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Water_quality_update

LAND OMay 2000

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A Water Quality Update for Lakes Monitored in the Mississippi Valley Watershed

water_quality_update Mississippi Valley Conservation has long recognized the recreational and aesthetic value of lakes within the Mississippi Valley watershed and is committed to maintaining and protecting water quality. Clean water and unpolluted areas are vital to maintaining fish and wildlife habitat and a flourishing tourism industry. The very attributes that attracted you to the area in the first place, should not be at risk and need to be preserved and protected for now and for generations to come. Taking a pro-active and preventative approach, now, is the answer. The greatest threat to lakes in Ontario's Mississippi watershed is nutrient enrichment. Phosphorus is the key nutrient of concern. Too many nutrients causes profuse weed and algae growth and threatens fish habitat by reducing oxygen levels. Sources of nutrients include; erosion and runoff from clearing of shorelines, the use of artificial fertilizers, leachate from sewage disposal systems and the use of high phosphate products. People value their lake for different reasons, but everyone wants the reassurance that their lake environment is healthy. Have you noticed changes in the water quality of your lake? Mississippi Valley Conservation's new Watershed Watch Program can help you determine what these changes mean. Launched in 1998 by Mississippi Valley Conservation, in partnership with the Mississippi Valley Lake Stewardship Network, Watershed Watch is a grass roots environmental monitoring and awareness program aimed at mobilizing volunteers to protect and improve water quality in their lakes. The primary objective of the Watershed Watch Program is to accumulate reliable environmental data to determine current water quality conditions and the limits which lakes can absorb nutrient input. This data is then used as an essential tool to educate and encourage shoreline residents to adopt sound stewardship practices to improve water quality. Volunteers in the watershed provide an invaluable source of local knowledge and manpower, however, volunteers often require the tools, technical expertise and project coordination to see their efforts implemented effectively. In simple terms, Watershed Watch is the kick-start shoreline residents need to get more involved in monitoring and preserving their lake environment.

water_quality_update A central database was created in the first year for Lake Stewards, municipalities and residents to obtain historic and current water quality data and stewardship information. Eight lakes were monitored in 1998, beginning at the headwaters and working downstream, they were; Mackavoy, Mazinaw, Marble, Shabomeka, Kishkebus, Mississagagon, Kashwakamak and McCausland. Lakes monitored in 1999 included; Buckshot, Shawenagog, Sand, Big Gull, Malcolm, Ardoch, Pine and Blue. Recreational water quality is generally expressed in terms on how clear the water appears. Water clarity is measured with a Secchi disk and is influenced by the amount of phytoplankton or microscopic algae present in the water; chlorophyll a is the green pigment in the phytoplankton. The amount of nutrients, in particular phosphorus, influences the amount of algae growing in the lake. Water clarity decreases with elevated concentrations of algae. As summer progresses the algae dies off and settles on the bottom of the lake where it begins to decompose. This decomposition requires oxygen and can use up the natural oxygen that many sensitive fish species require a plentiful supply of to survive.

water_quality_update Mississippi Valley Conservation, with the assistance from Lake Stewards, tested lakes for total phosphorus, chlorophyll a, dissolved oxygen and temperature and water clarity. Water quality results from the 1998 monitoring program were summarized in easy to understand State of the Lake Environment Reports. These reports were distributed by dedicated volunteer Lake Stewards to residents on those lakes. Over nine hundred reports were distributed to residents in the first year.

water_quality_update Water quality in lakes monitored in 1999 follows a similar trend as lakes monitored in 1998. In general, water quality in lakes in the western portion of the Mississippi watershed continues to be very good. Lakes with total phosphorus levels less than 10 micrograms per litre have few nutrients and are classified as oligotrophic or unenriched. Lakes with total phosphorus levels between 10 and 20 micrograms per litre are considered moderately enriched and greater than 20 micrograms per litre are considered eutrophic or enriched lakes. Lakes with chlorophyll a densities less than 2 micrograms per litre have a low algal density. If chlorophyll a densities are between 2 and 4 micrograms per litre the lake is moderately enriched with moderate algal density and lakes with greater than 4 micrograms per litre densities would be considered eutrophic or enriched. Lakes with mean Secchi disk measurements of greater than 5 metres are considered unenriched with a low algal density. Lakes with average readings between 3 and 5 metres are moderately enriched and lakes with an average of less than 3 metres have too many nutrients with a high algal density. A typical oligotrophic lake is a crystal clear, deep lake with sterile shorelines having very few aquatic plants. These lakes are very desirable and can support environmentally sensitive fish species such as Lake Trout. Mazinaw and Shabomeka are typical oligotrophic lakes in the watershed. Lakes that are typically moderately enriched or mesotrophic lakes in the watershed are Shawenagog and Pine. These lakes have more productive shoreline areas with moderate aquatic plant growth. These lakes often support abundant bass, pike, perch and pickerel populations. Fortunately there are no eutrophic lakes of the sixteen lakes monitored to date. As you can see from the graph below, of the sixteen lakes monitored, thirteen lakes have phosphorus levels below 10 micrograms per litre. This is very good because the fewer nutrients reaching the lake means less algae will grow and the clearer the lake is.

The Provincial Water Quality Objective set by the Ministry of Environment for Total Phosphorus is 20 micrograms per litre for warm water lakes and 10 micrograms per litre for cold water lakes. Of the sixteen lakes monitored zero lakes exceeded the Provincial Objective. Shawenagog Lake had the highest phosphorus level at 14.5 micrograms per litre. Of the thirteen lakes with historic phosphorus data, eight have lower phosphorus levels now than twenty years ago, the remaining five lakes have marginally higher levels, the most noteworthy being Shawenagog Lake where levels went from 10.2 in 1976 to 14.5 in 1999. However, it must be noted that levels are still within Provincial Objectives. Chlorophyll a densities are below 2 micrograms per litre for the sixteen lakes monitored with the exception of Pine and Big Gull lakes. Levels for these lakes were only slightly greater than 2 micrograms per litre. This is very good news, these lakes remain unenriched. As you can see outlined in the graph below, with the exception of Mazinaw Lake, current densities are lower than twenty years ago.

Water clarity is measured with a Secchi disk, a 20 cm black and white disk attached to a measured line and lowered into the lake until it is no longer visible. All lakes monitored in 1998 and 1999 had mean Secchi disk measurements greater than 3 metres. A mean was calculated during the ice-free period and based on greater than 8 measurements with the exception of McCausland Lake. Half of the lakes monitored had average readings greater than five metres which is very good. Readings for the remaining lakes were between 3 and 5 metres, these lakes are moderately enriched. Mississagagon, Blue and Sand Lakes recorded the highest mean Secchi disk measurements at close to 7 metres depth. The most notable reduction in water clarity in the past twenty years was in Ardoch Lake where average levels went from 6 metres between 1976 and 1980 to 4.1 metres in 1999. Most shoreline residents love their lake and want to do what is right to preserve and protect it, they just require the correct information. Mississippi Valley Conservation will be hosting another Stewardship Workshop on June 10th at the Lanark County Office on Sunset Boulevard in Perth. This is an annual event and this year will be bigger and better than ever. Key speakers from all over the province will be speaking on issues near and dear to cottagers. The Agenda is as follows: 1 Laurel Grills of Mississippi Valley Conservation will present the water quality results for lakes monitored in the Mississippi watershed to date,

2 Ted Thompson from the Township of the Archipelago will talk about their very successful Septic Re-Inspection Program. This may serve as a model for area municipalities to address old or malfunctioning cottage septic systems,

3 Randy French of French Planning Services and numerous years with the Ministry of Natural Resources, will speak on the Importance of Official Plan Policy In Protecting Lake Environments,

4 Heather Smith from the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters will give an update on Invasive Species in the East, in particular, zebra mussels,

5 Mark Henry from Mississippi Valley Conservation in conjunction with a representative for the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, will outline changes in administering the Fisheries Act and who is your first contact if you wish to work in or near the water, and,

6 the keynote address will be given by Dr. Neil Hutchinson of Gartner Lee Limited and formerly with the Ministry of Environment Dorset Research Centre. Neil will discuss Changing Management Strategies for Ontario's Lakes. If you are interested in protecting water quality and fish and wildlife habitat on your lake, than this workshop is a must. Be sure to mark June 10th on your calendar, the cost is only $12.00 and this includes lunch and a poster session. For more information contact Laurel Grills, Watershed Watch Coordinator at (613) 259-2421. The Watershed Watch Program was made possible thanks to the many dedicated volunteers who sit on the Steering Committee and help with the sampling program. As well, the generous donations from the Trillium Foundation, Mississippi Valley Conservation Foundation, Lake Associations, the McLean, George Lunan and J.P. Bickel Foundations, Mountain Equipment Co-op, Ministry of Environment and area Stewardship Councils - all partners in preserving water quality in the Mississippi watershed.

water_quality_update

With the participation of the Government of Canada