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THE DETROIT RIVER AS A CHEMICAL LOADING SOURCE TO LAKE ERIE
Citation:
Haffner, G. D., R G. Kreis, K. G. Drouillard, M. Tomczak, AND S. Reitsma. THE DETROIT RIVER AS A CHEMICAL LOADING SOURCE TO LAKE ERIE. Presented at Lake Erie at the Millennium Conference, Windsor, Ontario, Canada, March 28-29, 2001.
Description:
The Detroit River, one of 42 designated areas of concern., has been classified as one of the most polluted rivers in North America. This system receives chemical loadings from a variety of sources including upstream discharges, industrial/municipal point sources, combined sewage outflows, non point sources and re-suspension of historically contaminated sediments.--- The effects of apparent load decreases on Lake Erie are casual and are not necessarily well-documented in terms of reduction-recovery; however, decreases in Lake Erie sediment concentrations, contaminants in fish, and recovery of mayfly populations may be indicators of improvements.
In this study, we summarize the results of water biomonitoring surveys (1996-2000), sediment surveys (1999) and food web sampling surveys (1991-2000) performed along the Detroit River length and contrast these data with a reference site located at Middle Sister Island in the wester basin of Lake Erie.---
Interpretation of the above datasets to estimate annual Lake Erie loadings rates, requires the
development of calibrated hydraulic models. The development of a Detroit River hydraulic model, its application, and validation of model predicted loading rates using appropriate
sampling and monitoring designs are to be discussed. It is apparent that the Huron-Erie corridor
should be considered a "Management Unit" and monitoring, modeling, and decisions should
be made on a corridor-wide basis.