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First European sees Lake Erie
June -
Period: to
Lake Erie Timeline
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Wild Rice
Thousands of acres of wild rice grow at the mouths of the rives feeding the lake, acting as filters for sediment -
Human Population Increases
Human Population increases dramatically. Raw sewage (oil, sawdust, animal carcasses, and human waste) dumped directly into the lake -
Mills
Mills built to grind corn and wheat on most of the streams and rivers leading into the water. -
Population of fish
Population of fish species that migrate to spawn are reduced or eliminated. -
Cuyahoga River catches on fire
The Cuyahoga River catches fire -
Phosphorus creates algae
Phosphorus used in soaps causes algae to bloom and over populate. -
Second Fire
The Cuyahoge River catches on fire for a second time. -
Lake Erie Dead
Lake Erie declared dead as fish and decaying algae ring the shores. (Bacteria on decaying algae consumed oxygen in the lake, effectively suffocating many fish. -
Clean Water Act
President Nixon of the United States and Pierre Trudeau of Canada sign the Clean Water Act. -
Phosphorus detergents
Ohio passes ban on the sale of detergents containing phosphorus. -
Beware of Catfish
Consumers are warned not to eat catfish over 16 inches caught any where in Lake Erie. -
Popular again
Lake Erie is popular for boating, fishing ( walleye, pike, trout, perch, others) and swimming. -
Cleanest of all
Lake Erie considered one of the cleanest of the Great Lakes. -
Still in Danger
Lake Erie still in danger from continued non point sorce pollution and past pollution by PBCs, dioxin, mercury and DDT. (Trapped in the sediment, biomagnification.)
