Invasive Species Plague Great Lakes National Parks

Invasive Species Plague Great Lakes National Parks

October 2007

 Sleeping Bear Dunes National 
Lakeshore on Lake Michigan is in danger of being loved to death. High 
numbers of visitors are trampling down vegetation and erosion is occurring 
in high traffic areas. Water quality and the ecological integrity of Lake 
Michigan at the Dunes is in poor condition due to invasive species such as 
quagga and zebra mussels, which have taken over most of the lakebed.

At Sleeping Bear Dunes, the toxic chemicals most present in the air are 
toluene, xylene-iso, benzyne, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene, 
xylene-m, and perchloroethylene. The sources of these pollutants have not 
been determined. Both sulfates and nitrates are found in concentrations 
higher than national averages. 
Deferred maintenance costs at Sleeping Bear Dunes are about $11.2 million, 
while the cost of needed rehabilitation tops $8.8 million. 
The plight of this national park and that of five other Great Lakes parks 
are detailed in a new report by the National Parks Conservation 
Association, NPCA. The parks studied include all four of the U.S. national 
lakeshores. 
"The parks support a variety of wildlife, provide abundant recreational 
opportunities, and help support regional economies, so it is crucial that 
we ensure they are well protected and get the funding that they need and 
deserve," said Lynn McClure, NPCA Midwest regional director. 
According to NPCA's Center for State of the Parks report, the six Great 
Lakes parks face threats from air and water pollution, non-native species 
that are damaging ecosystems, adjacent development, and funding shortfalls 
that are threatening every aspect of the parks. 
Researchers used established, peer-reviewed methodologies to systemically 
rate conditions of both natural and cultural resources at five of these 
six parks; only cultural resources were assessed at Keweenaw National 
Historical Park. 

At Apostle Islands, there are only two permanent environmental staff 
responsible for protecting 21 islands spread over 265,000 acres; 
sandscapes and beach grasses are at risk from trampling and invasive plant 
species. Rare plant communities are threatened by rapidly increasing white 
tailed deer populations. Historic buildings at six historic lighthouses, 
some of which are major visitor attractions, need new roofs, painting, and 
other maintenance that is beyond the park staff's ability to keep pace 
with. 

At Indiana Dunes, pollution from ozone, sulphur dioxide, sulfate, and 
mercury from surrounding industrial facilities harms the air quality of 
the park. Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore is downwind of Gary, Indiana, 
and Chicago, Illinois, a region of heavy industry. Contamination from 
runoff, industrial pollution, and sewage systems degrades park waters, 
including Lake Michigan. The park's dunes are retreating due to adjacent 
shoreline development that prevents the natural deposit of sand that 
replenishes the dunes. 

At Isle Royale, airborne mercury and sulphur dioxide that are deposited 
in park waters and on park lands are of grave concern to park managers; 
non-native species found in Lake Superior, such as the spiny water flea 
and sea lamprey, are threatening native fish species in park waters. 
* At Keweenaw, development on private lands within and adjacent to the 
park, and an incomplete knowledge of those resources not owned by the 
park, threatens historic structures and archaeological sites. The park 
also lacks a visitor center, which would make information on the park 
available year-round and provide a place to display museum objects that 
are currently in storage. 
 
At Pictured Rocks, non-native species competing for resources with 
native plants and animals have contributed to a decline in species 
including fresh water clams and native coaster brook trout. Sensitive dune 
habitats are threatened by inappropriate visitor use and some critical 
historic structures such as Coast Guard stations and lighthouses are in 
poor condition. The park's museum collection, which features artifacts 
from shipwrecks, local logging and maritime history, and American Indian 
life, is not maintained at a professional level due to lack of staff and 
appropriate storage facilities. 

At Sleeping Bear Dunes, the invasion of species that were not originally 
part of the local ecosystem, including the Baby's Breath plant in the 
park's namesake dunes, is threatening biodiversity. The invasive mussels' 
feeding habits lead to other problems such as shorebird deaths from 
botulism, which has killed hundreds of loons.
Farms, villages, lifesaving stations and lighthouses, and prehistoric 
archaeological sites are all in need of maintenance. 
McClure says, "Park visitors expect to find healthy ecosystems, clean air, 
and well-maintained historic sites, but this is not always the case. Each 
of the Great Lakes national parks assessed in this report faces threats on 
those fronts. NPCA hopes that this report will inspire people to take 
action to protect and preserve those parks for present and future 
generations."
 
NPCA launched its State of the Parks program in 2000 to assess the health 
of national parks across the country. To read the full report, click here. 

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