Dr. Bill - I concur, the problem Bingley describes sounds like the Aral Sea. In fact, it has shrunk so much, exposing so much former lake-bed, that the region is experiencing serious air quality problems as a result of all the windblown dust. Nasty.

Aslo - thanks for the Baikal info - I've always been intrigued by the place, and almost had an opportunity to take a work trip there, but... In any case, it's fascinating that one single lake is estimated to contain one-fifth of the fresh surface water on the planet - now that's Superior!