From the Bookshelf of 2018 TCPL Reading Challenge! …

[close] Largely an environmental history of our great lakes, focused on the 19th century to the present, this book arrives as a public service to help us better understand the threats to the largest fresh water system in the world. Egan is a journalist so his stories unwind like magazine pieces as he recounts the history of opening the Saint Lawrence Seaway, opening the door to invasive species and the efforts of engineers and natural resources specialists to rectify and change lake conditions. The tinkering of fisheries experts demonstrates how bold men can be in introducing new species to the lake, setting off calamities or suppressing unwanted predators. Egan conveys the deep love for the lakes many grow up with as well as people's love of fishing.

Living just a couple of hours from the Great Lakes for many years, this book really opened my eyes to its history, its plight, its vulnerabilities, and, somewhat, its possibilities.

When we define what we mean by "natural", this is a good case in point. The great lakes make look like a natural phenomenon, but that's just the foundation. Human actions have led to lower depths through climate change, declining populations of native species, increases in algae blooms, and the rise of invasive fish and plants.