A fishing boat on Lake Huron, off the shore of Southhampton, Ont., in 2022. Canada's more than nine million lakes are under increasing environmental threats.Ryan Carter/The Globe and Mail
John P. Smol is a Distinguished University Professor at Queen’s University. Sapna Sharma is a professor and York Research Chair at York University. Steven J. Cooke is a Canada Research Professor at Carleton University.
The United Nations has recently designated Aug. 27 as World Lake Day, a recognition that we should applaud. Lakes are an important part of the Canadian identity and often highlighted as key features of our country’s beauty. The appreciation of lakes is an important component of the Canadian collective fabric, from iconic Group of Seven paintings to Alberta’s Lake Louise – one of the most photographed lakes in the world – to waterfront cottages where the haunting call of the loon reminds us of our interconnectedness with nature. Lakes are also critical providers of essential services, including drinking water, irrigation, fisheries, transportation and recreation, and offer spiritual, cultural and artistic inspiration.
Canada is blessed with over nine million lakes, leading to the perception that we have endless freshwater resources. However, Canadian lakes – like lakes around the world – are under increasing environmental threats from multiple stressors, such as pollution, land-cover changes and invasive species, among other factors, many of which are now amplified due to climate change and extreme weather events such as heat waves, floods and droughts.
Canadian lakes have faced risks from many environmental stressors in the past, but with concerted action and co-operation, history shows that we can overcome some of these threats. Classic examples include decreasing acid rain, banning the insecticide DDT, reversing ozone-layer depletion, and addressing lead pollution.
However, recent climate warming is now recognized as a “threat multiplier,” amplifying the risks associated with other environmental stressors. For example, there is increasing evidence of the resurgence of blue-green algae (cyanobacterial) blooms consistent with changes to the climate, even in lakes located far from direct human influences. The proliferation of many invasive species can also be linked to warming. These environmental changes cascade throughout the food web. For example, since 1970, biodiversity losses for freshwater ecosystems are approaching 90 per cent, and greatly surpass the losses in marine and terrestrial ecosystems. Canada is not immune: more than half of our freshwater fish species are at risk.
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The majority of Canadians living in cities and towns enjoy safe drinking water. However, inequity in water security is pervasive, with one York University study having found 1,630 communities in Canada that experienced boil-water advisories between 2005 and 2021. Indigenous peoples are disproportionately affected, and climate change will further exacerbate these issues, with the quality and quantity of water predicted to impact many more communities across the country. According to the UN, more than 2 billion people worldwide do not have access to clean water, and approximately 3.5 million people die each year from unsafe water, many of whom are children.
Federal, provincial/territorial and municipal governments must take action to promote water security for all, but international agencies must also more fully recognize the critical importance of lakes, which have historically been overlooked. For example, freshwater is considered solely for its roles in drinking water and sanitation in the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular SDG 6 (drinking water and sanitation), but completely ignored in SDG 14 (pertaining to life below water), which is entirely marine in focus. A positive step was the recognition of lakes in the 2022 Kunming-Montreal Biodiversity Framework, where, for the first time, lakes, rivers and wetlands were mentioned as being worthy of distinct protection. Freshwater, which is essential for survival, clearly deserves similar protections and conservation efforts as are given to marine and terrestrial ecosystems.
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Canadians justifiably pride themselves on working together to solve problems. If history teaches us anything, it is easier and much less expensive to deal with environmental issues as they develop, rather than trying to correct them afterward. Beach clean-ups, reporting water problems, advocating for water justice, responsibly enjoying lakes and ensuring that elected representatives understand that the environment is a priority issue are some of the ways in which all of us can protect our freshwaters for generations to come.
We need to celebrate World Lake Day by acknowledging the benefits we derive from lakes, and then by returning the favour by taking action to ensure that our lakes remain healthy so that they are swimmable, fishable and drinkable. Designating Aug. 27 as World Lake Day is a step in the right direction. Our hope is that this will help catalyze concerted efforts to protect our freshwaters for decades to come.