139 resultant abundance in sediments and algae causes the obstruction of sunlight from marine life.22 Additionally, waste and debris from the bodies of riverboats have found their way into aquatic ecosystems and have caused further damage by entangling native marine species, or even worse, being ingested.23 Such deposits also alter the chemistry of the river stream by modifying concentrations of compounds such as copper or zinc, as well as acidity through the discharge of petroleum into the river stream.24 In a similar manner, internal combustion engines commonly release greenhouse gases (particularly nitrous oxide, methane, and carbon dioxide) or dangerous hydrocarbons into the water through exhaust gas.25 Since many marine species may only thrive in particular environments, even the most minor alterations (which have surely been far surpassed by the intrusiveness of riverboat casinos) in river streams are fatal towards marine ecosystems.26 Evidently, in the desperate pursuit to manifest some environmental advantage to riverboat gaming, Sander failed to consider the disadvantages in front of his very eyes. These detriments are illustrated by data on the watershed. The Illinois Rivers Decision Support System (IRDSS) found that through 1997-2002, nine separate stations across the Fox River yielded concentrations of zinc, nickel, cadmium, and copper that surpassed the standard of what could be considered “chronic.”27 Furthermore, a 2002 examination of Fox River water quality from a U.S. Geological Survey found elevated levels of phosphorous and nitrate within the river stream.28 22 Byrnes, Troy A., and Ryan J. K. Dunn. 2020. "Boating- and Shipping-Related Environmental Impacts and Example Management Measures: A Review" Journal of Marine Science and Engineering 8, no. 11: 908. https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse8110908 23 Ibid. 24 Fields, Scott. “The Environmental Pain of Pleasure Boating.” Environmental Health Perspectives 111, no. 4 (2003): A216– 23. http://www.jstor.org/stable/3435238. 25 Ibid. 26 Byrnes and Dunn. 2020. "Boating- and Shipping-Related Environmental Impacts and Example Management Measures: A Review" Journal of Marine Science and Engineering 8, no. 11: 908. https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse8110908 27 ILRDSS. Fox Water Quality Data Base: Water Quality Analyses, Fox River Watershed Investigation, 2002-2003. http://ilrdss.sws.uiuc.edu/fox/downloads/Fox_Chapter_5.pdf. 28 James Evans Special to the Tribune. (2002, Nov 20). 17 groups join forces to examine condition of fox river water quality: [northwest final, NW edition]. Chicago Tribune Retrieved from
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy Mjg3OTMy