Climate Change and Water Quality in the Great Lakes Region

LIST OF TABLES

Table 3-1:  Annual runoff changes for selected rivers in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence  

watershed ............................................................................................................................. 42

Table 3-2:  Changes in annual and summer flow for rivers in the Bay of Quinte watershed  

under climate change scenarios ................................................................................................. 44

Table 3-3:  GCM climate change scenario impacts on mean annual water level – changes  

from reference level ................................................................................................................. 48

Table 3-4:  Effects of increased air temperature on factors that control water quality ....................................... 50

Table 3-5:  Effects of increased air temperature and decreased moisture on factors that  

control water quality ............................................................................................................... 51

Table 3-6:  Potential effects on soil erosion and runoff from cropland of observed changes in

precipitation............................................................................................................................54

Table 4-1:  Beneficial use impairments.......................................................................................................... 80

Table 4-2:  Areas of concern and their impaired beneficial uses in the Great Lakes basin ................................. 83

Table 4-3:  Three aspects of climate change (increased atmospheric CO2,

warmer air temperatures, and drought) and their effects on plant physiological processes....................... 86

Table 4-4:  Loss of fish and wildlife habitat research findings ...................................................................... 87

Table 4-5:  Degradation of phytoplankton and zooplankton populations research findings .............................. 88

Table 4-6:  Degradation of aesthetics research findings ................................................................................. 89

Table 4-7:  Beach closings research findings ................................................................................................ 90

Table 4-8:  Restrictions on drinking water consumption or taste and odour problems  

research findings .................................................................................................................... 90

Table 4-9:  Eutrophication or undesirable algae research findings ................................................................. 91

Table 4-10: AOCs impaired by contaminated sediment ................................................................................. 92

Table 4-11: Restrictions on dredging activities research findings .................................................................... 92

Table 4-12: Degradation of benthos research findings .................................................................................. 93

Table 4-13: Degradation of fish and wildlife populations research findings ................................................... 94

Table 4-14: Critical  Great  Lakes pollutants ............................................................................................... 96

Table 6-1:  List of Potential Adaptation Measures........................................................................................ 112

vi