Nearshore conditions in the Great Lakes national parks: A baseline water quality and toxicological assessment
Hobbs WO, Lafrancois Moraska B, DiDonata E. 2016. Nearshore conditions in the Great Lakes national parks: A baseline water quality and toxicological assessment. Park Science. 32(2):36-45
In summer 2010 the coastal water quality in Great Lake national parks was assessed in conjunction with the EPA National Coastal Condition Assessment program (NCCA). Here we present the main findings from this survey, summarize environmental quality, and test whether conditions within park boundaries differ from those in the larger lake. We found that water quality was generally good within park boundaries, as assessed using NCCA criteria, and did not differ significantly from the larger Lakes Michigan and Superior with one exception. Dissolved nitrogen concentrations within three park boundaries were shown to be significantly different than in the larger lakes. The presence of contaminants in sediments and fish in all nearshore parks was widespread. However, contaminant concentrations only exceeded environmental criteria in two sites in Lake Michigan parks, and toxicology results revealed that concentrations at these sites were not acutely toxic to sediment-dwelling invertebrates. Ultimately, the data set compiled during this study offers managers a common baseline on which to build future monitoring efforts.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Hobbs, William; Lafrancois Moraska; DiDonata, Eva
- Units
- APIS , INDU , ISRO , PIRO , SLBE
- Keywords
- coastal parks, contaminants, Great Lakes, nearshore health, water quality