The St. Lawrence Seaway: How an The St. Lawrence Seaway: How an engineering marvel unleashed a biological engineering marvel unleashed a biological

plague on the Great Lakesplague on the Great Lakes

Presentation by Jeff Presentation by Jeff Alexander, author of Alexander, author of

“Pandora’s Locks: The “Pandora’s Locks: The Opening of the Great Opening of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Lakes-St. Lawrence

Seaway”Seaway”

In the beginning …In the beginning …Glaciers formed, then filled the Great LakesGlaciers formed, then filled the Great Lakes

The Great Lakes: A closed ecosystemThe Great Lakes: A closed ecosystem

The Great Lakes are perched above sea level, which (in The Great Lakes are perched above sea level, which (in lakes’ natural state) kept ocean species from enteringlakes’ natural state) kept ocean species from entering

This freshwater ecosystem was … This freshwater ecosystem was …

Natural barriers kept ocean species from entering the lakesNatural barriers kept ocean species from entering the lakes

• • UniqueUnique••Biologically isolated Biologically isolated

from the oceansfrom the oceans• • PERFECTPERFECT

1600s: Europeans settlers 1600s: Europeans settlers arrive in the regionarrive in the region

1800s: Erie and Welland canals 1800s: Erie and Welland canals bypass Niagara Falls, allow sea bypass Niagara Falls, allow sea lamprey, other ocean species lamprey, other ocean species

into Great Lakesinto Great Lakes

Important note: Lake freighters, so-called lakers, have carried the vast majority of cargo on the Great

Lakes for more than a century. Lake freighters haven’t imported any foreign species into the Great

Lakes. The reason: These ships never leave the Great Lakes.

Wedding of the Waters Wedding of the Waters 1959: The St. Lawrence Seaway opens1959: The St. Lawrence Seaway opens

Economic gain, ecological painEconomic gain, ecological painThe Seaway:The Seaway:

• • Allowed ocean freighters into the Allowed ocean freighters into the Great Lakes for the first time.Great Lakes for the first time.

• • Linked Great Lakes ports/ships to Linked Great Lakes ports/ships to the global shipping network.the global shipping network.

• • Created modest economic gain, Created modest economic gain, major ecological pain.major ecological pain.

• • Unforeseen side effect: Ocean ships Unforeseen side effect: Ocean ships carry up to 5 million gallons ballast of carry up to 5 million gallons ballast of water teeming with foreign species.water teeming with foreign species.

• • Ballast water discharges largely Ballast water discharges largely unregulated from 1959-2006. unregulated from 1959-2006.

• • Ocean freighters dumped about 50 Ocean freighters dumped about 50 billion gallon of untreated ballast billion gallon of untreated ballast water in Great Lakeswater in Great Lakes

Important note:

This is an ocean freighter, or salty. Ocean freighters — not

lake freighters — import invasive foreign species into the Great Lakes. Ocean freighters

have imported 57of 186 invasive species in the Great

Lakes.

1960s: Invasions begin1960s: Invasions begin

Foreign worms, clams and microscopic invaders Foreign worms, clams and microscopic invaders discovered in the Great Lakes in the 1960s and ’70s. discovered in the Great Lakes in the 1960s and ’70s.

No one sounded the alarm.No one sounded the alarm.

Key datesKey dates

• • 1959: Seaway opened.1959: Seaway opened.

• 1972: Clean Water Act regulated ballast water discharges 1972: Clean Water Act regulated ballast water discharges from domestic and foreign ships operating on U.S. waters.from domestic and foreign ships operating on U.S. waters.

• 1973: U.S. EPA declared ballast water exempt from the 1973: U.S. EPA declared ballast water exempt from the Clean Water Act.Clean Water Act.

• 1981: Canadian study found hundreds of foreign species 1981: Canadian study found hundreds of foreign species (including zebra mussels) in ballast water tanks of ocean (including zebra mussels) in ballast water tanks of ocean freighters entering the Great Lakes via the St. Lawrence freighters entering the Great Lakes via the St. Lawrence Seaway. U.S. and Canadian agencies that regulated Seaway. U.S. and Canadian agencies that regulated shipping ignored the study’s findings. shipping ignored the study’s findings.

I hate the ’80s: Invaders storm the lakesI hate the ’80s: Invaders storm the lakes

• 1984: Spiny water flea 1984: Spiny water flea

• 1986: Eurasian ruffe 1986: Eurasian ruffe

• 1988: Zebra mussels 1988: Zebra mussels

• 1989: Quagga mussels 1989: Quagga mussels

• 1990: Round gobies1990: Round gobies

Consequences of ocean freighters Consequences of ocean freighters infecting the Great Lakes with infecting the Great Lakes with

foreign invasive speciesforeign invasive species

Sucking the life out of the lakesSucking the life out of the lakes

Each zebra Each zebra and quagga and quagga mussel can mussel can filter up to 1 filter up to 1 liter of water liter of water per day, per day, increasing increasing water clarity water clarity and stealing and stealing plankton plankton from fish. from fish. Clear water Clear water also also promotes promotes excessive excessive algae algae growth.growth.

In 2009, scientists estimated there were 500 TRILLION In 2009, scientists estimated there were 500 TRILLION quagga mussels in Lake Michiganquagga mussels in Lake Michigan

*

Clearer water leads to excessive algae Clearer water leads to excessive algae

Algae blooms have closed numerous scenic beaches in the Great Algae blooms have closed numerous scenic beaches in the Great Lakes basin, including Petoskey State Park’s (below) in Michigan Lakes basin, including Petoskey State Park’s (below) in Michigan

Round gobies taking over the Great LakesRound gobies taking over the Great Lakes

10 BILLION gobies in western Lake Erie;10 BILLION gobies in western Lake Erie;

Even more (10 million pounds) of gobies in Lake MichiganEven more (10 million pounds) of gobies in Lake Michigan

Foreign mussels contribute to Type E botulism outbreaks Foreign mussels contribute to Type E botulism outbreaks that have killed more than 70,000 Great Lakes water that have killed more than 70,000 Great Lakes water

birdsbirds

Zebra and quagga mussels triggering toxic algae blooms in lakes Zebra and quagga mussels triggering toxic algae blooms in lakes across Midwest, Northeast; some strains more toxic than cyanideacross Midwest, Northeast; some strains more toxic than cyanide

1989: One year after zebra mussels 1989: One year after zebra mussels were found in the Great Lakeswere found in the Great Lakes

2009: Foreign mussels a plague on waters of N. 2009: Foreign mussels a plague on waters of N. America America

Mussel painMussel painQuagga mussels take over Lake MichiganQuagga mussels take over Lake Michigan

After foreign mussels arrived, the most important source After foreign mussels arrived, the most important source of Great Lakes fish food began to vanishof Great Lakes fish food began to vanish

Population changes of Population changes of diporeia diporeia (freshwater shrimp, right) in lakes (freshwater shrimp, right) in lakes

Michigan and Huron after zebra and Michigan and Huron after zebra and quagga mussels invaded the lakes.quagga mussels invaded the lakes.

Fish food disappearing; salmon, whitefish shrinkingFish food disappearing; salmon, whitefish shrinking

Ship-borne invaders in the Great LakesShip-borne invaders in the Great Lakes• • Ocean freighters have imported 57 Ocean freighters have imported 57

foreign species into the Great Lakesforeign species into the Great Lakes• • 70,000+ birds killed70,000+ birds killed• • Fisheries disruptedFisheries disrupted• • Most profound changes ever Most profound changes ever

recorded in some Great Lakes.recorded in some Great Lakes.• • Scope: 23 states, 2 provincesScope: 23 states, 2 provinces• • Zebra mussel damage: $1 billionZebra mussel damage: $1 billion• • Ongoing damage from ship-borne Ongoing damage from ship-borne

invasives: About $200-$400 million invasives: About $200-$400 million per yearper year

• • Total damage: ??? Still growingTotal damage: ??? Still growing

SummarySummary• St. Lawrence Seaway was an:St. Lawrence Seaway was an:

– Engineering marvelEngineering marvel– Economic underachieverEconomic underachiever– Environmental disasterEnvironmental disaster

• Should we close the Seaway?Should we close the Seaway?– It’s the only 100% effective It’s the only 100% effective

protection against new ship-protection against new ship-borne invaders, but unlikely to borne invaders, but unlikely to happen.happen.

– Costs vs. benefitsCosts vs. benefits– Impact on jobsImpact on jobs

Glimmers of hopeGlimmers of hopeThe Great Lakes are changing but all is not lostThe Great Lakes are changing but all is not lost

• • The Great Lakes are resilient.The Great Lakes are resilient.

• • A few native species A few native species benefiting from invaders.benefiting from invaders.

• • Improved ballast water Improved ballast water regulations offer better regulations offer better protection for the lakes. protection for the lakes.

Just when you thought the Just when you thought the great invasion of the Great great invasion of the Great

Lakes by foreign species Lakes by foreign species couldn’t get any worse …couldn’t get any worse …

Enter Frankenfish?Enter Frankenfish?

Enemies at our doorstep: Asian carpEnemies at our doorstep: Asian carp• • Imported in ‘60s, ‘70s to Imported in ‘60s, ‘70s to commercial fish farms in commercial fish farms in Arkansas.Arkansas.

• • Four species (silver, Four species (silver, bighead carp the worst).bighead carp the worst).

• • Escaped fish farms, Escaped fish farms, entered Mississippi River.entered Mississippi River.

• • Migrated North; Asian carp Migrated North; Asian carp DNA found in Lake Michigan.DNA found in Lake Michigan.

• • Millions of Asian carp in Millions of Asian carp in the Mississippi, Illinois, the Mississippi, Illinois, Missouri rivers.Missouri rivers.

• • Threat to Great Lakes’ $7 Threat to Great Lakes’ $7 billion fishery, $16 billion billion fishery, $16 billion boating industry. boating industry.

Is Asian carp invasion of the Great Lakes inevitable?Is Asian carp invasion of the Great Lakes inevitable?

Maps show the Maps show the distribution of distribution of bighead Asian bighead Asian carp (left) and carp (left) and silver Asian carp silver Asian carp (right) in U.S. (right) in U.S. waters.waters.

Now what? Prepare for battle!Now what? Prepare for battle!

E-mail elected officials; demand action; support nonprofit groupsE-mail elected officials; demand action; support nonprofit groups

Let’s Save the Great Lakes!Let’s Save the Great Lakes!

For more information please visit www.jeffalexander.orgFor more information please visit www.jeffalexander.org