SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – An international report on the Great Lakes shows that two of the five Great Lakes have a strong ecosystem, while three others have notable room for improvement.

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The analysis is conducted once every three years as part of an agreement between the U.S and Canada and is graded on nine measures:

• Can we drink the water?
• Can we swim at the beaches?
• Can we eat the fish?
• Have levels of toxic chemicals declined in the environment?
• Are the lakes supporting healthy wetlands and populations of native species?
• Are nutrients in the lakes at acceptable levels?
• Are we limiting new introductions and the impacts of non-native species?
• Is groundwater negatively affecting the water quality of the lakes?
• Are land use changes or other stressors impacting the lakes?

Lakes Huron and Superior received the highest available grade and are considered steady. Lake Michigan’s ecosystem is considered “fair and unchanging.” Lake Ontario’s ecosystem is also considered fair but is showing more signs of improving. Lake Erie received the lone “poor” rating and one that doesn’t appear to be improving anytime soon.