Vulnerability of lakes and rivers

Vulnerability of inland waters

Nature

The vulnerability of lakes and rivers refers to their susceptibility to environmental threats such as pollution, climate change, habitat destruction, and overexploitation. These freshwater ecosystems are essential for biodiversity, human consumption, agriculture, and industry, yet they face degradation from contaminants, invasive species, altered water flow, and rising temperatures. Such pressures can lead to loss of aquatic life, reduced water quality, and diminished ecosystem services. Addressing the vulnerability of lakes and rivers is critical for sustaining ecological balance, public health, and economic activities dependent on freshwater resources.

Background

The vulnerability of lakes and rivers emerged as a global concern in the mid-20th century, when industrial pollution, eutrophication, and dam construction led to visible ecosystem degradation. Landmark events such as the 1969 Cuyahoga River fire and the shrinking of the Aral Sea drew international attention, prompting scientific studies and policy responses. Over time, recognition of climate change, invasive species, and water extraction has deepened understanding of the complex threats facing freshwater systems worldwide.

Incidence

Lake Baikal in eastern Siberia is a sacred lake for the Buryat people (Buddhists) and contains 20% of the world's freshwater. It is more than 800 kilometres longs and up to 1.5 kilometres deep, and contains up to 2,500 species of plants and animals, two-thirds of them endemic. Over 300 rivers discharge into the lake. The annual catch of omul, the unique trout-like fish of Lake Baikal, has dropped by two-thirds since 1950, the primary reason being pollution in the 6 major spawning rivers. More than 40 factories pump effluents directly into the lake, including mercury and chlorine. The lake has also significantly reduced in size due to use of water for industrial and irrigation purposes.

The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Basin has been the focus of a number of studies relating to future climate change, which is expected to affect the water quality and ecology (primary productivity, species diversity, food web dynamics) of the Basin. While the changes are anticipated to be felt basin-wide, the most pronounced effects are likely in tributary streams, bays, near-shore shallows and the central basin of Lake Erie. This could have serious implications for water quality and aquatic biota. Lower lake levels are expected in all lakes, with Lakes Erie and Ontario experiencing reductions of one meter or more. This has implications for hydropower, shipping, salt water intrusion in the St Lawrence River and it raises questions about future policy decisions on water withdrawals and regulation of lake levels.

Eighty percent of China's major rivers are so degraded they no longer support fish.

Claim

The vulnerability of lakes and rivers is an urgent crisis that demands immediate attention. These vital water bodies are under relentless threat from pollution, climate change, and reckless human activity. Ignoring their plight endangers ecosystems, drinking water, and countless communities. We cannot afford complacency—protecting our lakes and rivers is not optional, but essential for our survival and the health of our planet. The time to act is now, before irreversible damage is done.

Counter-claim

Concerns about the vulnerability of lakes and rivers are vastly overstated. These natural bodies have existed for millennia, adapting to countless environmental changes. Human impact is often exaggerated, and resources spent on their protection could be better used elsewhere. Nature is resilient, and minor fluctuations in water quality or biodiversity are part of natural cycles. Prioritizing lakes and rivers distracts from more pressing global issues that truly deserve our attention and resources.