Widespread increases in soluble phosphorus concentrations in streams across the transboundary Great Lakes Basin

Excess phosphorus from agricultural intensification has contributed to the eutrophication of rivers and lakes worldwide, including the transboundary Laurentian Great Lakes Basin. Algal blooms have surged in the past decade, threatening ecosystems, drinking water supplies and lake-dependent tourism economies in both large lakes (for example, Lake Erie) and smaller water bodies. Whereas previous research has focused mainly on phosphorus loads to Lake Erie, a comprehensive analysis of phosphorus species across the basin is lacking. Here we analyse changes in soluble reactive phosphorus and total phosphorus concentrations in over 370 watersheds across the Great Lakes Basin from 2003 to 2019. We find widespread increases in soluble phosphorus concentrations (83% of watersheds, with 46% showing significant increase), while total phosphorus concentrations are decreasing or non-significant. Utilizing random forest models, we identify small, forested watersheds at higher latitudes as the areas experiencing the largest relative increases in soluble phosphorus concentrations. Furthermore, we find winter temperatures to be a key driver of winter concentration trends. We propose that the increasing soluble phosphorus concentrations across the basin, along with warming temperatures, might be contributing to the increasing frequency and intensity of algal blooms, emphasizing the need for management strategies to prevent further water-quality degradation.