Salinization: the ultimate threat to temperate lakes, with particular reference to Southeastern Wisconsin (USA) -- Journal of Oceanology and Limnology,2015,33(6):1461-1475

	Cite this paper:
	Jeffrey A. THORNTON, Thomas M. SLAWSKI, Hebin LIN. Salinization: the ultimate threat to temperate lakes, with particular reference to Southeastern Wisconsin (USA)[J]. Journal of Oceanology and Limnology, 2015, 33(6): 1461-1475

Salinization: the ultimate threat to temperate lakes, with particular reference to Southeastern Wisconsin (USA)

Jeffrey A. THORNTON^1,2,3, Thomas M. SLAWSKI^1,4, Hebin LIN¹

1 International Environmental Management Services Ltd., P O Box5 10373, New Berlin, WI5 3151-0373, United States of America;
2 Watershed Services Coordinator, The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment, Texas State University, 601 University Drive, San Marcos, TX 78666, United States of America;
3 Graduate School of Human Development and Environment, Kobe University, 3-11 Tsurukabuto, Nada-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 657-8501, Japan;
4 Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission, W239 N1812 Rockwood Drive, P. O. Box 1607, Waukesha, WI;
5 3187-1607, United States of America

Abstract:

Many lakes in Southeastern Wisconsin (the metropolitan-Milwaukee area) are gradually becoming increasingly "salty". While these waterbodies would not be considered presently to be saline lakes, there has been a rapid increase in the chloride concentrations in most of these lakes over the last 30 years, with the lakes increasing from a mean chloride concentration of about 19 mg/L to over 100 mg/L in some cases. While ecological impacts can be expected when chloride values exceed 250 mg/L, the rate of increase presents a basis for concern, especially since the underlying geology of the region is based on limestone/dolomite which is deficient in chlorides. Thus, the origin of the chlorides is anthropogenic: human and industrial wastewaters (treatment of which has effected improvements in trophic status but has not affected other water-borne contaminants) and winter de-icing practices based upon large quantities of sodium chloride are major contributors to the increasing concentrations of chloride in the region's waterways. Without taking remedial measures, the rate of salinization is expected to continue to increase, resulting, ultimately, in the alteration of the freshwater systems in the region.

Key words: salinization|temperate lakes|chloride concentrations|salt management

Received: 2014-12-12 Revised: 2015-04-27

Tools

PDF ( KB) Free

Print this page

Add to favorites

Email this article to others

Authors

Articles by Jeffrey A. THORNTON

Articles by Thomas M. SLAWSKI

Articles by Hebin LIN

References:
Baldwin A K, Graczyk D J, Robertson D M, Saad D A, Magruder C. 2012. Use of Real-time Monitoring to Predict Concentrations of Select Constituents in the Menomonee River Drainage Basin, Southeast Wisconsin, 2008-9. Scientific Investigations Report No. 2010-5064.U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.
Baldwin A K, Robertson D M, Saad D A, Magruder C. 2013.Refinement of Regression Models to Estimate Real-time Concentrations of Select Contaminants in the Menomonee River Drainage Basin, Southeast Wisconsin, 2008-11.Scientific Investigations Report No. 2010-5174. U.S.Geological Survey, Reston, VA.
Beeton A M. 1965. Eutrophication of the St. Lawrence Great Lakes. Limnol. Oceanogr., 10 (2): 240-254.
Carpelan L H. 1958. The Salton Sea. Physical and chemical characteristics. Limnol. Oceanogr., 3 (4): 373-386.
Cohen M J. 2014. Hazard's Toll: The Costs of Inaction at the Salton Sea. Pacific Institute Publ. Pacific Institute, Oakland CA.
Corsi S R, De Cicco L A, Lutz M A, Hirsch R M. 2015. River chloride trends in snow-affected urban watersheds:increasing concentrations outpace urban growth rate and are common among all seasons. Sci. Total Environ., 508:488-497.
Corsi S R, Graczyk D J, Geis S W, Booth N C, Richards K D. 2010. A fresh look at road salt: aquatic toxicity and waterquality impacts on local, regional and national scales.Environ. Sci. Technol., 44 (19): 7 376-7 382.
Dela-Hart. UNDATED. Water Softeners and the Environment.Fact Sheet. Delafield-Hartland Water Pollution Control Commission, Delafield. 2p.
Howard G, Jahnel J, Frimmel F H, McChesney D, Reed B, Schijven, J, Braun-Howland E. 2006. Chapter 10, Human excreta and sanitation: Potential Hazards and information needs. In: Schmoll O, Howard G, Chilton J, Chorus I eds.Protecting Groundwater for Health: Managing the Quality of Drinking-water Source. IWA Publishing, London, UK.p.275-308.
Jackson R B, Jobbágy E G. 2005. From icy roads to salty streams. P. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A., 102 (41): 14 487-14 488.
Lillie R A, Mason J W, Hine R L. 1983. Limnological Characteristics of Wisconsin Lakes. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Technical Bulletin No. 138. 116p.
Lins T J. 2010. Keeping roads on a low-salt diet. Wisconsin Natural Resources Magazine, February. 7p.
Löfgren S. 2001. The chemical effects if deicing salt on soil and stream water of five catchments in southwest Sweden.Water Air Soil Poll., 130 (1-4): 863-868.
Marsalek J. 2003. Road salts in urban stormwater: an emerging issue in storm water management in cold climates. Water Sci. Technol., 48 (9): 61-70.
Micklin P, Aladin N V. 2008. Reclaiming the Aral Sea. Sci.Am., 298 (4): 64-71.
Miles A K, Recca M A, Meckstroth A, Spring S E. 2009. Salton Sea Ecosystem Monitoring Project. Open-File Report No. 2009-1276. U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.
NCDC (National Climatic Data Center). 2002. Climate of 2001-Annual Review of Significant U.S. and Global Events. National Climatic Data Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Survey, Asheville, NC. 11p.
Robertson D M, Goddard G L, Helsel D R, MacKinnon K L. 2000. Rehabilitation of Delavan Lake, Wisconsin. Lake Reservoir Manage., 16 (3): 155-176.
SEWRPC (Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission). 1981. A Water Quality Management Plan for Okauchee Lake, Waukesha, Wisconsin (Also Reporting on Lower Okauchee and Upper Oconomowoc Lakes). Community Assistance Planning Report No. 53(1st Edition). 164p.
SEWRPC (Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission). 1982a. A Water Quality Management Plan for Ashippun Lake, Waukesha County, Wisconsin.Community Assistance Planning Report No. 54 (1st Edition). 108p.
SEWRPC (Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission). 1982b. A Water Quality Management Plan for North Lake, Waukesha County, Wisconsin. Community Assistance Planning Report No. 54. 139p.
SEWRPC (Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission). 1990. A Water Use Management Plan for Waubeesee Lake and the Anderson Canal, Racine County, Wisconsin. Community Assistance Planning Report No. 182. 42p.
SEWRPC (Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission). 1993a. A Lake Protection Plan for Silver Lake, Waukesha County, Wisconsin. Memorandum Report No. 82. 61p.
SEWRPC (Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission). 1993b. Aquatic Plant Management Plan for Phantom Lakes, Waukesha County, Wisconsin.Memorandum Report No. 81. 52p.
SEWRPC (Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission). 1994. A Lake Management Plan for Fowler Lake, Waukesha County, Wisconsin. Community Assistance Planning Report No. 181 (2nd edition). 144p.
SEWRPC (Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission). 1995a. A Regional Water Quality Management Plan for Southeastern Wisconsin: An Update and Status Report, Part of 1 of 3, Chapters 1-7.Memorandum Report No. 93. 306p.
SEWRPC (Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission). 1995b. Upper Nemahbin Lake Watershed Inventory Findings, Waukesha County, Wisconsin.Memorandum Report No. 101. 79p.
SEWRPC (Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission). 1996. A lake management plan for Little Muskego Lake, Waukesha County, Wisconsin.Community Assistance Planning Report No. 222. 165p.
SEWRPC (Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission). 1997a. A Lake Management Plan for Eagle Spring Lake, Waukesha County, Wisconsin. Community Assistance Planning Report No. 226. 191p.
SEWRPC (Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission). 1997b. A Water Quality Management Plan for Friess Lake, Washington County, Wisconsin.Community Assistance Planning Report No. 98 (2nd Edition). 128p.
SEWRPC (Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission). 1998a. A Lake Management Plan for Lake Keesus, Waukesha County, Wisconsin. Community Assistance Planning Report No. 227. 116p.
SEWRPC (Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission). 1998b. An Aquatic Plant Inventory for Pine Lake, Waukesha County, Wisconsin. Memorandum Report No. 124. 56p.
SEWRPC (Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission). 1998c. A Lake Protection Plan for Pretty Lake, Waukesha County, Wisconsin. Memorandum Report No. 122. 106p.
SEWRPC (Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission). 1999. A Lake and Watershed Inventory for Nagawicka Lake, Waukesha County, Wisconsin.Memorandum Report No. 130. 117p.
SEWRPC (Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission). 2000a. An Aquatic Plant Management Plan for Fowler Lake, Waukesha County, Wisconsin.Memorandum Report No. 134. 71p.
SEWRPC (Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission). 2000b. Rainfall Frequency in the Southeastern Wisconsin Region. Technical Report No. 40. 97p.
SEWRPC (Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission). 2001a. A lake Protection Plan for Benedict and Tombeau Lakes, Kenosha and Walworth Counties, Wisconsin. Memorandum Report No. 140. 118p.
SEWRPC (Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission). 2001b. An Aquatic Plant Management Plan for the Lauderdale Lakes, Walworth County, Wisconsin.Memorandum Report No. 143. 209p.
SEWRPC (Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission). 2001c. A Lake Management Plan for Nagawicka Lake, Waukesha County, Wisconsin.Community Assistance Planning Report No. 262. 101p.
SEWRPC (Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission). 2002. A Lake Management Plan for Delavan Lake, Walworth County, Wisconsin. Community Assistance Planning Report No. 253. 267p.
SEWRPC (Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission). 2003a. An Aquatic Plant and Recreational Use Management Plan for Booth Lake, Walworth County, Wisconsin. Memorandum Report No. 144. 92p.
SEWRPC (Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission). 2003b. A Lake Protection Plan for Middle Genesee Lake, Waukesha County, Wisconsin.Memorandum Report No. 148. 136p.
SEWRPC (Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission). 2003c. A Water Quality Management Plan for Okauchee Lake, Waukesha County, Wisconsin.Community Assistance Planning Report No. 53 (2nd Edition). 252p.
SEWRPC (Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission). 2003d. A Lake Management Plan for Pewaukee Lake, Waukesha County, Wisconsin. Community Assistance Planning Report No. 58 (2nd Edition). 242p.
SEWRPC (Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission). 2004a. An Aquatic Plant Management Plan for Little Cedar Lake, Washington County, Wisconsin.Memorandum Report No. 146. 103p.
SEWRPC (Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission). 2004b. An Aquatic Plant Management Plan for Little Muskego Lake, Waukesha County, Wisconsin.Memorandum Report No. 155. 73p.
SEWRPC (Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission). 2005a. A Lake Management Plan for Pike Lake, Washington County, Wisconsin. Community Assistance Planning Report No. 273. 240p.
SEWRPC (Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission). 2005b. Commission completes projections of regional population and household levels to the year 2035. Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission Newsletter, 42 (4):1-23.
SEWRPC (Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission). 2006a. An Aquatic Plant Management Plan for Nagawicka Lake, Waukesha County, Wisconsin.Memorandum Report No. 161. 84p.
SEWRPC (Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission). 2006b. A Lake Protection Plan for Pretty Lake, Waukesha County, Wisconsin. Memorandum Report No. 122 (2nd Edition). 78p.
SEWRPC (Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission). 2006c. A Regional Land Use Plan for Southeastern Wisconsin: 2035. Planning Report No. 48. 210p.
SEWRPC (Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission). 2006d. A Lake Management Plan for The Phantom Lakes, Waukesha County, Wisconsin. Volume One, Inventory Findings; Volume Two, Alternatives and Recommended Plan. Community Assistance Planning Report No. 230. 277p.
SEWRPC (Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission). 2007a. A Lake Management Plan for George Lake, Kenosha County, Wisconsin. Community Assistance Planning Report No. 300. 166p.
SEWRPC (Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission). 2007b. A Water Quality Management Plan for Lac La Belle, Waukesha County, Wisconsin.Community Assistance Planning Report No. 47 (2nd Edition). 225p.
SEWRPC (Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission). 2007c. A Lake Management Plan for Ashippun Lake, Waukesha County, Wisconsin.Community Assistance Planning Report No. 48 (2nd Edition). 192p.
SEWRPC (Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission). 2008a. An Aquatic Plant Management Plan for Pine and Beaver Lakes, Waukesha County, Wisconsin.Memorandum Report No. 173. 122p.
SEWRPC (Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission). 2008b. An Aquatic Plant Management Plan for Friess Lake, Washington County, Wisconsin.Memorandum Report No. 169. 102p.
SEWRPC (Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission). 2008c. A Lake Management Plan for Geneva Lake, Walworth County, Wisconsin. Community Assistance Planning Report No. 60 (2nd Edition). 194p.
SEWRPC (Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission). 2008d. A Lake Management Plan for Wind Lake, Racine County, Wisconsin. Community Assistance Planning Report No. 198 (2nd Edition). 210p.
SEWRPC (Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission). 2009a. A Lake Management Plan for Elizabeth Lake and Lake Mary, Kenosha County, Wisconsin, Volume One, Inventory Findings; Volume Two, Alternatives and Recommended Plan. Community Assistance Planning Report No. 302. 215p.
SEWRPC (Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission). 2009b. An Aquatic Plant Management Plan for Little Muskego Lake, Waukesha County, Wisconsin.Memorandum Report No. 155 (2nd Edition). 109p.
SEWRPC (Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission). 2009c. A Water Quality Management Plan for Oconomowoc Lake, Waukesha County, Wisconsin.Community Assistance Planning Report No. 181 (2nd Edition). 206p.
SEWRPC (Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission). 2009d. A Lake Protection Plan for Upper Nemahbin Lake, Waukesha County, Wisconsin.Memorandum Report No. 176. 215p.
SEWRPC (Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission). 2010a. A Lake Management Plan for Eagle Spring Lake, Waukesha County, Wisconsin. Community Assistance Planning Report No. 226 (2nd Edition). 279p.
SEWRPC (Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission). 2010b. An Aquatic Plant Management Plan for the Lauderdale Lakes, Walworth County, Wisconsin.Memorandum Report No. 143 (2nd Edition). 154p.
SEWRPC (Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission). 2011. A Lake Protection Plan for Powers Lake, Kenosha and Walworth Counties, Wisconsin.Memorandum Report No. 193. 183p.
SEWRPC (Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission). 2012. An Aquatic Plant Management Plan for Fowler Lake, Waukesha County, Wisconsin.Memorandum Report No. 134 (2nd Edition). 113p.
Smol J P, Douglas M S V. 2007. Crossing the final ecological threshold in high Arctic ponds. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S.A., 104 (30): 12 395-12 397.
Stefan H G, Novotny E, Sander A, Mohseni O. 2008. Study of Environmental Effects of De-Icing Salt on Water Quality in the Twin Cities Metropolitan area, Minnesota.Minnesota Department of Transportation No. 519. 72p.
U. S. Geological Survey. 2004. The Great Flood of 1993 on the Upper Mississippi River-10 Years Later. USGS Fact Sheet 2004-3024. United States Geological Survey.
U. S. Geological Survey. 2012. Water-Quality and Lake-Stage Data for Wisconsin Lakes, Water Years 2008-2011. Open-File Report 2012-1238. United States Geological Survey.
Williams W D. 1998. Guidelines of Lake Management:Volume 6, Management of Inland Saline Waters.International Lake Environment Committee Foundation and United Nations Environment Programme. 108p.