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The Great Lakes
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Categories of Use Impairments

 

 

The Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement list 14 beneficial uses that may be impaired and in need of restoration. The four general categories below contain the 14 impairments identified by number based upon the sequence in which they appear in the agreement.

Ecological Health and Reproduction

  • Degradation of fish and wildlife populations (3)
  • Degradation of benthic populations (6)
  • Degradation of phytoplankton and zooplankton (13)
  • Undesirable algae/eutrophication (which may cause low dissolved oxygen levels, which may, in turn, cause other impairments) (8)
  • Fish tumors and other deformities (4)
  • Bird or animal deformities or reproduction problems (5)

Human Health

  • Restrictions on fish and wildlife consumption (1)
  • Beach closings (bacteria) (10)

Human Use (Welfare)

  • Tainting of fish and fildlife flavor (2)
  • Restrictions on dredging (7)
  • Taste and odor in drinking water (9)
  • Degradation of aesthetics (11)
  • Added costs for agriculture or industry (12)

Fish and Wildlife Habitat (14)

 

 

 

Geographic Areas Of Concern: Impaired Uses

Area of Concern Ecological Health
and Reproduction 		Habitat Human
Health 		Human Use /
Welfare
Lake
Superior 		Peninsula Harbour 3 6 14 1 7 9
Jackfish Bay 3 4 5? 14 1? 6 7 11
Nipigon Bay 3 4? 6 8 14 1 2 7 11
Thunder Bay 3 4 5? 6 13 14 1 10 7 11 12
St. Louis Bay/River 3 4 5? 6 14 1 10 2? 7 11
Torch Lake 6
Deer Lake-Carp Creek/River 1
Lake
Michigan 		Manistique River 6 14 1 10 7 11
Menominee River 3 6 14 1 10 7
Fox River/Southern Green Bay 3 4? 5 6 8 13 14 1 10 2? 7 9 11
Sheboygan River 3 4 5 6 8 13 14 1 7
Milwaukee Estuary 3 4 5 6 8 13 14 1 10 7 11
Waukegan Harbor 3? 5? 6 13 14 1 10 2? 7 9?
Grand Calumet River/Indiana Harbor Canal 3 4 5 6 8 13 14 1 10 2 7 9 11 12
Kalamazoo River 5? 14 1
Muskegon Lake 3 5? 6 8 13? 14 1 7 9 11
White Lake 3 5? 6 8 13? 14 1 7 9 11
Lake
Huron 		Saginaw River/Bay 3 5 6 8 13 14 1 10 2 7 9 11
Collingwood Harbour
Severn Sound 3 6 8 14 1 7 11
Spanish Harbour 3 5? 6? 13? 14? 1 10 7 12
Lake
Erie 		Clinton River 3 4 6 8 13 14 1 10 7 11
Rouge River 3 4 6 8 14 1 10 7 11
River Raisin 6 1 7
Maumee River 3 4 6 8 1 10 7 9 11
Black River 3 4 5 6 8 13? 14 1 10 2? 7 11
Cuyahoga River 3 4 5? 6 8 13? 14 1 10 2? 7 9? 11
Ashtabula River 3 4 6 14 1 7
Presque Isle Bay 4 6? 10 7
Wheatley Harbour 4? 6? 8? 14 10? 7
Lake
Ontario 		Buffalo River 3? 4 5? 6 14 1 2? 7
Eighteen Mile Creek 6? 14? 1? 7?
Rochester Embayment 3 4? 5 6 8 13 14 1 10 2? 9 11 12
Oswego River 3 4? 5? 6? 8 13? 14 1 11?
Bay of Quinte 3 4? 6 8 13 14 1 10 7 9 11
Port Hope 7
Metro Toronto 3 4? 5? 6 8 13? 14 1 10 7 11
Hamilton Harbour 3 4 5 6 8 14 1 7 11
Connecting Channels St. Marys River 3 4 6 8 14 1 10 7 11
St. Clair River 4? 5 6 14 1 10 2? 7 9 11 12
Detroit River 4 6 14 1 10 7 9 11
Niagara River (Ontario) 3 5 6 8 13? 14 1 10 7 9
Niagara River (New York) 3? 4 5? 6 14 1 7
St. Lawrence River (Cornwall) 3 4 5 6 8 13? 14 1 10 2? 7 9 11 12
St. Lawrence River (Massena) 3? 4? 5? 6? 14 1

 

Symbols used:

  • The numbers identify specific use-impairment categories used in the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement.
  • Question marks indicate impairments being investigated.

Adapted from: Progress in Great Lakes Remedial Action Plans 1994. DF: 6/8/94

 
 
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