Lakes Ontario, Erie most threatened

COLUMBUS, OHIO (AP) - A report in an Ohio newspaper says the Great Lakes Environmental Assessment and Mapping Project determined Lake Ontario is the most threatened of the five Great Lakes, followed by Lake Erie. 

Lake Ontario landed its "worst" status because of widespread mercury and PCB pollution, and problems stemming from invasive sea lampreys and zebra and quagga mussels. Lake Ontario is a vital part of the economy in several Central New York towns and villages, including Oswego.

The Columbus Dispatch reports  researchers spent more than three years collecting data on 34 lake "stressors" - including invasive species, climate change and pollution.

Lake Erie was deemed the second most threatened because of toxic blue-green algae and invading species of fish, mussels and plants.