Assessment of Impacts of Unrefined Liquid Hydrocarbons on Aquatic Ecosystems of the Great Lakes

Session: 44. - Unrefined Hydrocarbon Transport in the Great Lakes Basin

John Bratton, Limnotech, [email protected]
Jennifer Daley, LimnoTech, University of Michigan, [email protected]
Michael Murray, National Wildlife Federation, Great Lakes Regional Center, [email protected]
David Allan, University of Michigan, Sch. For Environment and Sustainability, [email protected]
Matthew Child, International Joint Commission, [email protected]

Abstract

A recent review of potential impacts of unrefined hydrocarbons on ecosystems of the Great Lakes was conducted in cooperation with a work group of the International Joint Commission Science Advisory Board. Important findings of the assessment include the following: detailed ecological geodatabases of the lakes need to be screened for oil spill vulnerabilities; density and weathering of light crude versus diluted oil sand crude products need to be considered when ecosystem vulnerabilities are assessed; and longer term ecological impacts and effective remediation techniques, especially for freshwater benthic and wetland habitats, are not well understood. Data, technology, and knowledge gaps include: inadequate numerical models to represent physical and ecological conditions at high resolution during response; incomplete understanding of species-specific risk from spills, especially culturally and commercially important species, amphibians, reptiles, and semi-aquatic mammals; uncertainty in scaling of biomarkers of oil exposure up to the population level; and insufficient information on product-specific toxicity for bitumen products. Priority needs include: detailed and updated spawning and biological sensitivity maps of lakes to assess vulnerability to spills; and better assessment of how spills at stream crossings might impact river ecosystems, including consideration of seasonal variation in ecological sensitivity, to properly identify and reduce vulnerabilities.

1. Keyword
transportation

2. Keyword
PAHs

3. Keyword
toxic substances

4. Additional Keyword
ecosystems

5. Additional Keyword
oil spills

6. Additional Keyword
coastal