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Wednesday, 14 August 2019 12:47

Drones, burlap and Eastern Water Milfoil

On August 6th, members of the North Frontenac community and beyond, gathered at Clar-Mill Hall in Plevna to partake in an education session hosted by MALLA (Malcolm Ardoch Lakes Landowners’ Association) regarding the t Eurasian Water Milfoil infestation which has negatively affected many lakes in the area.

The goal of the session was to inform community members on the precautions which are being taken to minimize the harsh effects this invasive plant is having on local aquatic ecosystems. Many local lakes sent representatives and multiple local organizations and businesses made an appearance as well some of which provided educational booths. Booths were provided by Kelly Stiles from Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority, Makayla Parks, the owner and operator of Highland Aerial Canada, Chole Lajoie from Watersheds Canada and Olivia from Federation of Ontario Cottage Associations.

The presentation provided the highlights of the MALLA Eurasian Water Milfoil Management plan thus far and provide an environment where audience members could share their experiences.

The main goal being - to gain some control over this invasive species.

The MALLA project features a unique partnership. North Frontenac Township who provided the initial funding in 2018 for the purchase of burlap mats, which is the latest method of controlling this invasive plant that is being deployed. In 2019, NF Township also funded a MALLA summer student with knowledge of drone operations; Ryleigh Rioux. The Above and Beyond class at Granite Ridge Education Centre is also a partner. They have provided the lake with aerial imagery of the recent infestation under the supervision of teacher Wade Leonard, who trains students in drone technologies. Two of these students are Ryleigh Rioux and Makayla Parks. The final partnership is with Professor Jessie Vermaire and grad student Patrick Beaupre from Carleton University who are well known for their studies in aquatic invasive species.

Ryleigh Rioux, the MALLA summer student, provided a detailed summary of the project thus far by supplying aerial maps from the last three years. She compared 2017, 2018, and 2019 data indicating the huge expansion of the EWM colonies across Malcolm and Ardoch Lakes.

“Over the last 8 months, there has been a dramatic increase in all the patch sizes, the most dramatic being the one at Ridge Lane, but there have also been significant increase in size of all the patches,” Rioux told the News in a phone interview afterwards.

That’s the bad news, but while there is not quite any good news there is some promising news.

“Last year, we laid our first sheet of burlap in the mouth of Ardoch Lake, and dozens of sheets were laid at the beginning of this summer, and the burlap has slowed the growth of the millfoil enough for the area to be safe for boating, and gives an opportunity for other treatments. There have also been good results from the introduction of the milfoil weevil. No treatment can eradicate the milfoil, but hopefully it can be contained,” she said

Rioux has conducted 7 drone flights over sections of the lake so far this summer as part of the project and 7 more are planned.

The drone flights are scheduled around a kind of goldilocks weather scenario (not too sunny because the images get washed out but not too much low cloud because the images can be too dark) as well as the availability of volunteers from the lake association. Because she is a licensed drone pilot, Rioux can operate the drone from one boat, and two to three other boats are also necessary so that someone can have eyes on the drone at all times.

“It takes a lot of organization to do the drone flights,” she said.

She has been using the Granite Ridge drones for the work until now, but going forward she will be using a new drone that she just purchased, equipment that may also help her to start up her own business in the coming months.

As the drone work has been proceeding, Jessie Vermaire and Patrick Beaupre from Carleton University have been collected data from the lake. They are looking at the impact of the milfoil on aquatic life in the region and will be monitoring the impact on aquatic life. They will also be looking at the impact of the milfoil mitigation efforts on aquatic life.

At the meeting in the Clar-Mil hall, the range of strategies that MALLA has selected to minimize the negative effects of milfoil on their lake system were discussed. The number one strategy is still hand pulling along shorelines, followed by the laying of biodegradable burlap mats, educating community members, lobbying for government funding, and the expanding a weed watch program.

The presentation was followed by an interactive question and answer session. Some discussion centred on the use of weed cutters both hand- held and motorized as a strategy of removal as well as the use of the Milfoil Weevil, which has had promising results in other lakes.

The day came to a close with the reading of “The Story of The Starfish” which highlights the importance of making a difference as we all have the ability to make a positive change to the environment- even if it is a small one.

 

 

 

 

Published in NORTH FRONTENAC

“There is much for all of us to learn about why a properly functioning septic system is integral to ensuring the safety of our drinking water and keeping our lakes healthy” according to Bruce Moore, Chair of the North Frontenac Lake Association Alliance.

The purpose of the three hour Septic Savvy workshop is to not only inform the public but to also receive input from the public on the topic of well-functioning septic systems and their impact on the environment and drinking water.

Septic system maintenance is not a new topic however there is new knowledge and lessons that have been learned about how to optimise the operation of household systems.

The workshop will receive current information and lessons that have been learned from the Federation of Ontario Cottagers’ Associations, Kingston Frontenac Lennox Addington Public Health, Mississippi Rideau Septic System Office, Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority, and the Township of North Frontenac

The Lake Association Alliance has partnered with the Township of North Frontenac to offer this septic smart workshop on Saturday, June 8 at Clar-Mill Hall, Plevna from 9-12 noon. In establishing this joint venture, the Alliance recognizes that North Frontenac established a voluntary septic re-inspection program many years ago. As the Township website stages “systems that are improperly maintained, older or outdated or malfunctioning may have a negative impact on the environment, lakes and groundwater”.

The North Frontenac Lake Association Alliance has created a quick survey to make it easy for the public to send in their views, whether or not they are coming to the workshop. Please take the survey at .

For more information or to register email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. last minute registration will be possible at Clar-Mill Hall on June 8.

Published in NORTH FRONTENAC

It’s a busy week for technicians working for Conservation Authorities (CA) in Eastern Ontario.

Of the 37 such entities in Ontario, 4 are located in this corner of Eastern Ontario; Mississippi and Rideau Valley Conservation, in the Ottawa River watershed, and Quinte and Cataraqui, in the Lake Ontario watershed.

They have put out notices this week about spring flooding and its impact on some of the lakes within their systems.

They also all received notification that the portion of their funding that the Province of Ontario provides for natural hazard management is being cut this year.

In the case of the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA) for example, the allocation is dropping from $242,000 last year, to $125,000 this year.

The $242,000 annual payment, which had remained the same since 1996, was the Province’s contribution towards the RVCA’s efforts to mitigate against flood erosion, maintain infrastructure such as the Bolingbroke dam, and monitor stream flows, maintain a flood watch and generate flood warning messages, and produce mapping of flood plains.

“These are core functions,” said Sommer Casgrain-Robertson, General Manager of RVCA, “which the Province has always supported. “The $242,000 was about 2% of our annual budget, and it is now about 1%. The municipalities within the watershed provide about 50% of our funding, and the rest comes from user fees, application fees and fundraising. The Province, through the Ministry of the Environment, also contributes funding towards source water protection for drinking water.”

Flood water protection and monitoring had been a direct service of the Ministry of Natural Resources before it was downloaded to the Conservation Authorities in the 1990’s and at first the Province provided a significant share of the funding, but with inflation and other cost increases over 23 years, that share had diminished over that time to 2% until it was cut in half last week.

“We are not going to change our flood mitigation and monitoring operations, said Casgrain. “Over the next few months our board will decided how to handle the financial implications.”

We know the Province was up against a significant financial hurdle, and we knew the budget would contain cuts, we were waiting to see if our funding would be cut, but since our funding is so limited it was not a cut we were expecting. And when you consider that with climate change, we are definitely seeing an increase in extreme weather events, this is coming at a time when we probably should be looking at doing more in this area.”

The RVCA board is made up of appointees from member municipalities. One of the options they could consider would be to make up the shortfall by increasing the contribution from member municipalities towards natural hazards, which would lead to decreases in other municipal services or increases in municipal taxes.

The Mississippi Valley Conservations Authority (MVCA) is seeing a provincial funding cut from $248,000 to $128,000.

In a written statement, MVCA staff talked about the scope of the program that is supported by provincial funding.

“Through our watershed planning, programs and services, we put as much effort into preventing flooding as we do into responding when weather conditions overwhelm the system. Examples, particularly at this time of year, include: monitoring water levels and weather forecasts, operating water control structures, providing advanced notice of flooding to area municipalities and residents, and coordinating with emergency responders. We operate five Ministry of Natural Resources & Forestry, 11 smaller MVCA dams, and 2 facilities on behalf of Ontario Power Generation. Our on the ground presence throughout the watershed and daily monitoring of water flows, levels and weather conditions, allows us to understand and predict how water is coming off the land.”

They also said that they are not contemplating making any changes to their core operations in the short term in response to the sudden cut in provincial funding.

“We will look internally and at existing programs and reserves to compensate while continuing to work on the ground, maintaining the same level of service that member municipalities and other partners have come to rely on,” said Sally McIntyre, General Manager.

On a province-wide basis, the funding envelope for Conservation Authority natural hazard funding has been decreased from $7.4 million to $3.7 million.

The Ministry of Natural Resources, under Minister John Yakabuski, who represents the riding of Renfrew, is also undertaking a review of the Conservation Authorities Act, with a view towards improving “public transparency and consistency” according to a government news release.

The release quotes Minister Yakabuski: "Our government is putting people first to help communities and families prepare and respond to climate change," said John Yakabuski, Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry. "Improving the efficiency and effectiveness of our regulations is a critical component of our government's strategy for strengthening Ontario's resiliency to extreme weather events."

Published in General Interest
Wednesday, 24 April 2019 16:37

Flood Watches

A flood watch has been issued by the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority for properties around Bob’s Lake and Christie Lake, as these lakes are at capacity.

Although the water level increases are now almost stabilized, the water levels may still increase with the forecasted rain.

A flood warning has been issued by the Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority for the entire Mississippi River watershed. Water levels on Mazinaw, Marble, and Little Marble Lakes have peaked and are beginning to recede, and are are expected to be close to summer levels by the end of the week.

Levels on Kashwakamak Lake and Buckshot Creek should begin dropping by the end of this week. Flows out of Crotch Lake to High Falls are still increasing and are expected to peak on or around April 26. Levels on Dalhousie Lake have receded since their early peak but could rise above this season’s high of 157.8 metres on Thursday

In the Quinte Watershed, It is expected that rivers in the northern region of the Moira and the Salmon watersheds will approach 2014 flood levels this week.

The Cataraqui Region Conservation Association did not project major flooding in their most recent release, which was a week ago on April 17

Published in Lanark County

Some fire bans lifted in townships

The Cataraqui Region (CRCA) and Mississippi Valley (MVCA) Conservation Authorities both upgraded their drought warnings from “minimal” to “moderate” early this week, leaving only one more level to reach, a “severe” warning.

In a release, the CRCA said “Inland lake levels, which had been holding steady through the early part of the drought, have started to decline below target levels. With the continued lack of precipitation, and warm sunny weather, evaporation will be high, and lake levels will continue to fall. Care should be taken with navigation, as lower water levels will expose boaters to hazards that are normally well below the water surface, boat hulls and boat props.”

For their part, the MVCA said on June 30 that, “Flows in the main branch of the river remain at approximately 25% of normal, while flows in the smaller tributaries continue to be roughly 10% of normal for this time of year. All of the upper lakes in the watershed have begun to drop over the last week.”

Quinte Region issued a release on July 6, reiterated a stage 1 or “minimal” low water advisory, but also said, “We are predicting that we will soon be in a Level 2 Low Water Condition and will be meeting with our Low Water Response Team to go over current conditions and weather forecasts.”

Rideau Valley Conservation Authority has not upgraded the drought status, which was issued on June 6, but a further announcement is expected in the coming days.

Fire bans all over the map

There have changes to the fire ban status throughout the region over the past two weeks. As of Tuesday, in the townships of Central, North and South Frontenac, and Addington Highlands, burning is permitted as normal (see the townships' web sites for updates). Throughout the County of Lanark there is a partial burn ban in place, and small cooking fires are permitted. There is a total fire ban in Kingston.

This article will be updated as further information becomes available.

Published in General Interest
Wednesday, 22 June 2016 23:28

Drought conditions worsening

As the weather continues its hot and dry pattern, local conservation authorities are sounding the alarm bells.

The Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority issued a statement this week, on Monday, June 20.

The statement said the Mississippi River is in a minor drought condition, but that the tributaries are now experiencing a moderate to severe drought. Flows in the river are at 25% of the norm and in the tributaries the flows are at 10% of the norm. While lake water levels remain at the summer average, they are starting to drop.

“Water conservation is recommended for everyone within the watershed,” said the statement.

Quinte Region Conservation issued a level 1 low water warning in early June, and has requested that homes and businesses reduce water consumption by 10%.

Both the Cataraqui Region Conservation (CRCA) and Rideau Valley Conservation Authorities (RVCA) issued slightly more optimistic statements just after some heavy rains in early June. On June 7, the CRCA said it was maintaining its minor drought level even though 20-50 mm of rain had fallen on the watershed in the two previous days. On June 9, citing the same rains, the RVCA downgraded its warning to minor. With little rain since then except for heavy but spotty thunderstorms on Monday, the next statements from both the CRCA and RVCA will likely be more dire.

Residents in all districts are advised to check for fire bans before lighting any fires, as bans have been issued in different jurisdictions at different times over the past month (see editorial).

Published in General Interest

In April, North Frontenac Councilor Gerry Martin, who is the township representative to the board of directors of the Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority (MVCA), brought some potentially troubling news to his council.

The dams that control water flow on Kashwakamak Lake, Shabomeka Lake, Mississagagon Lake and Big Gull Lake are all in need of replacement. While the Province of Ontario will likely cover half the estimated $2 million cost, it is unclear where the rest of the money will come from, and Martin said there is a possibility it will end up being levied to North Frontenac ratepayers.

When contacted this week, Paul Lehman, the general manager of the MVCA, said that the board's policy and priorities committee will be looking at how to fund the dam replacements, and will hopefully report back to the MVCA board in the fall.

“The thing is that we have not undertaken any capital projects such as dams in over 25 years, and back then the province paid 85% of the cost,” said Lehman.

MVCA receives funding from municipalities along the watershed, which runs through townships in Frontenac and Lanark County into the City of Ottawa. Municipalities pay into the MVCA based on levels of property assessment, and the City of Ottawa therefore pays the bulk of MVCA costs.

“Some of our members are concerned that the cost of dam replacement will affect our budget and increase our annual levy to members,” said Lehman, “so we will be looking at alternate models to pay the costs.”

Lehman said that the MVCA can levy for work on projects to individual member municipalities according “to the relative benefit to the local townships.”

However, in the case of dams at the source of the system that control water flows, Lehman said it is hard to determine how to assess relative benefit.

In the end, the board of directors will make a final decision on how to fund the dam repairs and replacements that are required in North Frontenac and elsewhere along the route of Mississippi watershed.

At a meeting of North Frontenac Council last week, Councilor Martin said that he is less worried about the potential for large costs being downloaded to the township than he was back in April.

“They seem to be working something out,” he said.

Published in NORTH FRONTENAC
With the participation of the Government of Canada