The Great Lakes are an invaluable natural resource, containing more than one fifth of the world’s surface fresh water by volume and providing drinking water, commerce, and recreation opportunities to millions. People are drawn to live and work by the water’s edge, but they also contribute to many of the environmental problems facing the lake. A combination of land use changes, industrialization, and incompatible development have led to the emergence of a myriad of environmental issues facing Great Lakes communities. Harmful algal blooms, toxic legacy sediments, and aquatic invasive species are but a few examples of emerging dilemmas. Making matters worse, changing climatic conditions are exacerbating some of these problems and creating economic and public health concerns for coastal populations. This discussion, led by Dr. Scott Hardy, Extension Educator for the Ohio Sea Grant College Program, will delve into the science behind some of the most pressing issues facing Lake Erie and the Cuyahoga River, and offer insights into how society can work to address them.
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