Book Reviews

While local, state, and federal governments acted independently, the heart of the story centers on the cooperative efforts between Canada and the U.S. that ultimately led to the rehabilitation of Lake Erie. The International Joint Commission (IJC) created in 1912, led the way with its studies and recommendations in the 1960s on eliminating phosphorus from detergents and building improved sewage treatment facilities. Out of the activities centered on the IJC came further talks between the two countries. Then, in 1972, Canada and the U.S. signed the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, which created a board to monitor and recommend policies to reduce pollution. Regarding eutrophication, the GLWQA recommended, but did not require, reduction of phosphorus in detergents. It did establish a timetable for upgrading sewage treatment facilities. The countries amended the agreement in 1978 to include increased monitoring and research on non-point sources as well goals to reduce algae growths and restore aerobic conditions year-round to the central basin of Lake Erie. By the 1990s, McGucken notes that these goals had been met, but that eutrophication remains a serious problem in 18 near shore areas in all the Great Lakes, four of which are in Lake Erie: the mouth of the River Rouge in Michigan, and the mouths of the Black, Cuyahoga, and Maumee Rivers in Ohio. In addition, the clarity of Lake Erie reported in the media of late is because of the introduction of zebra mussels, more so than the reduction of phosphorus.

In addition to the complicated narrative, and the limited analysis of political developments, the major weaknesses of the book are that few individuals stand out amidst the descriptions of reports, meetings, and scientific data, that it is centered on elites, and that the writing and story lack emotion. McGucken attempts to deflect criticism along these lines. In the book's Introduction, he writes, "this is a story with a cast of thousands, the vast majority of whom remain anonymous members of subcommittees, committees, boards, and institutions" (13). The success in bringing eutrophication under control came from a "cooperative effort on the part of U.S. and Canadian federal, state/provincial, and local governments; the IJC and its boards and committees; the communities of limnologists, sanitary engineers, and agricultural scientists; and an often recalcitrant and always self-interested detergent industry" (13). He does attempt to bring the story to life by noting the contributions of a few individuals, including scientist Richard Vollenweider, engineer Daniel Okun, political leaders Joseph Greene, Canadian minister of Energy, Mines, and Resources, and William Ruckelshaus, head of the Environmental Protection Agency. Still, the majority of the narrative discusses decisions made by boards, committees, and governments, leaving out individual actions and creating a dry, almost emotionless story. Furthermore, the focus on elites provides only part of the story; occasionally McGucken alludes to others at the local level. For example, in discussing the growing opposition to phosphates in the United States, he notes the involvement of Buffalo's Housewives to End Pollution in organizing meetings with detergent manufacturers and posting signs in stores concerning phosphorus in detergents. But such stories of public involvement and action from below are few, as the narrative quickly returns to the author's areas of strength, organizations, reports and data. A greater balance between elites and grassroots involvement would have made for a more exciting read; but to be fair, it would have also meant a different book.

Gregory Wilson
University of Akron
Akron, Ohio

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