Mid Term Summary of the Results of the Water Monitoring Program

Mid Term Summary of the Results of the Water Monitoring Program 

And Recommendations for Responsible On-going Management of Our Water Resources and Watershed

The water monitoring on October 26, 2014 will mark the date of the last sampling in the three year, level three study of water quality in Lac le Jeune (The Big Lake). There is one more year of sampling to be done on the Little Lake to complete the same level of study there. When this is completed, a full, comprehensive evaluation will be done on the accumulated information for both lakes. 

A more current evaluation for the Big Lake will be carried out as soon as the laboratory analysis of the most recently submitted water samples is available. 

A tentative evaluation of data received after approximately a year and a half of monitoring (a mid-term evaluation) yielded contradictory results^* when comparison was made with accepted, standard, tables. Nutrient levels of phosphates, and nitrates were high enough to indicate that both lakes were already into the Eutrophic stage, while Secchi depth readings and the levels of algae growth (phytoplankton) were indicative of a lake that is in the latter stage of oligotrophic evolution. 

For clarification, lakes fall into three well defined categories: Oligotrophic, Mesotrophic, and Eutrophic. Lakes evolve through these three stages at a rate that is dependent upon the environment in which they are located. For example, if a lake arose as a result of glaciation at a high altitude, within a water-shed composed of bare rock the process will be much slower than one which arose through glaciation but is situated at a low altitude surrounded by rich agricultural land. The definitions are: 

Oligotrophic:

a. deep, frequently cold, low in nutrients and therefore unable to support significant growth of the algae and phytoplankton that are necessary to maintain a good fishery. These lakes are often called “young” but may be very old and if they are glacial lakes may stay for prolonged periods in the Oligotrophic phase.

Mesotrophic:

b. Often said to be in mid-life. These have higher levels of nutrients, support a moderate growth level of algae and phytoplankton and therefore are able to maintain a greater fish and animal population. They are in the process of gradual infilling from both sedimentation and lateral growth of marsh. 

* Modifications were made to the sampling method as the anomalous results were thought to be the result of sampling at the wrong points in the water profile.

Eutrophic:

c. The last phase of a lakes life span. Eutrophic lakes are characterised by heavy growth of aquatic plants, algae and phytoplankton commensurate with high levels of nutrient. Infilling has made these lakes shallow, water warms and cools quickly. The heavy level of growth renders these lakes subject anoxia and therefore winter kill.

Ideally, the final results of our monitoring program will make it possible to define where in the evolutionary progression our Big and Little Lac Le Jeune stand and will provide a base line of information against which future monitoring results may be compared. Doing periodic monitoring in the future will allow us to more quickly recognize undesirable changes and to react to them more quickly and effectively. 

The responsibilities of our community to the maintenance of water quality:

Irrespective of what the final analysis of our study shows, we as a community have a vested interest in managing our water shed and lake in a manner that is most likely to keep them in the best condition possible.

There are a number of simple things we can do to achieve this:

1. Limit the use of fertilizers used on our properties. Green lawns and flower gardens look great but can be a source of added nutrient when rain and domestic watering flush excess phosphates, nitrates and potassium into the lake.

2 Limit the use of pesticides and herbicides as much as possible as many of these are long lived pollutants that have disastrous effects on the environment.  

3. Limit domestic and garden use of water as much as possible. This will lengthen the life span of septic systems and reduce the potential for run off into either the ground water or lake. 

4.Maintain septic systems and holding tanks in good condition. Have aging systems inspected and replace them before they become a problem.

5. Use de-icing salt sparingly. 

6. Where possible replace two cycle gas outboard motors with low polluting four cycle outboards or use electric motors where feasible. 

7. Use watercraft responsibly: maintain speeds that minimize wake, clean boats according to appropriate protocol when transporting water craft to and from different lakes. 

8. Where possible use washing machines and dishwashers that minimize water use and use only non- phosphate detergents. 

9. When constructing docks use only non-toxic materials.

10. Report any observed threat to our environment to appropriate authorities or our Conservation Society. 

Remember, the evolution of lakes from the oligotrophic to the eutrophic state is a natural and continuous process but we can do much to reduce the rate at which it occurs by being responsible stewards of our environment.  

Hugh Burton