On the Brink: The Great Lakes in the 21st Century

As a sailor on Lake Ontario and a concerned parent and citizen this book gives you a great history and status of the condtion of the great lakes from an environmental viewpoint. You learn about the lakes from the early days of European settlement in the late 1700's through the overfishing and degredation of the lakes in the later 1800's through the "improvements" by the army corps of engineers of the 1900's on. What we see of the Lakes today is only a shadow of what they once were and might once again be if people begin treating them as the resource and treasure they should be. This book really makes clear the changes man has brought to the lakes the last 200 years and shows where a small group of conservationists or even one person can make postive changes into the future.

Dave Dempsey's book, On the Brink: The Great Lakes in the 21st Century, is a comprehensive history of the environmental challenges the Great Lakes have faced since cities began to sprout on their shores in the early 1800's. Dempsey records an encyclopedic account of the unrelenting assaults on the land, water and wildlife of the region. I was alternately fascinated by the stories and repulsed by the effects of so much wanton exploitation. Of course, there are stories of hope as well as degradation. Stories of national parks created and environmental laws passed through the actions of responsible citizens. That, in the end, is Dempsey's message: challenges remain, the lakes are in peril, but hope endures as long as people are willing to take action. The book is so comprehensive that at times I found myself wishing it dealt more thoroughly with a topic. On the other hand, there are some obscure stories I've not seen elswhere that I would have hated to miss. At times it can be a challenging read, but overall it's an engaging tale, and well worth the effort.

Dempsey's research is simply breathtaking and mind boggling. He presents the history of the Great Lakes from the opening of the book which takes place 50 years in the future, into thousands of years in the past. We learn about the explorers we only know today because they have cars named for them. We learn of the ordinary people who have helped preserve this resovoir of 1/5 of the worlds fresh water supply. We learn about the fragile life forms that hug these ancient and majestic shores. But the real excitement is found in the book itself that reads at times like a 'page-turner' of a novel. We see how political expediency wins time and time again against the pressures of modern day life and industry. We are made to understand the trust of stewardship that has been placed upon us to preserve these marvels of nature, and most importantly, why. Personally, I was left aghast at how quickly various species of fish and aquatic life could, and have, disappeared forever. Others that have gone to the brink and returned and others that still hang on balanced on the precarious beam of nature. All presented in an excting read to boot! Being able to distill such voluminous research into an imminently readable book such as this is a rare talent. If you drink water, you need to read this book.

Written by Dave Dempsey (an environmental policy teacher of Michigan State University who served by President Bill Clinton's appointment on the Great Lakes Fishery Commission), On The Brink: The Great Lakes In The 21st Century is a clarion wake-up call to the dangers the Great Lakes ecosystem face today. Summarizing a history of the Great Lakes' environmental exploitation and gradual recovery, and blending in thoughts on the poetry, folklore, inspiratioon derived from the Great Lakes as well as citizen action to preserve them, On The Brink brings true environmental history to life in an exciting manner that challenges the reader to get involved and join the fight to protect a national treasure.