LAKE SUPERIOR LAKEWIDE ACTION
AND MANAGEMENT PLAN
Annual Report 2014
In this Issue
Overview......................................................... 1
Accomplishments........................................ 2
Addressing Challenges............................... 3
Watershed Map............................................. 4
Contact Information.................................... 4

What is the LaMP?
Under the Great Lakes Water Quality
Agreement, the governments of
Canada and the United States are
obligated to protect the physical,
biological and chemical integrity of the
waters of the Great Lakes.
The Lakewide Action and Management
Plan (LAMP) includes shared ecosystem
goals, threats, required actions and
results.
The Lake Superior Binational Program
(LSBP) implements the LAMP as well
as the Zero Discharge Demonstration
Program, unique to Lake Superior,
with the goal to virtually eliminate the
input of nine chemical pollutants. The
LSBP is a partnership of federal, state,
provincial and tribal organizations.
Many actions are implemented through
the Canada-Ontario Agreement (COA)
on Great Lakes Water Quality and
Ecosystem Health, 2014 and the U.S.
Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI).

Overview
The Lake Superior ecosystem is in good to very good condition as a result of a long
term, cooperative, binational partnership between the United States and Canada to
protect this beautiful resource. Key levels of the aquatic food web are healthy. Water
quality is good, with many contaminants in lower concentrations than in the past.
Progress is being made to restore degraded areas and protect important habitats.
The introduction and spread of aquatic invasive species has slowed down; and
Lake Superior natural resources are increasingly being used in a sustainable and/or
responsible manner.
While in good condition, the Lake Superior ecosystem is facing serious ongoing and
emerging challenges. Contaminants continue to cause fish consumption advisories
and/or exceed water quality guidelines. Mercury is found in higher concentrations
in Lake Superior fish than in other Great Lakes fish. Mercury fish concentrations
have returned to levels observed in the 1980s and appear to be increasing. Invasive
sea lamprey continue to cause significant mortality for lake trout. Climate change
is negatively affecting the ecosystem; and an increase in mining and energy sector
activities has the potential to degrade habitat and release contaminants into the
Lake Superior ecosystem.

Canada-U.S. Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA) of 2012

Continual improvements to lakewide management are being made. Current areas
of focus are the lake ecosystem objectives, outreach and engagement plans, LAMPs,
and management of the nearshore waters. More information can be found at
www.binational.net. 

ISSN 2369-0917
Catalogue No.: En161-16/2014E-PDF

Lake trout are benefiting from good water quality, a healthy food web, progress in habitat and
species restoration, sound management of fisheries, and invasive species controls.
Photo Credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service..

 LAKE SUPERIOR LAKEWIDE ACTION AND MANAGEMENT PLAN
Annual Report 2014
Accomplishments

CSMI efforts focused on Lake Superior in 2011, and results show
many important findings, such as:
•  Lake Superior continues to have a robust native and
generally diverse fish community;
•  Over the past thirty years , the amount of surface water
flowing from rivers into Lake Superior has decreased by up
to 30 percent;
•  In Canada, the snowmelt is occurring about four to seven
days earlier than in the past; and
•  33 of 89 chemicals of emerging concern were detected in
St. Louis Bay near Duluth, MN/Superior, WI. This will inform
future management actions aiming to maintain good water
quality in the bay.

Reducing Chemical Pollutants

The Lake Superior Zero Discharge Demonstration Program
targets nine critical toxic chemicals for zero release by 2020.
National, state, provincial, and indigenous community actions
in both Canada and the United States have reduced discharges
and emissions from pollution sources within the basin, while
hazardous waste collections, disposal of polychlorinated
biphenyl (PCB)-containing equipment and open burning
abatement projects have reduced in-basin stockpiles and
household sources.
In 2013, a multi-state project in the United States phased out
coal-tar sealants, which reduced loadings of polyaromatic
hydrocarbons (PAHs). In Ontario, the environmental
organization EcoSuperior held “greener cleaner” events where
participants traded in conventional cleaning products for a nontoxic cleaning kit. They also ran “rain barrel for a burn barrel”
exchange events.

Climate Change Impacts Report Completed

Concerned about what you are hearing about climate change
and how it is affecting Lake Superior? The report, Lake Superior
Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation”, synthesizes available
science and identifies adaptation strategies and actions for Lake
Superior ecosystems. The Report is available at: http://www.
epa.gov/greatlakes/lakesuperior/lake-superior-climate-changeimpacts-report-201401.pdf.

In an effort to obtain regional data on mercury levels in people
within the basin, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH)
measured total mercury in bloodspots from newborns. Eight
percent had blood mercury levels above the US EPA safe
reference dose. The data also revealed a seasonal exposure
pattern, which suggests that the mercury exposure is due
to fish consumption. The results are prompting the MDH to
improve communication about fish consumption guidelines for
women of childbearing age.

Binational Biodiversity Conservation Underway

With the completion of a science-based biodiversity
conservation assessment for Lake Superior in 2013, LAMP
organizations are now developing a Binational Biodiversity
Conservation Strategy (BBCS) due for completion in 2015. The
2012 GLWQA includes a commitment to complete and begin to
implement BBCSs for each of the Great Lakes. Many important
habitat restoration projects that will support the Lake Superior
BBCS are already underway.

Basin stakeholders are preventing toxic contaminants from contaminating
Lake Superior by properly disposing of pesticide and mercury containers
through events such as household hazardous waste collection events in
2013. Credit: Keweenaw Bay Indian Community.

Cooperative Science & Monitoring Initiative

What happens on the land affects the lake. This terrestrial wood turtle would
agree, as it lives in the rivers and streams that make their way into Lake
Superior. Photo Credit: Bad River Watershed Association.

Under the GLWQA 2012, the U.S. and Canada coordinate
basinwide research and monitoring efforts under a program
called the Cooperative Science and Monitoring Initiative (CSMI).
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 LAKE SUPERIOR LAKEWIDE ACTION AND MANAGEMENT PLAN
Annual Report 2014
Addressing Challenges

In Ontario, fish habitats in urban streams are being enhanced to
increase coaster brook trout populations and provide for other
species.

Although in relatively good condition, the Lake Superior
ecosystem continues to face challenges.

In Michigan, a coalition of local partners is developing a
coordinated vision to identify and address critical habitat issues
across the south-central Lake Superior basin. Partners are
removing barriers to stream connectivity, controlling invasive
species, and improving aquatic habitat.

Fish consumption advisories for PCBs and mercury persist in
Lake Superior. Total mercury levels in fish appear to be rising.
Chemicals of emerging concern such as flame retardants,
pharmaceuticals and plasticisers continue to be found in
Lake Superior, with the exact sources and toxicological
characteristics partially unknown. To address these chemical
challenges, projects will be implemented to identify and
reduce sources and impacts of harmful chemical pollution.
In addition, lessons learned from the over 20-year history
of voluntary multi-stakeholder efforts to eliminate certain

In Minnesota, landowners are being trained to identify invasive
species and to use control techniques when necessary.
In Wisconsin, nearly 400 acres (about 160 hectares) of priority
terrestrial and aquatic habitat were protected in 2013 through
the establishment of the Lincoln Community Forest, along the
Marengo River southwest of Ashland. The site is home to native
brook trout, wood turtles, more than 145 bird species, as well as
bear, bobcat, sandhill cranes, deer and wolf.

Restoring Areas of Concern
Areas of Concern (AOCs) are geographic areas that are
severely contaminated and degraded. There are six
AOCs in Lake Superior. Restoring AOCs helps to improve
conditions in the lake, and therefore is a complementary
initiative to the LAMP.

Binational Forum Explores Mining Issue

The Lake Superior Binational Forum is a volunteer-driven
stakeholder involvement and advisory group representing
industrial, U.S. Tribes, Canadian First Nations and Métis peoples,
business, environmental, recreational, tourism, health, labour,
and academic interests. The Forum and the LAMP share a
common vision.

•  Deer Lake, MI: All actions are complete and Deer Lake
was removed from the list of AOCs in October 2014. The
last controllable point source of mercury was eliminated
in 2013, with completion of the diversion of Partridge
Creek.
•  Torch Lake, MI: The State of Michigan is leading a new
multi-year project to identify the source(s) of PCBs as the
levels in fish and sediments remain high.
•  St. Louis River, MN/WI: 58 priority actions have
been identified with the goal of completing major
actions by 2020 and delisting by 2025. Feasibility and
design studies are underway at 10 sites, while habitat
restoration is planned or in progress at 12 sites.
•  Thunder Bay, ON: Field work to assess contaminated
sediment adjacent to a former paper mill was
completed in 2013. Preliminary options for remediation
have been identified and consultation is underway.
•  Nipigon Bay, ON: Monitoring shows that environmental
conditions in Nipigon Bay have improved. The Township
of Red Rock has made progress toward upgrading its
wastewater treatment plant. This is the only incomplete
action.
•  Jackfish Bay, ON: A long-term monitoring plan has
been underway since 2010. Results are being reviewed
to track natural recovery of this official Area in Recovery.
•  Peninsula Harbour, ON: Monitoring of the sand cap,
which was placed over contaminated sediment in
2012, shows that the cap is remaining in place and that
aquatic vegetation is growing in the area.

In 2013, the Lake Superior Binational Forum, the public
stakeholder group of the Lake Superior LAMP, increased the
public’s understanding of the opportunities and potential risks
of increased mining activity in the Lake Superior watershed.
Some of the Forum’s activities included:
•  Hosting nearly 1000 people in public meetings and webinars
focused on mining. Speakers included representatives of
the mining industry and related businesses, U.S. Tribes,
environmental groups, and historical, legal, and legislative
experts.
•  Creating Recommendations for Responsible Mining in the Lake
Superior Basin, which were distributed to approximately 4000
federal, state, provincial and tribal agency leaders, elected
officials, non-government organizations, mining and other
industries and environmental groups.
•  Maintained a website (www.superiorforum.org/mining) with
facts about mining operations in Minnesota, Wisconsin,
Michigan and Ontario.
•  Created an online open comment form that allowed people
to share their insights and reactions to mining issues. Over
1500 people responded. 

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 LAKE SUPERIOR LAKEWIDE ACTION AND MANAGEMENT PLAN
Annual Report 2014
chemical emissions within the Lake Superior basin will be prepared and shared, and future science and monitoring priorities will be
determined.
Among the Great Lakes, Lake Superior has the fewest aquatic invasive species causing ecological and economic harm, but there
are many ways that new aquatic invasive species could become established. Physical changes, such as increasing average water
temperatures, are occurring due to climate change impacts. Increasing land use for activities such as mining, coastal development,
and energy generation can have the potential to degrade fish and wildlife habitat. To address these challenges, projects are being
implemented to restore and protect important habitats and species. In addition, an educational guide on Lake Superior’s aquatic
invasive species will be released, and a new Lake Superior BBCS will be developed and implemented. 

Watershed Map

Contact Information

For more information, please visit our website at www.binational.net or contact:
Canada:
Laurie Wood
Environment Canada
Phone: (905) 336-6457
Email: greatlakes-grandslacs@ec.gc.ca
Website: www.ec.gc.ca/greatlakes

United States:
Elizabeth LaPlante
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Phone: (312) 353-2694
Email: laplante.elizabeth@epa.gov
Website: www.epa.gov/greatlakes
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