Posted on 01/26/2018 11:20:47 AM PST by Red Badger
Decades ago, Lake Michigan teemed with nutrients and green algae, casting a brownish-green hue that resembled the mouth of an inland river rather than a vast, open-water lake.
Back then, the lake’s swampy complexion was less than inviting to swimmers and kayakers, but it supported a robust fishing industry as several commercial companies trawled for perch, and sport fishermen cast their lines for trout. But in the past 20 years, Lake Michigan has undergone a dramatic transformation.
In analyzing satellite images between 1998 and 2012, researchers at the Michigan Tech Research Institute were surprised to find that lakes Michigan and Huron are now clearer than Lake Superior. In a study published late last year, the researchers say limiting the amount of agricultural and sewage runoff in the lake has had an immense impact. However, the emergence of invasive mussels, which number in the trillions and have the ability to filter the entire volume of Lake Michigan in four to six days, has had an even greater effect.
“When you look at the scientific terms, we are approaching some oceanic values,” said Michael Sayers, a research engineer at Michigan Tech and co-author of the study. “We have some ways to go, but we are getting a lot closer to Lake Tahoe. A lot of times, you’ll hear from people that the water is so blue it compares to something in tropical areas.”
While appealing, the clarity comes at a significant cost to wildlife. In filtering the lake, the mussels have decimated the phytoplankton, a single-celled, green algae that serves as the base of the food chain. For much of the past decade, prey fish, like alewives, have remained at historic lows, prompting state managers to scale back the annual stocks of prized predators, such as king salmon.
(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...
There’s just no pleasing these people.
The lake is dirty - End of the world
The lake is clean - End of the world
It is for sure clear as hell
Around traverse city you can see bottom way out and deep
Not sure how deep but at least 50-60 feet one thermocline minimum
They should stock it with fish that eat zebra mussels.
And fish that eat the zebra mussel eating fishes..............
Try to avoid the fallacy of the excluded middle.
Also important is the prohibition of phosphorous in detergents which wound up in the lake.
Same problem dif outcome at lake Winnebago. The zebra mussels have made the water much more clear but because of this the sun penetrates deep under the water causing more algae growth.
Yep.
And the restrictions on farm run-off and new sewage plants.....................
On top of Lake Michigan, nearly every lake within 100 miles of that lake have zebra mussels in them. They have all cleared up and the local fish population is still doing ok.
Not sure this story isn't meant to scare people.
It is beautiful. We have plenty of salmon, as far as I can tell. Our charter fishermen seem to do fine. I do remember a couple of years ago, they were trying to rid the Lake of carp. They were huge!
I love the Lake. It is the closest to an ocean I can be near and afford to live! It is a running joke with us; I have to live near big water. lol
Snuggle up to Lake Superior, its even BIGGER!!!! :) Grew up on that big, nasty, cruel, COLD (learned to swim in it, think blue lips) “Lake”
I hate zebra mussels.
My first job as an engineer was removing clogged tubes filled with them.
Destroyed a few million dollars of equipment.
Did you ever figure out a way to mitigate their damage?
Why don’t they bring in fish that eat the things?..................
I am not in any way a climate fanatic but no one can dispute run off and their he damage it does. I’m not saying ban farmers heaven no but no one can deny the impacts of run off
Fish and wildlife is fighting the zebra mussels here. So far, they have kept them out but I have a bad feeling it’s only a matter of time.
We ended up doing a heat up every few weeks.
Think rotten fish fry.
The lake is clean, but still somewhat dirty - OMG, end of the world
Next question.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.