So, I know Kelly is interested (obsessed? ) with this topic, and perhaps some others area as well and I have questions.
What are the primary chemicals that pollute lakes?
Do those come from primarily industrial, residential, or both?
Toxicity? Biodiversity? What are the major issues?
What [unenforced] laws exist to prevent things (and what actions are being/need to be taken?)?

Growing up, it's one of those topics I've been aware of only as 'don't dump stuff in the lake' and 'zebra mussels are killing everything'. So I'm curious.

I didn't think zebra mussels were killing everything, just getting clogged up everwhere and replacing all life with their own. And that's only in Lake Erie right?

I am not too sure about chemical pollution in present times. I know it was a problem years ago and it still is, but I am not too sure exactly what chemicals are the problem now.

Yes I am obsessed with this topic...almost freakishly obsessed.

I don't know for sure, but I would think that it comes from both industrial and residential. One of the things I know for sure is that many fertilizers and things get into the water when it rains.

A big problem I know of is invasive species. One that is common where I live is Eurasian Watermilfoil. http://www.ecy.wa.gov/Programs/wq/plant ... lfoil.html
We have laws against invasive plants here. (But unfortunately, they are difficult to inforce). At every boat dock/landing there are signs telling you to inspect and clean your boat and trailer before entering a new lake.

The invasive plants tend to grow very well and they take over the native vegetation. Eurasian milfoil is thick so it prevents fish from breeding properly. It can reproduce sexually and asexually. When boats chop it up, each fragment can make a new plant. Then those fertilizers don't help any!

There are many ways to control it, including herbicides. But I don't like herbicides. They'll kill any vegetation. People claim that they will "minimize" the effects on the native plants, but now you're just putting more chemicals in the water. Really, just hand-pulling it is extremely effective.

But yeah, that's one major problem, at least in lakes around here.

Here. I found a good article that describes some pollution problems.

http://dnr.wi.gov/org/water/wm/foxriver/

Too bad we didn't know then what we know now. That's what gets me furious...when people don't know if or how an action will harm nature but they do it anyway!

Ooh PCB contamination... morons.

This is why Europe is so big on the Precautionary Principle - it's something we could definitely adopt ourselves if we really wanted to create different regulation. Basically it just treats chemicals as guilty until proven innocent, rather than the other way around that the U.S. seems to like so much (see also: BPA, pthalates).

Thank you!!!!! Than goes along with medicine and ingredients in food etc etc... The FDA is another one that has a place on my nerves