Multiple Stressors of Lakes of Muskoka: Past and Current Challenges Dr. Norman Yan
We have solved many environmental problems • Eutrophication caused by excessive phosphorus loading
• Acid Rain caused mainly by sulphur dioxide emissions
• Loss of Birds due to DDT and other chlorinated pesticides
• Lead Pollution from leaded gasoline
• Ozone Depletion caused by CFCs
• Cosmetic Use of Pesticides
Eutrophication EUTROPHICATION Acid Rain DDT Lead Ozone Depletion Lawn pesticides Development Mercury Climate Change Calcium decline Road Salt Invaders Novel chemicals
Recovery of Gravenhurst Bay from Eutrophication EUTROPHICATION Acid Rain DDT Lead Ozone Depletion Lawn pesticides Development Mercury Climate Change Calcium decline Road Salt Invaders Novel chemicals
Acid Rain Eutrophication ACID RAIN DDT Lead Ozone Depletion Lawn pesticides Development Mercury Climate Change Calcium decline Road Salt Invaders Novel chemicals
We Have Reduced SO2 Emissions Eutrophication ACID RAIN DDT Lead Ozone Depletion Lawn pesticides Development Mercury Climate Change Calcium decline Road Salt Invaders Novel chemicals
Acidity Has Fallen Eutrophication ACID RAIN DDT Lead Ozone Depletion Lawn pesticides Development Mercury Climate Change Calcium decline Road Salt Invaders Novel chemicals
pH in 2004/5
7
6
5
5
6
pH in 1980s
7
DDT Levels Have Fallen Everywhere Eutrophication Acid Rain DDT Lead Ozone Depletion Lawn pesticides Development Mercury Climate Change Calcium decline Road Salt Invaders Novel chemicals
Eutrophication Acid Rain DDT Lead Ozone Depletion Lawn pesticides Development Mercury Climate Change Calcium decline Road Salt Invaders Novel chemicals
DDT in Breast Milk in North America Eutrophication Acid Rain DDT Lead Ozone Depletion Lawn pesticides Development Mercury Climate Change Calcium decline Road Salt Invaders Novel chemicals
Environmental Lead Levels Have Plummeted‌ Eutrophication Acid Rain DDT LEAD Ozone Depletion Lawn pesticides Development Mercury Climate Change Calcium decline Road Salt Invaders Novel chemicals
…and Blood Lead Levels Have Fallen in Response Eutrophication Acid Rain DDT LEAD Ozone Depletion Lawn pesticides Development Mercury Climate Change Calcium decline Road Salt Invaders Novel chemicals
Toxic level
Mean Lead Concentrations (ppm) in Toronto Maple Tree Foliage 1971 - 2004 90 80
Lead Concentration (ppm)
Eutrophication Acid Rain DDT LEAD Ozone Depletion Lawn pesticides Development Mercury Climate Change Calcium decline Road Salt Invaders Novel chemicals
78.2
70 60.5
60
56.4
55.2 50.0
50 40 30
24.4
24.3
22.3
Toxic level
20
21.8
20.2
10 3.2
1.0
1.7 0.9
1.3 1.3
1.3 0.7
1.6 0.9
0 0 to 5
5 to 10
10 to 15
15 to 20
Km from City Centre Pb 1971
Pb 1981
Pb 1991
Pb 2004
20 to 30
Global CFC Production (t/year) & Release Plummeted Eutrophication Acid Rain DDT Lead OZONE DEPLETION Lawn pesticides Development Mercury Climate Change Calcium decline Road Salt Invaders Novel chemicals
And Behind My Bracebridge Home Eutrophication Acid Rain DDT Lead Ozone Depletion LAWN PESTICIDES Development Mercury Climate Change Calcium decline Road Salt Invaders Novel chemicals
Solving these Environmental Problems Required: EUTROPHICATION ACID RAIN DDT LEAD OZONE DEPLETION LAWN PESTICIDES Development Mercury Climate Change Calcium decline Road Salt Invaders Novel chemicals
• Knowledge problem recognition, cause identification, evaluation of possible solutions
• Will public engagement, ie education and marketing
• Action policy change, reasoned intervention
• Re-assessments to prove success
What are the current environmental issues Facing Muskoka?
Certainly Ongoing Pressures from Development Eutrophication Acid Rain DDT Lead Ozone Depletion Lawn pesticides DEVELOPMENT Mercury Climate Change Calcium decline Road Salt Invaders Novel chemicals
Stress Linked to Overall Development in Muskoka Eutrophication Acid Rain DDT Lead Ozone Depletion Lawn pesticides DEVELOPMENT Mercury Climate Change Calcium decline Road Salt Invaders Novel chemicals 2014 Muskoka Watershed Report Card
Mercury Pollution Remains a Threat to Loons and Other Fish-Eating Wildlife Eutrophication Acid Rain DDT Lead Ozone Depletion Lawn pesticides Development MERCURY Climate Change Calcium decline Road Salt Invaders Novel chemicals
The Climate is Changing: Departure of Annual Temperature from the 1950-1980 Mean Eutrophication Acid Rain DDT Lead Ozone Depletion Lawn pesticides Development Mercury CLIMATE CHANGE Calcium decline Road Salt Invaders Novel chemicals
Eutrophication Acid Rain DDT Lead Ozone Depletion Lawn pesticides Development Mercury Climate Change CALCIUM DECLINE Road Salt Invaders Novel chemicals
Ice-free season mean Ca (mg/L)
Calcium Levels are Falling ie. Plastic Lake near the Frost Centre 2.2
Proposed Ca thresholds for Daphnia:
2.0
Ashforth & Yan: 1.5 mg/L Cairns et al: 1.3 to 1.7 mg/L DeSellas et al: 1.5-2 mg/L
1.8
1.6
1.4
1.2
2004 1.0 1975
1980
1985
1990
1995
Year
2000
2005
2010
2015
All Life Needs Calcium (Ca) Eutrophication Acid Rain DDT Lead Ozone Depletion Lawn pesticides Development Mercury Climate Change CALCIUM DECLINE Road Salt Invaders Novel chemicals
Stress Linked to Calcium Decline in Muskoka Eutrophication Acid Rain DDT Lead Ozone Depletion Lawn pesticides Development Mercury Climate Change CALCIUM DECLINE Road Salt Invaders Novel chemicals 2014 Muskoka Watershed Report Card
1.5 Million Tonnes of Salt are used on Canada’s Roads Eutrophication Acid Rain DDT Lead Ozone Depletion Lawn pesticides Development Mercury Climate Change Calcium decline ROAD SALT Invaders Novel chemicals
Chloride Levels Have Risen in Lakes of Muskoka Near Highways 100
Jevins Lake 80
60
Cl (mg/L)
Eutrophication Acid Rain DDT Lead Ozone Depletion Lawn pesticides Development Mercury Climate Change Calcium decline ROAD SALT Invaders Novel chemicals
Ada & Webster lakes 40
Wolfkin Lake
20
LC50 for Cl (0.2 mg C/L food)
0 0
50
100
150
Rank of Cl Rank of Lake by Cl Level
200
All of the Lakes with High Cl are Beside WinterMaintained Highways ie. Jevins Lake Eutrophication Acid Rain DDT Lead Ozone Depletion Lawn pesticides Development Mercury Climate Change Calcium decline ROAD SALT Invaders Novel chemicals
And Road Salt is More Damaging in Nutrient-poor Lakes 300 250
LC50 (CaCl2)
y = 251.95x - 23.59 R² = 0.9323
LC50 (NaCl)
14-Day LC50 (mg Cl-/L)
Eutrophication Acid Rain DDT Lead Ozone Depletion Lawn pesticides Development Mercury Climate Change Calcium decline ROAD SALT Invaders Novel chemicals
y = 308.55x - 29.71 R² = 0.9118
200 150 CWQG (120 mg Cl-/L)
100 50 0 0
0.2
0.4
0.6
Food (mg C/L)
0.8
1
1.2
Eutrophication Acid Rain DDT Lead Ozone Depletion Lawn pesticides Development Mercury Climate Change Calcium decline Road Salt INVADERS Novel chemicals
Stress Linked to Invading Species in Muskoka Eutrophication Acid Rain DDT Lead Ozone Depletion Lawn pesticides Development Mercury Climate Change Calcium decline Road Salt INVADERS Novel chemicals 2014 Muskoka Watershed Report Card
Novel chemicals are appearing in Ontario lakes: Eutrophication Acid Rain DDT Lead Ozone Depletion Lawn pesticides Development Mercury Climate Change Calcium decline Road Salt Invaders NOVEL CHEMICALS
Pharmaceuticals Flame retardants Cosmetics Plasticizers Nano-materials Micro-plastics
In summary Many issues have been resolved • Eutrophication • Acid rain • Ozone depletion • Smelter pollution • Lead pollution • Chlorinated pesticides • Lawn pesticides
But others are worsening • Calcium decline • Invading species • Road salt • Climate change • Development pressures • Novel chemicals
Which of the Current Threats May be Helped by Local Action? • • • • • •
Calcium decline (in part) Invaders (in part) Road salt Climate change (in part) Development pressures Novel chemicals
Can we solve environmental problems? Yes Will we solve these developing problems? ???