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Benedict, Roger William, et al. “Saint Lawrence River and Seaway.” Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., 30 Jan. 2014, www.britannica.com/place/Saint-Lawrence-River.

Gagnon, C., et al. “Metal Contamination of the St. Lawrence River Following a Major Release of Untreated Wastewater.” Journal of Xenobiotics, 2017, www.pagepressjournals.org/index.php/xeno/article/view/7173/7549.

Glynn, Jennifer. “Impacts of Agriculture on Water Quantity in the Great Lakes - St. Lawrence River Basin -- Executive Summary.” Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, 2015, www.iatp.org/documents/impacts-of-agriculture-on-water-quantity-in-the-great-lakes-st-lawrence-river-basin-exec-0.

Willbanks, Lee. “St. Lawrence River Endangered.” St. Lawrence River Endangered > Thousand Islands Life Magazine > Thousand Islands Life Magazine All Archives, 13 Apr. 2016, www.thousandislandslife.com/BackIssues/Archive/tabid/393/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1922/St-Lawrence-River-Endangered.aspx.

Climate Change Canada. “St. Lawrence River: Overview.” Canada.ca, 14 July 2017, www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/st-lawrence-river.html

“St. Lawrence River Watershed.” St. Lawrence River Watershed - NYS Dept. of Environmental     Conservation, dec.ny.gov/lands/48021.html

“Overview of the State of the St. Lawrence.” Overview of the State of the St. Lawrence 2014 -Plan D'action Saint-Laurent,             planstlaurent.qc.ca/en/state_monitoring/overview_of_the_state_of_the_st_lawrence_2014.html.

https://www.marad.dot.gov/wp-content/uploads/pdf/NCNV_Report-Part_1.pdf

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237,868 jobs

$35 billion in economic activity

$14.2 billion in personal income and local consumption expenditures

$6.6 billion in federal, state/provincial and local tax revenue

123,172 U.S. and Canadian jobs were dependent on the Soo Locks

92,661 jobs were generated by cargo transiting the St. Lawrence Seaway locks

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/great-lakes-st-lawrence-seaway-economic-impacts-study-results-released-300682817.html

Even though the St. Lawrence River/ Seaway generates a lot of profit, there are still debates and discussions around helping the water quality and environment. Since the waterway generates so much money many large organizations and companies look more towards money instead of helping this river in terms of plant/animal life and quality of water.

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This river is extremely important not just for the environment but also for many Americans and Canadians. It’s a huge water way used by millions, and it’s important to treat the ecosystem of this great river and waterway with caution and care. Even though it has many benefits economically it has had major declines in water quality, rising pollution and endangered species, even affecting the water cycle and changes in weather. There are action plans in place to help with those issues, however the environment of the river is suffering. With many of the articles I read I noticed just how bad it was getting, and all of the areas within the ecosystem that were affected. This research project opened my eyes about how important it is to take care of our ecosystems and waterways.

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"Because it flows through such a vast portion of the continent, the river has many different habitats, ranging from Great Lakes freshwater systems all the way to the saltwater ocean environments of the estuary. There are around 83 different documented land and aquatic mammals that call the river and its associated gulf home, including the much adored and endangered beluga whale. Before they were hunted to extinction regionally in the northwest Atlantic, walruses used to swim here too. Part of the Atlantic Flyway, the river is a hotspot for at least 400 species of birds, such as bald eagles, ospreys, and black terns."
https://blog.wwf.ca/blog/2015/11/25/5-amazing-facts-about-the-st-lawrence-river/

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There are many vineyards, orchards, farmlands that line or are near the the St. Lawrence River. Many of the agriculture includes fruits and vegetables including apples, cherries, cabbage, potatoes, onions, grapes, corn, and pears. For food security there is a steady supply of food from farms, however the water quality and pollution hasn't gone unnoticed and has affected farms, not to a major degree yet.

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St. Lawrence Hydroelectric Facility

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There are many urban cities that use the St. Lawrence River to harvest renewable energy, along with the surrounding land. One Example is New York, the Higley hydroelectric station, located on Lower Raquette River in St. Lawrence County, underwent a major repowering in 2003-04. Anew water intake, penstocks, powerhouse and high-efficiency generation equipment Increased the plant's output from approximately 4.5 MW to 6.2 MW, a gain large enough to power more than 1,700 average homes. "Solar and wind "farms" and large hydroelectric power stations supply clean renewable power on a commercial scale to New York's electric grid. But large scale is not required for renewable technologies to generate safe, clean power - small solar arrays in neighborhoods, business districts and campuses throughout New York are producing electricity at a cost close to that of fossil fuels, while small wind, geothermal and micro-hydro are appearing in suitable locations across the state." https://www.dec.ny.gov/energy/40899.html

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Cruises to see wildlife on St.Lawrence River

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A look into the environment in the world of Ready Player One

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Comparing St. Lawrence to the world of Ready Player One

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Comparing St. Lawrence to the world of Ready Player One

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While reading this book, I could see similarities to the declining health of the ecosystem in the St. Lawrence River. The water quality has declined dramatically, many animal species have become endangered, and has affected climate change. As an example, “water quality such as conductivity, dissolved oxygen, suspended particulate matter, and coliforms were determined as indicators of water quality during the wastewater discharge event” (Gagnon). With the waste from a rise in boat traffic, large cities, and power plants it’s negatively affecting the ecosystem. Comparatively, in Ready Player One, Wade expresses his thoughts“ the reason so many people are starving is because we've wrecked the planet. The Earth is dying, you know? It's time to leave” (pg. 136). It has become clear that living in a bad environment can have many impacts and would make life miserable, that is why many characters in the book immerse themselves in a virtual reality to escape the real reality.

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After reading Ready Player One, it opened my eyes and allowed me to see the similarities not just with the St. Lawrence River but as the whole environment surrounding our planet. In reality, it all connects to each other, and by taking even just small steps to help protect animals, water sources, people and our ecosystems it can help from more damage occurring. This river not only affects Americans but it also leads into Canada, it’s astonishing just how many people use this waterway. Even though it may be a necessary pathway for cargo ships, it can also have steps in place to help the quality of the environment. There are action plans in place to help with water quality,     pollution control, animal protection for endangered animals, and rehabilitation. As a society people, could learn to not ignore the signs that the weather, climate, and the environment is giving us, before it is too late, to also know that even if it a little action or step every single thing counts and contributes. Not just one person, but everybody has to contribute to help fix and maintain a healthy ecosystem.

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Solutions to the water quality, plant and animal life, and water traffic

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Solutions to the water quality, plant and animal life, and water traffic

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"The State of the St. Lawrence Monitoring Program launched in 2003 continues to play a leading role by providing information on more than 20 indicators related to water quality, sediments, and biological resources". Looking further into plans to help the St. Lawrence River, some of my own ideas are cutting down on water traffic, using other land resources for transportation. Build more water cleaning facilities, block off regions of endangered species, constantly monitor animal and plant life. Create a plan to help habitats for animals, and to add on enforce rules for boats that create waste such as oils, gases, chemicals from the boat.

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In 1988, the governments of Canada and Quebec began to work collaboratively with various stakeholders in order to conserve, restore, protect and enhance the St. Lawrence River. With the aim of continuing this work while also adapting to emerging issues facing the St. Lawrence, the governments of Canada and Quebec made a commitment in 2011 to renew this partnership, the St. Lawrence Action Plan, for a period of 15 years. This plan is also known as the Canada–Quebec Agreement on the St. Lawrence. http://planstlaurent.qc.ca/en/home/about_us/background/st_lawrence_action_plan_2011_2016/five_year_report_2011_2016/st_lawrence_action_plan_20112026.html

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A Video Showing how polluted the River has gotten 

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A Video Showing how polluted the River has gotten 

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Just how polluted is the St. Lawrence river?

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Award-winning underwater filmmaker Nathalie Lasselin did some extreme diving to draw attention to pollution levels in the St Lawrence.

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Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River

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Negative Cycle of Ecosystem

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Water availability, access, ​and quality

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Water availability, access, ​and quality

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“Water quality such as conductivity, dissolved oxygen, suspended particulate matter and coliforms were determined as indicators of water quality during the wastewater discharge evet” (Gagnon). In turn, damaging the ecosystem with high levels of metal and waste. To add on there have been many chemicals from agricultural and manufacturing such as pesticides and fertilizers. The water quality has been declining due to boats, urban cities, invasive species, agricultural manufacturing, etc. With the population growing and more traffic of boats, habitats for the local species have declined. With Canada and the US counting on that waterway for a huge portion of transfers of cargo, it would be a small chance that it would slow down to help the environment and water quality.

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The climate has changed enormously; water volumes and levels have been impacted the most. In the article St. Lawrence River: Overview, “Lawrence River Basin will continue to dwindle over time, falling by 20% to 30% from existing levels over this 21stcentury”. Being difficult to manage water levels in the basin from water stored at the Sault-Ste-marie, welland-Niagara, Cornwall and Beauharnois dam complexes, there has been a concern in proper water usage. There has been recent conversations of building main structures at several lakes that feed into the river to help observe the water levels. Due to climate changes in weather this also affects the hydrology of the Great Lakes St. Lawrence system. Changes in temperature, precipitation, evapotranspiration and runoff have a huge effect on the ecosystem, as seen in water quality and declines in species.

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Negative Impacts on Animal and Plant Life

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Negative Impacts on Animal and Plant Life

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Many species such as the Black tern bird, northern pike fish, eel, and perch have become endangered due to water pollutants and the hydropower dam.

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There are many different types of animal and plant species. There are many types of fish including sturgeon, walleye, perch, eel and bass. The river also inhabits the blue heron, and many algae. When the waters cross into the ocean that’s where many shellfish, phytoplankton, zooplankton, seabirds, and belugas are. For the land surrounding the river there are turtles, bald eagles, bats, beavers, squirrels, deer, and porcupines.

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Many people rely on this waterway as I mentioned before, this waterway is used for transportation of people, cargo, and thermoelectric plants to power many peoples homes. The part of the river that connects to the sea is called the seaway, many people use boats for transportation or to carry cargo. Just as described in the article,Saint Lawrence River and Seaway, “bulk commodities make up about 90 percent of annual cargo tonnage, but vessels of many nations also use the seaway to deliver or pick up general cargoes.” (Benedict). It’s one of the worlds most used international trade routes.

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The watershed contains about 40% of the river, 68% of lakes/ponds, and 100% of the Great Lakes that have been assessed on the quality of water. On the downside the Great Lakes shores quality is poor, and only 25% of rivers and 14% of lakes is good quality. The major issues with water quality come from acid rain, mercury depositions, and hazardous wastes. The impacts of agriculture have also taken a hit due to pollution in the water. From the sea gateway to Canada other factors affect water quality such as water pollution for cargo ships and boats, waste, and invasion of outside species from the sea.

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In the US, this river drains an area of 300,000 square miles. Over 30 million Americans and 15 million Canadians live in this immense basin. This water drains down from the northern and western Adirondack Mountains, and the lake plain region of the Saint Lawrence valley. The actual size measurement of this watershed is 5,600 square miles of land area in New York State.

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The St. Lawrence River Watershed is located at the boarder of New York State and Canada and this river serves as a gateway between the North Atlantic and the Great Lakes.