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For over 20 years, federal, provincial, state and tribal agencies have worked
cooperatively with local communities and private stakeholders through the Lake
Superior Lakewide Management Plan (LaMP) to restore and protect Lake Superior.
As a result, the Lake Superior ecosystem is in relatively good condition. To ensure
protection of this beautiful and important resource, continued vigilance and
protective actions are necessary.
The Lake Superior ecosystem is in good condition:
• fisheries are in good to excellent condition;
• lower food web is robust and stable;
• persistent toxic contaminants are generally decreasing or remaining stable, with
a few exceptions; and
• forest cover has increased since the 1980s, although the composition is changing.
There are, however, ongoing and emerging stressors and threats:
• some contaminants continue to cause fish advisories and exceed water quality
guidelines;
• some chemicals of emerging concern (e.g. flame retardants) are increasing;
• impacts from climate change, the spread of invasive species, and some land use
practices, including shoreline development, are stressing the ecosystem; and,
• mining activity and hydropower dams are expected to increase in the Lake
Superior basin, potentially degrading fish and wildlife habitat and releasing
contaminants, such as mercury, to the ecosystem.