Overview

In This Issue
Overview ...................................... 1
Accomplishments ......................... 2
Addressing Challenges ................ 3
Lake Superior Watershed Map .... 4
Contact Information...................... 4

What Is the Lake
Superior LAMP?
Under the Great Lakes Water
Quality Agreement, the
governments of Canada and the
United States have committed to
restore and maintain the physical,
biological and chemical integrity of
the waters of the Great Lakes.
The Lake Superior Lakewide Action
and Management Plan (LAMP) is a
binational action plan for restoring
and protecting the Lake Superior
ecosystem. The LAMP is developed
and implemented by the Lake
Superior Partnership, which is led
by the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency and Environment
Canada and which facilitates
information sharing, sets priorities,
and assists in coordinating
binational environmental protection
and restoration activities. The next
Lake Superior LAMP will be issued
in 2015; in the interim, the Lake
Superior Partnership will be
assessing the state of the lake,
measuring progress against existing
LAMP goals and objectives, and
promoting management actions to
address identified problems.
This 2015 annual report highlights
accomplishments and progress in
achieving LAMP goals during the
past year and identifies LAMPrelated activities including outreach,
monitoring, and protection and
restoration actions.

Lake Superior, the largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area, is the
least populated and most unspoiled of the Great Lakes. Bounded by a rugged
shoreline with towering cliffs on its north shore, and sandy beaches and colorful
sandstone rocks on its south shore, Lake Superior is a prime destination for
ecotourism.
The Lake Superior ecosystem continues to be in good to very good condition
with a healthy lower food web, increasing populations of Lake Trout and Lake
Sturgeon, protection of critical habitat areas, and good water quality with
continued reductions in critical pollutants. Challenges to the ecosystem include
invasive species such as sea lamprey, climate change, balancing resource
development with environmental protection, and continued fish consumption
advisories due to such legacy pollutants as mercury.

Developing New Tools for Lakewide Management
Under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, the Lake Superior
Partnership is developing two new lakewide management tools: 1) a five-year
Lakewide Action and Management Plan (LAMP), and 2) Lake Ecosystem
Objectives to assess parameters such as water quality and lake ecosystem
health. In addition, the Nearshore Framework will, in the future, identify areas
near the shore that are of high ecological value and potentially vulnerable to high
stress. More information on these tools can be found at binational.net.

Lake Superior is a prime destination for ecotourism and supports industries such as
shipping and mining.
Photo: J. Schomberg, Minnesota Sea Grant.

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 Accomplishments

Restoring Areas of Concern

Conserving Biodiversity

Deer Lake
In October 2014, the Deer Lake Area of Concern
(AOC), near Ishpeming, Michigan, was formally
delisted. Historic mining and waste disposal practices
resulted in the contamination of Deer Lake. The main
source of mercury came from the now abandoned Cliffs
Shaft Mine underneath the City of Ishpeming. Mercury
concentrations were at excessive levels for decades,
resulting in “Do Not Eat” restrictions for fish in Deer
Lake. Algal blooms were a regular occurrence, and
bald eagles had reproductive problems.

In February 2015, the Lake Superior Partnership released
its Biodiversity Conservation Strategy for Lake Superior
(Strategy). The Strategy summarizes the health of and
threats to the biodiversity of Lake Superior, and presents a
guide to implementing effective lakewide and regional
protection and restoration strategies. The Strategy
contributes to the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement’s
commitment to develop lakewide habitat and species
protection and restoration conservation strategies.

Upgrades to the wastewater treatment plant decreased
algal blooms, and bans on certain pesticides allowed
Deer Lake’s bald eagles to once again successfully
reproduce starting in the mid-1990s. As mining in the
region tapered off, some mercury sources were
reduced. Finally, from 2010–2013, a project was
completed to divert Partridge Creek out of the
underground mine, thus eliminating the last major
source of mercury (~60 grams/year) to Deer Lake.
While concentrations of mercury in fish tissue are
significantly lower and the fish consumption impairment
has been removed for the AOC, Walleye and Northern
Pike remain “catch and release” to help maintain a
productive fish population.
The Lake Superior Biodiversity Conservation Strategy includes
regional plans for 20 areas of the basin.

Natural Resource Department is leading a Community
Landscape Conservation Project to compile information on
stream crossings and identify areas in need of restoration
throughout the south-central Lake Superior basin.

The Strategy builds on a biodiversity assessment,
completed in 2013, which found that the overall health of
most major habitat types is good, but the condition of
tributaries and watersheds is only fair. In addition, the
Strategy found that Lake Superior’s biodiversity is
at high risk from climate change, aquatic invasive
species, and dams and barriers. Other threats, like
coastal development, mining, and unsustainable forestry
practices, ranked as medium-level threats.

Adapting to Climate Change
Many jurisdictions and agencies are beginning to
implement activities identified in the Lake Superior Climate
Change Impacts and Adaptation Report. The City of
Thunder Bay, Ontario, is developing its own adaptation
strategy to help increase the city’s resilience to climate
change and severe
weather. In
Minnesota, the
Grand Portage
Band of Lake
Superior Chippewa
has developed
climate change
adaptation
strategies to guide
natural resources
management.
Keweenaw Bay.
Examples of such
Photo: Erin Johnston, Keweenaw Bay Indian
strategies include

Since local and regional actions are critical in protecting
and restoring biodiversity, the Strategy includes 20
regional plans that highlight special features, issues and
conservation needs important to the different areas of
Lake Superior. These regional plans will include
substantial stakeholder input, and are scheduled for
completion by December 2015. For more information,
visit natureconservancy.ca/superiorbca.

Lakewide Planning, Local Action
Members of the Lake Superior Partnership help connect
lakewide planning to relevant local action on the ground.
In Michigan, the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community

Community.

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 Microplastics are a concern because they can be
ingested by fish and other animals leading to blockages
and, in turn, starvation. In addition, contaminants can
adsorb to the microplastics, compounding the risks.

shifting from a cold water (Brook Trout) to a cool water fish
community (Walleye, Yellow Perch) to maintain harvest,
expanding agricultural practices to reduce reliance upon
goods outside the region, and developing alternative energy
methods.

The Lake Superior Partnership supports actions to reduce
these pollutants and is helping to educate the public about
chemicals of emerging concern and microplastics. For
example, EcoSuperior in Thunder Bay, Ontario, has
produced a fact sheet on microplastics and is organizing
a public science café to bring awareness to and foster
discussion about the issue.

Coordinating Science and Monitoring
The Lake Superior Partnership is currently preparing for
the 2016 field season for the Coordinated Science and
Monitoring Initiative. This initiative involves an intensive
scientific examination of each Great Lake on a five-year
rotational basis. Priorities include an examination of the
following:
•
•
•
•
•
•

Lower food-web health and stability
Progress of Lake Sturgeon rehabilitation
Achievement of the Zero Discharge
Demonstration Program goals
Chemicals of emerging concern for Lake Superior
managers
Baseline water quality conditions in areas of
potential and significant land-use change
Identification of various stressors, including climate
change, to vulnerable cold-water tributaries to Lake
Superior
Example of microplastics found in the Great Lakes.
Photo: S. Mason.

Addressing Challenges

Preventing the Spread of Invasive Species
Of all the Great Lakes, Lake Superior is the least affected
by non-native or invasive species because of its cold water
and geography. However, the fish community has been
permanently altered by invasive species and remains at
risk from further introductions. Sea lamprey continue to kill
thousands of Lake Trout each year, and Rainbow Smelt
comprise a significant portion of the nearshore forage.
Ruffe (Gymnocephalus cernuus) and Round Gobies
(Neogobius melanostomus) have colonized some areas
and have the potential to negatively impact the nearshore
cool-water fish community. Sixteen non-native fish species
are currently found in Lake Superior, although no new
invasives have been detected since 2009.
The next year of intensive monitoring on Lake Superior is 2016.
Photo: J. Bailey.

In 2014, the Lake Superior Partnership, in collaboration with
the Great Lakes Panel on Aquatic Nuisance Species,
released The Lake Superior Aquatic Invasive Species Guide
as a resource for recreational lake users. The guide provides
information on potential invaders and steps on how to report
a sighting. The guide is available under Resources
at invadingspecies.com.

Reducing Legacy and Emerging Chemicals
The Lake Superior Partnership continues to track and
pursue reductions of the nine legacy pollutants under
the Zero Discharge Demonstration Program. As
emissions of these pollutants decline, the Lake Superior
Partnership is increasing efforts to track and educate the
public about chemicals of emerging concern that may
affect human and wildlife health. For example,
microplastics—tiny plastic fragments, fibers, and
pellets—have been found throughout the Great Lakes.

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 Lake Superior Watershed Map

Contact Information
For more information, please visit www.binational.net or contact:
In Canada:
Laurie Wood
Environment Canada
Phone: 905-336-6457
greatlakes-grandslacs@ec.gc.ca

In the United States:
Elizabeth LaPlante
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Phone: 312-353-2694
laplante.elizabeth@epa.gov

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