|
| |
Focus
|
Great Lakes: Resource at Risk Scott Fields Abstract According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Great Lakes contain 21% of the Earth’s and about 84% of the United States’ surface freshwater. The Great Lakes provide water for both drinking and recreation, and are a heavily traveled waterway for transporting farmed, mined, and manufactured materials. Over the years the lakes have become heavily polluted by the industries that ring the lakes, and they continue to see new introductions of invasive exotic species--such as the sea lamprey and the zebra mussel--that decimate native species. A number of programs are under way to address problems in the Great Lakes, and some progress has been made toward mitigating pollution in the lakes. But many other environmental stressors are proving more difficult to change. The full version of this article is available for free in HTML or PDF formats. |
|
|
|
|