Study Lists 6,400 Great Lakes Oil Spills
A Lake Superior State University analysis catalogs a decade of oil releases across the Great Lakes and connecting waters.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Environmental
Live Poll
Do you trust local government to adequately protect the Great Lakes from oil spills?
Lake Superior State University published a study in the Journal of Great Lakes Research listing more than 6,400 oil spills across the Great Lakes and connecting waters from 2015 to 2024. Most of the listed spills were less than 1,000 gallons, and many lacked information on the amount or type of oil released.
Why it matters
The study highlights gaps in the records of small spills, and little is known about how these releases affect the ecosystem. The findings come two months after a pipeline spilled at least 1.3 million gallons of natural gas liquids in Wisconsin, drawing renewed national scrutiny.
The study drew on spill records from 2015 to 2024 and found most entries were under 1,000 gallons, while many small spills lack quantity or product details. Ecological effects of these releases remain largely unmeasured.
The players
Lake Superior State University
A public university in Michigan's Upper Peninsula that conducts research on Great Lakes ecosystems and environmental issues.
Cecilia Heuvel
An ecologist at Lake Superior State University who served as lead author of the oil spill study.
The details
Lead author Cecilia Heuvel, an ecologist at Lake Superior State University, led the analysis of more than 6,400 spill records across the Great Lakes and connecting waters. The researchers noted that the data gaps make it difficult to assess the cumulative impact on the region's ecosystem.
Timeline
2015 to 2024: Period covered by the listed oil spills.
Two months before the study: A Wisconsin pipeline spilled at least 1.3 million gallons of natural gas liquids.
November 1, 2026: The study was published in the Journal of Great Lakes Research.
Environmental Context
The study builds on federal oil discharge reporting maintained through the U.S. Coast Guard's National Response Center, which tracks spills in U.S. waters. Its catalog of more than 6,400 Great Lakes releases shows how many small incidents can accumulate outside the most-publicized events.
Residents near the Great Lakes can report suspected oil sheens or discharges to the National Response Center or their state environmental agency. Keeping hazardous products out of storm drains and recycling used motor oil helps reduce the small spills that make up most of the listed incidents.
The takeaway
Small releases can add up over time, so reporting even minor oil spills helps build a clearer picture of pollution in the Great Lakes. Reducing household oil and chemical runoff is a practical step readers can take right away.
Further reading
Explore more reporting in the Environmental section for context on pollution and ecosystem health.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Lodinews.
Live Poll
Do you trust local government to adequately protect the Great Lakes from oil spills?
