Lake Erie Oxygen Depletion Controversy

A summary of a special workshop held at the Canada Centre for Inland Waters, Burlington, Ontario, 2–3 December 1981, is presented. The purpose of the workshop was to air some differences of opinion regarding the response of the hypolimnetic anoxia of Lake Erie to phosphorus controls. The workshop confirmed the validity of the 1978 U.S.-Canadian Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement's goals on restoring year-round aerobic conditions in the hypolimnion of the central basin of Lake Erie through phosphorus loading reduction. The author served as workshop chairman and convenor.