Analysis and Digitization of Historical Water Quality in Western Lake Superior
In the late 1950s and early 1960s, water quality studies were conducted in Western Lake Superior by the founding fathers of the Minnesota Sea Grant through the Minnesota Department of Health and the University of Minnesota. This study aims to digitize and analyze the data from those historical studies along with georeferenced sampling sites Additionally, this work has compared sampling and analytical methods between now and then. Evaluating water quality results in early studies with current databases and research can provide a glimpse into the past and relevance to better understanding of water quality in Lake Superior and the Duluth-Superior Harbor. The water quality of the harbor has improved and Lake Superior has seen little change in water quality with small increases in nutrients near shore. Through the usage of mapping software, statistical analysis, and methods referencing, this study rewinds time to rediscover the conditions that once existed in Lake Superior and provides digitized dataset to a wider audience of researchers for further study.