One of the many things that climate change affects, most notably, is the sea levels. But much like the seas and oceans, water levels in lakes and ponds are growing as well. One of the areas affected by this is the Great Lakes. A "new low ice cover record" was recorded in the Great Lakes in January 2021. Rapid switches in the water levels between the high and lows are normal in Michigan now. Heavier rainfall increases runoffs from farms and cities. "This pollution contributes to beach closings and algae blooms like the harmful algae bloom in Lake Erie that shut down Toledo’s drinking water supply in 2014". Warmer winters have also reduced the amount of ice covering the lakes. As you can imagine this is affecting the many species of fish and other water creatures residing in the lakes.

Someone I would like to introduce to you is Sara Bowers, She is 97 years old and lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan She doesn't live on the lakes but she lives quite close so she visits them frequently. She has lived there for the majority of her life and has lived in the same house the entire time. The houses in the neighborhood she lives in are about 100 yards apart. She happens to have a big garden where she harvest vegetables including cucumbers that she has actually showed me how to pickle before (though I was young and have forgotten now). Sara is my great grandmother on my mom's side. Climate change has affected her as well as the neighbors in her area. Nothing too severe, but changes in gardening have been crucial for her to have a successful harvest. Before, certain seasons for fruits and vegetables were longer than they are now while some are slightly shorter. She has also noticed some changes in the lakes over the years. The lakes used to be for "non-public" use for longer due to the cold weather and icy lakes. But as the ice melts faster every year and the average temperature rises, summers feel longer as lake weather is around longer.