The George Wright Forum

This paper explores the growing threat of air pollution to national parks in the Great Lakes region, emphasizing both local and long-range sources of contamination. The authors highlight that while industrial and vehicular emissions are concentrated in urban areas near the parks, secondary pollutants such as ozone and acid deposition travel significant distances, impacting even remote park ecosystems. Key threats include reduced visibility due to sulfate aerosols, vegetation damage from ozone and sulfur dioxide, and ecosystem degradation in acid-sensitive watersheds from acid precipitation. Case studies illustrate ongoing and potential ecological damage, particularly in areas like Indiana Dunes, Cuyahoga Valley, Voyageurs, and Isle Royale National Parks. The paper calls for expanded monitoring and mitigation strategies, warning that without significant emission reductions, park resource values across the region may be substantially diminished in the coming decades.