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Experimental Lakes Area

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ELA is located in Ontario
ELA
ELA
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The ELA's position in Kenora District, Ontario, Canada.

The Experimental Lakes Area (ELA) is an internationally unique research station encompassing 58 formerly pristine freshwater lakes in Kenora District Ontario, Canada.[1][2] Run by Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the station has a mandate to investigate the aquatic effects of a wide variety of stresses on lakes and their catchments. The ELA uses the whole ecosystem approach and makes long-term, whole-lake investigations of freshwater focusing on eutrophication.[3][4]

By undertaking what has been called "extreme science"[1]—the manipulation of whole lake ecosystems—for forty years, the ELA researchers have collected long-term records for climatology, hydrology, and limnology based on whole-ecosystem experiments that address key issues in water management.[3] The ELA has influenced public policy in water management in Canada, the USA and Europe.[1]

History

File:Experimental Lakes Area, Kenora District, Ontario, Canada.gif
Detail map of the Experimental Lakes Area, Kenora District, Ontario, highlighting designated research lakes and selected roads, trails,and watersheds. Map depicts a 30 km x 30 km area, showing detail to less than 1/4 km.

In 1968, the Province of Ontario and the Government of Canada set aside an area in a sparsely inhabited region of central Canada, southeast of Kenora, Ontario, which is relatively unaffected by external human influences and industrial activities, for experimental studies of the causes and control of eutrophication and other types of water pollution. It included 46[5] small, deep, pristine lakes and their catchment areas in the Precambrian Shield.[6]

The ELA project originated as a Canadian governmental response to the International Joint Commission (IJC)'s recommendation (1965) to Canada and the United States for additional support for studies on transboundary pollution in the lower Great Lakes.[6][7]

In the 1960s, there was a widespread concern about the consequences of eutrophication but there was a lack of solid scientific evidence. Dr. W. E. Johnson of the Freshwater Institute of Winnipeg (Manitoba, Canada) convinced the Canadian government that unimpeachable evidence could be obtained by experimental pollution of pristine lakes through controlled overfertilization of specified elements.[8] The Experimental Lakes Area was established in 1968 by the Fisheries Research Board of Canada. Dr. John Reubec Vallentyne and Dr. W. E. Johnson of the Freshwater Institute created the Experimental Lakes Area (ELA). While Vallentyne was Scientific Leader of the Eutrophication Section from 1966 to 1972, he attracted a stellar staff of scientists from around the world in the late 1960s and early 1970s.[9] A junior scientist David W. Schindler was interviewed to head the future ELA. David W. Schindler OC, D.Phil., FRSC, FRS, who would become one of the world's leading limnologists directed ELA projects from 1968 to 1989.[10][11][12][13][14][15][16][16][17] In 1969, the fertilization experiment began with Lake 227, and in 1973, the double-basin eutrophication experiment on Lake 226 began, in which a section of the Lake 226S was overfertilized with carbon and nitrogen and the other section 226N with carbon and nitrogen as well as phosphorus.[18] The iconic image of the green eutrophied section 226N has been described as the most important in the history of limnology. It convinced the public and policymakers that phosphorus levels needed to be controlled.

Controversy about defunding

The decision to abruptly defund the ELA was widely condemned by the Canadian and international scientific community. The scientific journal Nature described the decision as "disturbing", and said that it "is hard to believe that finance is the true reason" for the closure.[19] An open letter from five prominent scientific organizations, the Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography, the Ecological Society of America, the International Society of Limnology, the Society of Canadian Limnologists, and the Society for Freshwater Sciences, expressed concern over the impact that a closure would have "on the strong and creative science that has been, and continues to be, conducted by Canadian freshwater researchers."[20] An organization of Canadian citizens and scientists, the Coalition to Save ELA (saveela.org) has been formed to pressure the Canadian government to reverse the decision to close the Experimental Lakes Area.

Many Canadian MPs called on the Harper Government to reverse its decision on the forced closure of the Experimental Lakes Project.[21] Philip Toone argued that the "internationally recognized program with huge spin-offs for Canada will cost more to close and move than the $2 million that the government hopes to save."[notes 1][21]

In 2012, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans announced that it planned to discontinue supporting the site at the end of the financial year, March 31, 2013, at a cost of $50 million.[22] The site will be either decommissioned or handed to a third-party operator,[23] potentially the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISE).[24] In March 2013, with no advance notification to scientists whose personal belongings remained at the site or to the IISE, Department of Fisheries and Oceans began dismantling cabins that had been used by the Experimental Lakes Project scientists.[24] Scientist Roberto Quinlin of the Society of Canadian Limnologists said that this move "brings into serious doubt the government’s sincerity to actually transfer the facility over to another operator.”[24]

The Bill C-38 Jobs, Growth and Long-term Prosperity Act [25] (informally referred to as Bill C-38) is an Act of the Parliament of Canada, an omnibus bill passed as a 2012 Budget Implementation Act in June 2012 amended the Fisheries Act and closed the Experimental Lakes Area.[26][27] Bill C-38 was given Royal Assent on June 29, 2012.[28]

Senator Cowan at the 1st Session, 41st Parliament (June 21, 2012) expressed his concerns. "There are a number of proposed changes to the Fisheries Act that are causing deep concern among Canadians. The bill amends the act to limit fish protection to the support of “commercial, recreational and Aboriginal fisheries.” Protection of fish habitat is relegated to a vastly lower priority — something that caused those four former fisheries ministers, in their words, "especial alarm (Cowan 2012)." Cowan also expressed dismay at the closure of Experimental Lakes Area. "Bill C-38 eliminates $2 million in annual funding to the Experimental Lakes Area in northwestern Ontario. This research centre will close within a year if a new operator cannot be found. John Smol, a biologist at Queen’s University, has said that the Experimental Lakes Area is the best-known freshwater research facility on the planet. The planned closure of the centre was the subject of an article on May 21 in Nature journal (Cowan 2012)."[26]

An open letter from six prominent scientific organizations, the Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography, the Ecological Society of America, the International Society of Limnology, the Society of Canadian Limnologists, the Society for Freshwater Sciences, and the North American Lake Management Society expressed concern over the impact that a closure would have "on the strong and creative science that has been, and continues to be, conducted by Canadian freshwater researchers."[28]

https://www.nalms.org/media.acux/a89d2841-a315-48e3-be7a-b6c22e6c3a96?goback=%2Egde_3809234_member_119867756

The funding was secured, by a promise from Queen's Park to maintain funding. The Ontario Liberals, NDP and Greens (who have yet to secure any seats in Queens Park) supported funding the ELA, the Ontario Conservatives opposed the funding.[29]

Notes

  1. ^ Toone argued that this cutback was one of a series of budget cuts and layoffs in fields relating to research and science at the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada. For instance, the ocean pollution monitoring program with its 75 scientist positions was eliminated; scientist positions the Maurice Lamontagne Institute related to the program that studies the effect of contaminants on water and aquatic life were eliminated; Fisheries Resource Conservation Council (FRCC) a science-based council which protected the viability of fish stocks over the long term and assessed the total allowable catches every year, was closed; (November 1, 2012)

References

  1. ^ a b c Stokstad, Erik. 2008. "Canada's Experimental Lakes". Science 28 November 2008: Vol. 322. no. 5906, pp. 1316-1319.
  2. ^ Paris, Max (18 Oct 2012). "Experimental Lakes allies say poll a wakeup call for Tories". CBC News. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 2012-12-09.
  3. ^ a b Schindler, David William. 2009."A personal history of the Experimental Lakes Project[1]" Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. 66 (11): 1837–1847.
  4. ^ Schindler, David W., Vallentyne, John R. 2008. The Algal Bowl : Overfertilization of the World's Freshwaters and Estuaries. University of Alberta Press. p. x.
  5. ^ Johnson, W.E., Vallentyne, J.R. 1971. "Rationale, background and development of experimental lakes studies in northwestern Ontario". Journal Fisheries Research Board Canada 28:123-128
  6. ^ a b Vallentyne, John R. "The Canadian Experimental Lakes Area". Keynote Address. Lake 2000. Symposium on Restoration of Lakes and Wetlands. Centre for Scientific and Industrial Consultancy (CSIC). Indian Institute of Science. Bangalore, India. November 27–29, 2000.
  7. ^ Podemski, Cheryl. "Introduction to the ELA Aquaculture Experiment".
  8. ^ Schindler, David W. Vallentyne, John R. 2008. The Algal Bowl : Overfertilization of the World's Freshwaters and Estuaries. University of Alberta Press. p. 155-6.
  9. ^ Planas, Dolors. "John R. Vallentyne, in memoriam". Limnetica, 27 (1): i-ii (2008). Asociacion Iberica de Limnologıa, Madrid. Spain
  10. ^ Zagorski, Nick. 2006. "Profile of David W. Schindler".
  11. ^ AB. Members Profile David W. Schindler. Alberta Order of Excellence.
  12. ^ McGill University Water 2010. Profile of David W. Schindler.
  13. ^ Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI). Profile David W. Schindler.
  14. ^ Trent University News Release. 2008-05-21. "Trent University Announces David Schindler Endowed Professorship in Aquatic Science".
  15. ^ University of Alberta Department of Biological Sciences. "Profile of David W. Schindler".
  16. ^ a b Experimental Lakes Area webpage. Experimental Lakes Area webpage. University of Manitoba.
  17. ^ Experimental Lakes Area Official Website. Experimental Lakes Area Official Website.
  18. ^ Schindler, David William. (1974) Science 184:897–899.
  19. ^ "Death of Evidence". Nature. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
  20. ^ "Scientific Societies protest Canadian government's decision to close Experimental Lakes Area". Retrieved 16 March 2013.
  21. ^ a b "41st Parliament, 1st Session Edited Hansard". Government of Canada. November 1, 2012. Retrieved March 15, 2013.
  22. ^ "Budget cuts claim famed freshwater research facility". CBC.ca. 2012-05-17. Retrieved 2012-05-18.
  23. ^ Mike De Souza (March 15, 2013). "Fisheries Department dismantling summer cabins of scientists at water research facility". Postmedia News. Retrieved March 16, 2013.
  24. ^ a b c Galloway, Gloria. "As dismantling begins, shuttering of research station called a 'travesty'". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
  25. ^ "Bill C-38 Jobs, Growth and Long-term Prosperity Act" (PDF). Government of Canada. June 2012. Retrieved March 15, 2013.
  26. ^ a b "Senator Cowan at the 1st Session, 41st Parliament". Save Experimental Lakes Area. June 21, 2012. Retrieved March 15, 2013.
  27. ^ "Bill C-45: What's In Omnibus Budget Bill 2?". Huffington Post. January 18, 2013. Retrieved 2013-01-18.
  28. ^ Government of Canada (2012). "C-38: Status of the Bill". LEGISinfo. Retrieved March 15, 2013.
  29. ^ http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/04/24/ontario-ela-open-for-year_n_3146662.html

Further reading

  • Hayes, F.R. 1973. The Chaining of Prometheus: Evolution of a Power Structure for Canadian Science. Toronto.
  • Johnstone, Kenneth. 1977. The Aquatic Explorers: A History of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada. xv + 342 pp. University of Toronto Press: Toronto and Buffalo.
  • Planas, Dolors. "John R. Vallentyne, in memoriam." Limnetica, 27 (1): i-ii (2008). Asociacion Iberica de Limnologıa, Madrid. Spain.
  • Schindler, David W., Vallentyne, John Reubec. 2008. The Algal Bowl : Overfertilization of the World's Freshwaters and Estuaries. University of Alberta Press.
  • Schindler, David William. 2009."A personal history of the Experimental Lakes Project[1]" Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. 66 (11): 1837–1847.
  • Stokstad, Erik. 2008. "Canada's Experimental Lakes." Science 28 November 2008: Vol. 322. no. 5906, pp. 1316–1319.
  • Vallentyne, John Reubec. "The Canadian Experimental Lakes Area." Keynote Address. Lake 2000. Symposium on Restoration of Lakes and Wetlands. Centre for Scientific and Industrial Consultancy (CSIC). Indian Institute of Science. Bangalore, India. November 27–29, 2000.

External links

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