GLIN==> EPA Releases First-Ever Baseline Study of U.S. Lakes

*EPA Releases First-Ever Baseline Study of U.S. Lakes *
Release date: 12/18/2009
http://www.epa.gov/lakessurvey/  

Contact Information: Enesta Jones, jones.enesta at epa.gov, 202-564-7873, 
202-564-4355

*
WASHINGTON -* The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today released 
its most comprehensive study of the nation’s lakes to date. The

draft study, which rated the condition of 56 percent of the lakes in the 
United States as good and the remainder as fair or poor, marked the first

time EPA and its partners used a nationally consistent approach to 
survey the ecological and water quality of lakes. A total of 1,028 lakes

were randomly sampled during 2007 by states, tribes and EPA.


“This survey serves as a first step in evaluating the success of efforts 
to protect, preserve, and restore the quality of our nation’s lakes,” said

Peter Silva, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Water. “Future 
surveys will be able to track changes in lake water quality over time and

advance our understanding of important regional and national patterns in 
lake water quality.”


The National Lakes Assessment reveals that the remaining lakes are in 
fair or poor condition. Degraded lakeshore habitat, rated “poor” in 36

percent of lakes, was the most significant of the problems assessed. 
Removal of trees and shrubs and construction of docks, marinas, homes

and other structures along shorelines all contribute to degraded 
lakeshore habitat.


Nitrogen and phosphorous are found at high levels in 20 percent of 
lakes. Excess levels of these nutrients contribute to algae blooms, weed

growth, reduced water clarity, and other lake problems. EPA is very 
concerned about the adverse impacts of nutrients on aquatic life, drinking

water and recreation. The agency will continue to work with states to 
address water quality issues through effective nutrient management.

The survey included a comparison to a subset of lakes with wastewater 
impacts that were sampled in the 1970s. It finds that 75 percent show

either improvements or no change in phosphorus levels. This suggests 
that the nation’s investments in wastewater treatment and other

pollution control activities are working despite population increases 
across the country.


The results of this study describe the target population of the nation’s 
lakes as a whole and are not applicable to a particular lake.

Sampling for the National Rivers and Streams Assessment is underway, and 
results from this two-year study are expected to be available in

2011.


Details at:
http://www.epa.gov/lakessurvey/


Charles S. Spooner    
US Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Water    
Mail Code 4503T                                                         
       
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.                                            
Washington D.C. 20460                                                   
                             
Tel:  202-566-1174
Fax: 202-566-1437
spooner.charles at epa.gov

Office Location:
EPA West Building
1301 Constitution Avenue, NW
Room 7330R

 

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://www.great-lakes.net/lists/glin-announce/attachments/20091222/8fda595a/attachment.html