Michigan, but it is important for so many surrounding states, and the country overall.
Some of the organizations and departments that help conserve our Great Lakes...
There are many helping hands for Great Lakes conservation, and one is the Department of Natural Resources of Michigan. Using licenses and permits to not only secure the safety of Michigan's water and wildlife, but putting those funds back into creating policies to establish safer and healthier ways for us to enjoy the Great Lakes and state land in a safe, healthy way!
EGLE's mission is to protect our Great Lakes, along with our air quality, and land and energy resources. Energy sources and air quality impact the Great Lakes, the same as the lakes impact air and energy, so it is crucial to keep a healthy balance and knowledge of what we can do to be better. They are also well known for their MI Healthy Climate Plan.
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service works with other organizations, departments, and other helping hands to conserve, protect, and study/conserve plants, fish, and wildlife, while also benefiting the environment for the entire United States. Though this service is on a larger scale, they are a large part of conservation for the Great Lakes., especially from their location of Alpena!
References
Great Lakes Commission. “About the Lakes - Great Lakes Commission.” Great Lakes Commission, 25 Jan. 2022, www.glc.org/lakes/#:~:text=The%20system%20is%20invaluable%20as,found%20nowhere%20else%20on%20Earth.
Hall, Noah D., and Bret B. Stuntz. “Climate Change and Great Lakes Water Resources: Avoiding Future Conflicts with Conservation.” Hamline Law Review 31, no. 3 (January 1, 2008): 639–78. https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=ip,sso&db=edshol&AN=edshol.hein.journals.hamlrv31.23&site=eds-live&scope=site.
DNR, O. (2008). Great Lakes Compact [Review of Great Lakes Compact]. Division of Water Resources; Ohio Department of Natural Resources. https://ohiodnr.gov/discover-and-learn/safety-conservation/about-ODNR/water-resources/water-inventory-planning/great-lakes-compact
Great Lakes Restoration : Success through Science, U.S. Geological Survey Accomplishments 2010 through 2013. U.S. Geological Survey Circular: 1404, 2014. https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=ip,sso&db=edsgpr&AN=edsgpr.ocn915841766&site=eds-live&scope=site.
Carol A. Johnston, Barbara L. Bedford, Michael Bourdaghs, Terry Brown, Christin Frieswyk, Mirela Tulbure, Lynn Vaccaro, and Joy B. Zedler. (1 December 2007). "Plant Species Indicators of Physical Environment in Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands," Journal of Great Lakes Research. 3, https://doi.org/10.3394/0380-1330(2007)33[106:PSIOPE]2.0.CO;2
M. Munawar, & I. F. Munawar. (2014). Phytoplankton Dynamics in the North American Great Lakes : Volumes 1 and 2. Aquatic Ecosystem Health & Mgmt Soc.
Shelby D. Gibson, and Sheila R. Colla. “Towards a Better Understanding of the Relationships between Pollinators, Human Well‐being, and Medicine Plants in the Great Lakes Region of Eastern North America.” Plants, People, Planet 5, no. 6 (November 1, 2023): 842–51. doi:10.1002/ppp3.10398.
(2023, October 20). Protecting the Great Lakes. Environmental Law & Policy Center. https://elpc.org/projects/protecting-the-great-lakes/
Peter Annin. The Great Lakes Water Wars. Vol. Revised edition. Washington, DC: Island Press, 2018. https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=ip,sso&db=e000xna&AN=2257928&site=eds-live&scope=site.
James R. Angel, Croley T.E., Hartmann H.C., Lofgren B.M., & Cohen S. J. (2009, October 21). The Response of Great Lakes Water Levels to Future Climate Scenarios with an Emphasis on Lake Michigan-Huron: Journal of Great Lakes Research. Science Direct. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0380133009001853