It feeds us, it quenches our thirst, yet it’s under threat: A report card for western Lake Erie

Session: Connecting Management Needs and Science Information (2)

Alexandra Fries, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, [email protected]
Brianne Walsh, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, [email protected]
Andrew Elmore, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, [email protected]
William Dennison, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, [email protected]

Abstract

One-third of the total population of the Great Lakes basin live on the shores of Lake Erie, 11 million people drink Lake Erie water, and Lake Erie fish feed more people than the other four Great Lakes combined. The western basin of Lake Erie is the shallowest sub-basin, and the Maumee River, flowing into the western basin, is the largest watershed of any Great Lake basin. These socio-environmental conditions, combined with extensive agriculture across the watershed, has led to high nutrient flows into the basin and associated harmful algal blooms, impacting drinking water quality for millions of people. One way of communicating these challenges, and progress towards shared conservation goals, is through the use of environmental report cards. Environmental report cards have been developed for many ecosystems revealing many common themes related to environmental indicators and application of meaningful thresholds. Through an intense stakeholder engagement process, we are creating an environmental report card that synthesizes data on the spatial configuration of stressors, ecological condition, and management responses for the western Lake Erie basin. This quantitative analysis is paired with graphically sophisticated communication elements, aimed at helping the community identify and address the most egregious threats to the basin.