Robert moor engagingand impeccably researchedtold like a great story rather than an academic lecture. There is talk, too, of utilizing great lakes water for agriculture in arizona and the arid great plains states. I settlement the modern history of the great lakes region, from discovery. Drinking water woes in the great lakes science friday. For his seventh book, dempsey makes a turn for the positive, narrowing in on the detroit river, its history and its environmental recovery.
Canadian science writer wayne grady has written a great book about the great lakes. Great lakes, chain of deep freshwater lakes in eastcentral north america comprising lakes superior, michigan, huron, erie, and ontario. Its also a bit of an horror story without the inevitability of doom. William ashworth describes the formation of the lakes, the impact of european settlement, and their current state of pollution. He skims over pollution and focuses on the problem of invasive species. The great lakes erie, huron, michigan, ontario, and superiorhold 20 percent of the worlds supply of surface fresh water and provide sustenance, work, and recreation for tens of millions of americans. Even while the great lakes are in the middle of a multiyear federal restoration program, water quality remains an issue, according to a new report on how the health of the worlds largest. Great facts about the five great lakes live science. Great lakes an environmental atlas and resource book. No one of the lakes is larger than lake baikal or lake tanganyika east africa. The late, great lakes is a powerful indictment of mans carelessness, ignorance, and apathy toward the great lakes.
This book brings together what is known about the major classes of these. Great lakes now interviewed dave dempsey about his latest book, which examines the detroit rivers recovery and the benefit to the region. But it helps to have a concise discussion and history of those problems and egans book does this admirably. Jan 10, 2017 the north american great lakes huron, ontario, michigan, erie, and superior are so big that they border 8 states and contain 23 quadrillion liters of water.
The first century of the international joint commission has thus far been very enjoyable, said ramya swayamprakash, a great lakes historian now studying history at michigan state university. Although the great lakes are large, they are sensitive to pollutants. May 14, 2019 great lakes now recently talked with dempsey while he was attending a conference in detroit. I settlement the modern history of the great lakes region, from discovery and settlement by european immigrants to the present day, can be viewed not only as a progression of intensifying use of a vast natural resource, but also as a process of learning about the great lakes ecosystem.
The environment around the laurentian great lakes region has been. Collectively they contain 5,439 cubic miles of water 22,670 cubic km, or about 20% of all the earths freshwater, and cover an area of 94,250 square miles 244,106 square km. Author william ashworth presents a compelling history of. But they are under threat as never before, and their problems are spreading across the continent. That fact is no doubt whats behind two publications posting maps earlier this month, only a couple of days apart, showing the environmental stresses on the great lakes basin. Generations of air and water pollution from heavy industry near the mouth of the river contaminated its sediments and made it unsafe for fishing. Statement announcing the creation of the environmental quality council and the citizens advisory committee on environmental quality, may 29, 1969. Water and air pollution have altered the course of the earths history. Chapter one provides an introduction to both the natural and cultural aspects of the great lakes. Canadian panel that monitors great lakes water quality, states the efforts to clean up the lakes over the past 25 years are a mix of achievements and challenges. Aug 09, 2019 in 2018, the 95yearold retired conservationist published his first book, something spectacular. Theo colborn, who wrote a book called our stolen future in the 90s, outlined a bunch of impacts of pollution in the great lakes. The book can be downloaded for free from the university of calgary press.
Outflows from the great lakes are relatively small less than 1 percent per year in comparison with the total volume of water. Great lakes areas of concern are designated geographic areas within the great lakes basin that show severe environmental degradation. I was impressed with the research and care which egan took in writing this book and found it easy to understand for a nonscientist. Great lakes simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Egans book covers the great lakes not only from a modern perspective but a historical. An aquatic biography looks to the polluted past and a murky future. The great lakes regions powerful economy includes jobs in a wide variety of sectors. Council of great lakes region with up to 40 million basin residents drawing their drinking water from the great lakes, protecting the quality of these vast water bodies is not optional. The combined area of the great lakessome 94,250 square milesrepresents the largest surface of fresh water in the world, covering an area exceeding that of the united kingdom. More than 30 million people live in the great lakes basin, and the impact of their daily activities, from the water consumed to the waste returned, directly affects the great lakes environment.
However, its only been in the last decade that research into plastics pollution has gained urgency in the great lakes, the planets largest system of freshwater. The great lakeserie, huron, michigan, ontario and superiorhold 20 percent of the worlds supply of surface fresh water and provide sustenance, work and recreation for tens of millions of americans. All together, by volume, they are the largest group of fresh water lakes in the world. No free lunch, produced by the university of michigan television center in 1981, examined the great lakes, and specifically lake erie, asking how this beautiful resource was undergoing slow but dangerous changes. With the longest continuous coastline in the united states, they hold onefifth of the worlds freshwater supply. Book club czar christie taylor is back to take us on a tour of what its like to depend on the lake for your drinking water. An ecological history mcgillqueens university press 516 pages. A brief video on the water pollution in the great lakes as well as some nice pictures. Despite improvements in recent decades, the great lakes remain a dumping ground for pollution ranging from livestock waste to mercury emissions, a. Along with amazing technological advances, the industrial revolution of the mid19th.
The death and life of the great lakes by dan egan, paperback. Pollutants that enter the lakes are retained in the system and become more concentrated with time. Great lakes basin compact, great lakes commission, box 7, ecology center of ann arbor records 19692010, bentley historical library, university of michigan. History of the great lakes water quality agreement. Those reports included recommendations for action, which formed the basis for the first great lakes water quality agreement in 1972. A recent report from the international joint commission, a u. An environmental history great lakes books series ashworth, william on. Id recommend it to anyone planning to spend some time in or around the great lakes. Although there have been some improvements over the last 20 years, persistent toxic organic pollutants are. Four of the great lakes are on the border between canada and the united states of america. There are a total of 43 areas of concern within the great lakes, 26 being in the united states, 17 in canada, with five shared by the two countries. And one of them that i think were going to worry about a lot, in 1998, lake ontario, we started to see an intersex fish from chemicals that.
I settlement the modern history of the great lakes region, from discovery and settlement by european immigrants to the present day, can be viewed not only as a progression of intensifying use of a vast natural resource, but also as a process of learning about the. Persistent organic pollutants in the great lakes ronald a. Oct 29, 2007 a brief video on the water pollution in the great lakes as well as some nice pictures. History media compliance careers affiliate program. By 1978, the two countries broadened their approach to address the many sources and types of pollution entering the lakes. The book can be trying to read if you love the great lakes and grew up near them as i did. The lakes have been changes considerably from pollution and invasive species. Sep 14, 2004 despite improvements in recent decades, the great lakes remain a dumping ground for pollution ranging from livestock waste to mercury emissions, a u. Jun 30, 2017 great facts about the five great lakes. New book looks at the detroit rivers history and its environmental recovery.
Apr 02, 2018 our april pick for the pbs newshournew york times book club, now read this is dan egans the death and life of the great lakes. The other, lake michigan, is completely inside the united states. Great lakes water quality improved, but there are still. Dan egans deeply researched and sharply written the death and life of the great lakesnimbly splices together history, science, reporting and personal experiences into a taut and cautiously hopeful narrativeegans book is bursting with life and yes, death. In 2018, the 95yearold retired conservationist published his first book, something spectacular. The aspects of chemical pollution in the great lakes ecosystem are also. The great lakes have always had an economy based on resource extraction, notes ashworth, author of nor any drop to drink. With the longest continuous coastline in the united states. My great lakes salmon story, which recounts his successful effort to revitalize the great. May 23, 2017 and so it came as a revelation to me to read dan egans deeply researched and sharply written the death and life of the great lakes. I am definitely learning a lot from the book and would recommend it to anyone interested in learning more about environmental diplomacy. The rouge river in detroit is one of michigans and the great lakes most polluted waterways. The death and life of the great lakes was one of those books that was fascinating and engaging well beyond my expectations.
Holling, holling clancy paddle to the sea isbn 0395150825, an illustrated childrens book about the great lakes and their environment. Youve advocated for and written about the great lakes for decades. Mapping great lakes pollution president trumps budget proposes eliminating the epas great lakes restoration initiative. Hes already written six books about the region, covering a range of topics from sturgeon to the consequences of exporting great lakes water. Researchers are finding alarming amounts of plastic in the open water, tributaries, and shorelines of the great lakes. The death and life of the great lakes, by dan egan, 384 pages, w. Chapter two, natural processes in the great lakes, describes such factors as geology, climate, the. The great lakeserie, huron, michigan, ontario, and superiorhold 20 percent of the worlds supply of surface fresh water and provide sustenance, work, and recreation for tens of millions of americans. Pollutants that enter the lakes whether by direct discharge along the shores. In one lake alone, 10% of that water is in lake superior alone. I do not read much science, but this book taught me a lot while giving me lots of joy. Mar 31, 2017 mapping great lakes pollution president trumps budget proposes eliminating the epas great lakes restoration initiative. Great lakes an environmental atlas and resource book epa nepis. The death and life of the great lakes book chicago.
This atlas was developed jointly by the canadian and american governments, and is intended to provide an ecosystem approach to the understanding of the great lakes basin. Clair, where water pollution and beach closures remain unresolved. The great lakes may responsible for providing water for over 30 million north americans, yet this is only one reason why reducing pollution is so critical. He chaired a conference 1980 on pollution of the great lakes beeton et al. Anthony lukas award a landmark work of science, history and reporting on the past, present and. Great lakes water quality international joint commission. Upstream, dense urban populations have overwhelmed sewer and storm water systems, sometimes dumping raw. The alliance developed its 2017 great lakes action agenda to outline our federal priorities for lawmakers, which includes keeping a careful eye on plastic pollution. The north american great lakes huron, ontario, michigan, erie, and superior are so big that they border 8 states and contain 23 quadrillion liters of water.
The great lakes erie, huron, michigan, ontario and superiorhold 20 percent of the worlds supply of surface fresh water and provide sustenance, work and recreation for tens of millions of americans. Lake superior, lake michigan, lake huron, lake erie, and lake ontario, form the great lakes, straddling the united states and canada to make up the largest group of freshwater lakes in the world. The death and life of the great lakes book grand rapids. Dipping into this book was like opening the secret. Great lakes activism through 1970s exhibit give earth. No one was more surprised than me that the history of the great lakes would be so captivating. I appreciated the topics covered in the great lakes section, especially the chapters on lake water levels and air pollution. Our april pick for the pbs newshournew york times book club, now read this is dan egans the death and life of the great lakes. The natural history of a changing region, by wayne grady, 2007. After college he moved to milwaukee and became a prizewinning reporter for. But because the lakes are so extensive, border so many states and two countries. Mar 07, 2017 the death and life of the great lakes by dan egan gives the reader a good picture of the great lakes and the troubles which they face today. William ashworth describes the formation of the lakes, the impact of european settlement, and. And the science friday book club is reading all about the lakes this month, looking at dan egans book, the death and life of the great lakes.
An environmental history great lakes books series william. The great lakes form the largest surface freshwater system on earth. There are a total of 43 areas of concern within the great lakes, 26 being in the united states, 17 in canada, with five shared by the two countries the great lakes, the largest system of fresh water lakes in the world, are shared by the united. This compact natural history of the great lakes region is really a passion ate plea for an awakening to the crises faced by the lakes and surrounding land. Discussion questions for the death and life of the great. In the oceanic depths of the great lakes, life and death swirl like coffee and cream.
Fishing the great lakes is a sweeping history of the destruction of the. The death and life of the great lakes by dan egan gives the reader a good picture of the great lakes and the troubles which they face today. The reason for these changes is the ongoing dumping of toxic chemicals from industrial plants. Plastic debris makes up 77% to 90% of the total shoreline debris continued. The 1978 great lakes water quality agreement set an overall goal to rid the great lakes of persistent toxic substances pollutants that come from many sources and can damage the health of all species because they remain in the environment for a long time using an. Ashworth uncovers no startling new toxic threats or corporate crimes here, but the book is, if unintentionally, an interesting glimpse of how far pollution control has come in the past 20 yearsand how very far it has to go. The death and life of the great lakes by dan egan goodreads. The ijc reported on pollution issues in the great lakes and their connecting channels several times from 1918 to the late 1960s as part of its responsibilities under the boundary waters treaty.
Epa 905b95001 the great lakes an environmental atlas and resource book r. The great lakes environmental assessment and mapping project a group of about 20 american and canadian researchers and environmentalists produced the data for this map, which illustrates the cumulative impacts of human activity across the great lakes. Students will have a space to ask questions that will be recorded on an inquiry wall. Through the text great lakes by kimberly valzania students should become aware of the great lakes, their location, some history, and their purpose and use. Canada and the united states agreed to reduce pollution from industries. The five great lakes, huron, ontario, michigan, erie and superior have a total coastline of almost 11,000 miles. And so it came as a revelation to me to read dan egans deeply researched and sharply written the death and life of the great lakes.
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