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The UWS UWM Great Lakes WATER Institute

Freshwater Research Science Centers Academic Programs Facilities &Technology

Our Mission: To advance fundamental and strategic science that will inform

policy, improve management, and promote the health of the Great Lakes and

freshwater systems world-wide.

www4.uwm.edu/freshwater

25 April 2013

Clean Rivers, Clean LakesDr. J. Val Klump

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They are changing

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3

lakes are very different today than even 10 years ago

the speed and magnitude of change is dramatic

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Habitat alterations Climate change

Coastal Development Fisheries management

Invasive species

NPS runoff

Toxic substances

cumulative environmental stresses

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Major issues, tippingpoints & stressors

1. Runoff

2. Ecological integrity3. Climate change

~ Closed basins

what goes in stays in

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Runoff: urban and rural- event driven

~ 70-80% of loading in 10 days

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7/35Lake Erie: 9 October 2011

Changing climate &

agricultural practices

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8/35Lake Erie: 9 October 2011

1 ppb = WHO drinking water limit20 ppb = WHO swimming limit

W. Lake Erie (2011) 1200 ppb

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Nutrient inputs drive hypoxia

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Widespread seasonal hypoxia

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Dreissenid mussel invasion: zebra (1990s) quagga (2000s)

mussels

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Dreissenid mussel invasion: zebra (1990s) quagga (2000s)

mussels

Amphipods

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Collapse of the food chain in < 10 years

Dreissenid mussel invasion: zebra (1990s) quagga (2000s)

mussels

Amphipods

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The water is gin clear, youcan see 90 feet down parts

are now clearer than LakeSuperior

500 million pounds of quagga mussels= 4 x weight of all prey fish species

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1995-98 2007-08

87% declinein phytoplankton biomass

70% declinein phytoplankton primary production

Over 30% of water

column filtered

each day

2 generations

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15% drop in Ca++

!

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Oct. 9, 2011

Unprecedented nearshore HABs,

unprecedented offshore clarity

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beach

Photic zone

Deeper

Photic zone

Lake level

mussels

Zone of Cladophora growth

Expanded Zone of Clad. growth

nutrients

Increased water clarity

Avian botulism

Quagga mussel colonization of deep water

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AVIAN BOTULISM

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What about climate change?

lake effect snow

2/98

4/98

6/988/9

810

/9812

/982/99

4/99

6/998/9

910

/9912

/992/0

4/0

6/0

8/010

/012

/02/1

DATE IN 1998 - 2000

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40PH

OTOSYNTHES

ISATDEP

TH

5

10

1520

20

20

25

25

25

30

30

30

30

35

35

35

35

4

0

40

40

40

404

5

45

45

45

45

45

50

505055

55

60

60

65

70

75

8085

90

PHYTOPLANKTON PHOTOSYNTHESIS ( ugC / L / DAY )

98 El Nino

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a warmer Wisconsin

+ 4-9 F. hotter by 2090

downscaled climate

projections for WisconsinWICCI

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2012 a warm year

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Outflow-removed

Precipitation-driven

Summer evaporation

Fall evaporation?

Fig. 19 (a) Outflow-removed lake level (red), precipitation-driven lake level (black),

(b) difference between the curves.

A

B of increase is during summer

months alone

Air temperatures have remainednear constant

Hanrahan & Roebber 2011

Evaporation has increased about 25% since 1980

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The Past the Future ??

Lake levels

4 ft

1910 1960 2010 2060

B tt t

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J uly 2012 Aug 2012 Sept 2012 Oct 2012

J une 2011 J uly 2011 Aug 2011 Sept 2011

J uly 2010 Aug 2010 Sept 2009

Bottom waterdissolved oxygen

mg/L

Onset of stratification Duration

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Yet, also a wetter Wisconsin

annual precipitation

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frequency of intense rain events

50-100%

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30

Aginginfrastructure

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Watershed management

riparian corridor fragmentation/protection

Land cover soil loss and watershed export models

TMDLs nutrient and sediment loading

NPS control - BMPs

Wetland restoration

Watershed Management

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Downspout

disconnects

mmsd.com

Its rain barrel season

Fertil ize responsibly

Individual Action

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Thank you

Neeskay = native American word for clean pure water

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Decreasing ice cover rising water temps 2x > air

days of 90% or greater ice coverupper middle Green Bay 1973-2002

year

1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000

no.ofday

s

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

~ 5 days per decade decrease

Green Bay ice cover

Bayfield Harbor, L Superior:Last boat in fall, 1st boat in spring