Kelleys Island, a distinctive landmass nestled within Lake Erie, stands as a notable natural and historical landmark. Its unique geological formations, such as the Glacial Grooves, which draw visitors with their impressive scale and historical significance. This island, spanning approximately 4.41 square miles, maintains a small year-round population while serving as a prominent vacation destination. Despite its inherent appeal and charm, Kelleys Island faces a range of challenges that threaten its long-term ecological health and environmental integrity. In 2010, a report identified it as one of the most ecologically threatened islands in the Great Lakes, citing concerns related to development, tourism, and various environmental pressures.
Ecological and Environmental Pressures
Kelleys Island’s natural systems are significantly impacted by non-native species. Lake Erie, particularly vulnerable due to its shallow, warm waters, hosts over 185 established aquatic invasive species. Zebra and quagga mussels, for instance, disrupt the aquatic food web by filtering out phytoplankton, reducing food for native organisms. This filtering also increases water clarity, allowing more sunlight to penetrate and potentially exacerbating harmful algal blooms.
These invasive mussels also pose practical problems by colonizing native mussels, thereby lowering their survival rates, and by clogging essential water intake lines. Beyond the aquatic realm, terrestrial invasive plants like Phragmites, or common reed, form dense stands along shorelines. These plants outcompete native vegetation and diminish habitat for wildlife, including turtles, frogs, and birds.
Water quality degradation further complicates the ecological balance around Kelleys Island. Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are an annual concern in Lake Erie, especially in its western basin, directly affecting the island’s surrounding waters. These blooms are largely fueled by excessive nutrient runoff, primarily phosphorus and nitrogen, originating from agricultural lands, wastewater discharges, and urban areas within the broader watershed.
The toxins produced by these blooms, such as microcystin, can contaminate drinking water supplies, harm aquatic life, and render recreational activities unsafe. Kelleys Island’s public water system, which draws its supply directly from Lake Erie, is therefore susceptible to such contamination events. The degradation of water quality poses a direct risk to both the island’s ecosystems and human health.
The island’s unique habitats also face fragmentation and loss. Kelleys Island is home to distinct ecosystems such as alvar pavements, wetlands, and rare red cedar forests. Alvar habitats, characterized by thin soil over limestone bedrock, support an unusual blend of boreal, southern, and prairie plant species, some rare.
Human activities and environmental changes contribute to the conversion and degradation of these natural areas, leading to reduced biodiversity. For example, red cedar forests, once prevalent, were extensively clear-cut in the 19th century, making remaining stands valuable for the island’s ecosystem. Protected lands, including those overseen by the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, preserve these sites, which also serve as stopover points for migratory birds and provide habitat for rare species like the Lake Erie watersnake.
Development and Tourism Impacts
Kelleys Island’s increasing popularity as a vacation destination places considerable strain on its existing infrastructure. The island experiences a significant seasonal surge in visitors, challenging its limited water supply and waste management systems. The public water system relies on Lake Erie water, vulnerable to contamination from residential sewage and agricultural runoff.
While some wastewater treatment facilities have been updated, the growing demand suggests a need for a more comprehensive public sewerage system to manage waste and prevent environmental issues. Managing this influx requires careful planning to prevent overextending resources.
The demand for housing, vacation rentals, and commercial establishments leads to land use changes. This development encroaches on natural areas, altering the island’s character and increasing impervious surfaces. Such changes disrupt natural drainage and impact sensitive ecosystems.
Historically, quarrying for limestone modified portions of the island until 2008. This past industrial activity, coupled with current development, transforms the island’s landscape.
Increased visitor numbers lead to greater demand for resources and more waste. This can overwhelm the island’s capacity for resource management and waste disposal. High recreational pressure can result in localized environmental degradation.
Examples include erosion along trails, disturbance to wildlife, and increased litter. Despite ongoing efforts and advocacy for nature preserves and conservation, protecting the island from human-induced pressures remains a challenge.
Climate Change Vulnerabilities
Climate change presents vulnerabilities for Kelleys Island, particularly concerning Lake Erie’s water levels. The lake experiences more extreme and less predictable water level fluctuations. While Lake Erie’s levels historically varied by about 2 meters, projections suggest increased variability, leading to both higher highs and lower lows.
These fluctuations are influenced by changes in precipitation, evaporation, and runoff, with greater extremes anticipated. Such shifts can intensify shoreline erosion, damage coastal infrastructure, and alter wetland habitats that rely on stable water conditions.
The island is susceptible to more frequent or intense extreme weather events due to climate change. While storm intensity predictions are complex, greater lake level variability can amplify storm impacts, leading to more severe erosion and flooding. Heavy spring rains, a component of changing weather, contribute to increased phosphorus runoff into Lake Erie, fueling harmful algal blooms.
Such events can overwhelm natural systems and human infrastructure, risking the environment and community. The long-term effects of these events can reshape the island’s landscape and ecological composition.
Temperature shifts from climate change are projected for the Erie basin, with lake water temperatures expected to rise. These temperature increases can have consequences for the island’s biological communities. They may favor the survival and spread of non-native species, while altering the growth and survival of native flora and fauna.
Warmer temperatures can lead to reduced lake ice cover, increasing evaporation and contributing to lower water levels. These shifts in temperature directly impact the island’s ecosystems, affecting species adapted to specific climate conditions and disrupting ecological processes.