WATER-QUALITY CHANGES IN LAKE ERIE, 1968-1980

Data on chlorophyll a, total phosphorus, and hypolimnetic dissolved oxygen concentration, which were collected by Canada Centre for Inland Waters during the period 1968 to 1980, are statistically analyzed to evaluate the changes in the water quality of Lake Erie. There are strong evidences of a decreasing trend in the value of chlorophyll a and total phosphorus in the western, central, and eastern basins of the lake between 1970 and 1980. Furthermore, a statistical model is developed for the hypolimnetic dissolved oxygen concentration in the central basin. The model shows that the increase in depletion is related to the increase in the level of total phosphorus, Hence, it is possible to improve the anoxic conditions in the lake by controlling total phosphorus loadings.