
Great Lakes, Great Mistakes
For many years when I was little, I spent my summers playing on the shore of one of the largest bodies of fresh water in the world. No matter how often I visited, there was always something exciting about the lake. Bigger than anything else I had ever known, it was as vast as I imagined outer space. However great as it was, the edges were mine. From the shore to the buoys marked No Swimming Past this Point, that was home. But even in that safe space, Lake Michigan could remind me of its true size and my place in it. Even in such depths, nothing stays hidden forever.
On the days when fish kills plagued the lake, the shores were choked with bodies. My brother and I would wade through the glassy-eyed corpses until we reached the open water. These fish kills were mostly caused by pockets of industrial pollution being stirred up in the water — an occurrence that continues to this day. We’d do our best to pick our way past, but it was impossible to avoid touching them. I still remember the feeling. Cold, slick, and still. The feeling of a secret brought to the surface.
The Great Lakes have a long history of industrial pollution. In this work, my main focus revolves around what the EPA considers to be the Great Lakes Areas of Concern (AOCs). This list contains 27 rivers that flow into the Lakes, most of which are or have been areas of industrial and chemical pollution. They range from Michigan, Ohio, New York, Wisconsin, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and Illinois. Since 1987 when the Great Lakes Quality Agreement was formed, the EPA has delisted only four of these rivers.
The Great Lakes make up 95% of the US’s fresh water supply and are places of vast but fragile biodiversity. Due to climate change, the world’s fresh water is decreasing at an alarming rate — making conservation more vital than ever. Growing up, I always heard the old Michigan slogan, “Great Lakes Great Times” — a hopeful message meant to draw people to these wondrous bodies of water.
My goals for this project go beyond raising the alarm and revealing the issues facing the Great Lakes. This work explores how people can help. I have hope that even in this political climate, we can work together to restore the Great Lakes and ensure a more sustainable future for all of us.
















































All Images ©M Katie White 2017
All images ©M Katie White 2021