The Great Lakes, a vital freshwater lifeline for millions, are at a crossroads. A recent binational report card reveals a mixed bag of progress and persistent threats, leaving us wondering: are we truly safeguarding this precious resource? While drinking water quality and beach access shine as success stories, the looming shadows of invasive species and harmful algae blooms paint a more complex picture. But here's the kicker: climate change, a critical factor in the lakes' evolving health, is conspicuously absent from the latest assessment.
Released in January 2025 by the U.S. EPA and Canada, the State of the Great Lakes report evaluates the health of each lake using nine key indicators, from water quality to habitat health. These indicators, established under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, provide a snapshot of the lakes' well-being. Each lake receives a grade—good, fair, or poor—alongside a trend indicator showing improvement, deterioration, or stability. Yet, despite these detailed metrics, the report's silence on climate change raises eyebrows. In 2022, climate change was highlighted as an emerging threat, exacerbating existing challenges. Its omission now feels like a glaring oversight, especially as the lakes face warmer temperatures, declining ice cover, and increased precipitation.
Drinking water and beaches: the bright spots
Treated drinking water from the Great Lakes remains consistently good, serving over 40 million people, half of whom are U.S. residents. In 2023, 97% of this water met all health standards. Beaches, too, have held steady over the past decade, though some remain unsafe due to bacterial contamination. Lake Michigan's beaches, for instance, are improving thanks to efforts like the rehabilitation of Milwaukee's South Shore beach, once deemed one of the nation's worst.
Invasive species: a growing menace
While prevention efforts have curbed new invasive species, those already present—like zebra and quagga mussels and the emerald ash borer—continue to wreak havoc. The cumulative impact of these invaders has more than doubled since 1950. Zebra and quagga mussels, native to eastern Europe, arrived in the 1980s via ballast water and have since decimated plankton populations, disrupting the food web and pushing species like lake whitefish to the brink. In Lake Michigan, these mussels are spreading to deeper waters, while in Lake Superior, their populations remain localized but concerning.
The emerald ash borer, detected in 2002, has killed hundreds of millions of ash trees, with over 50 million lost in the Midwest alone. Meanwhile, sea lamprey populations, though suppressed by 90%, have rebounded due to pandemic-related management disruptions, underscoring the need for constant vigilance.
Nutrient overload and algae blooms: a persistent challenge
High nutrient levels, often from agricultural runoff, fuel harmful algae blooms, particularly in western Lake Erie. These blooms, caused by cyanobacteria, release toxins like microcystin, threatening both ecosystems and recreation. Even Lake Superior, the largest and coldest of the Great Lakes, is seeing nearshore algae blooms, likely due to warming waters. Invasive mussels, by clearing the water, have inadvertently promoted the growth of Cladophora, another nuisance algae.
The elephant in the room: climate change
The 2025 report notes physical changes in the lakes, such as warmer temperatures and reduced ice cover, but stops short of attributing these to climate change. This omission is particularly striking given the Trump administration's efforts to downplay climate impacts, including scrubbing mentions from government websites and dismantling research centers. As Brammeier points out, ignoring climate change doesn’t alter its reality. The lakes are evolving, and we must confront this head-on.
The untold story: disparities on the ground
While the report highlights progress in cleaning up legacy pollution and restoring habitats, it overlooks the struggles of many communities. Lead pipes and affordability issues leave some residents without reliable drinking water. As Brammeier notes, the indicators in the report don’t always reflect the lived experiences of those in the Great Lakes region. It’s time to rethink what a healthy Great Lakes ecosystem truly means.
Food for thought
Is omitting climate change from the report a missed opportunity or a deliberate choice? How can we ensure that assessments like this reflect the full spectrum of challenges facing the Great Lakes? Share your thoughts in the comments—let’s spark a conversation about the future of this invaluable resource.
