PATTERSON LAKE NEWSLETTER

August 2007
www.pattersonlake.bowerman.ca

Lake Water Quality: Still a Puzzle

In the last newsletter we reported that the key indicators for the lake are still good, however, the results regarding acidity of the lake (or in this case alkalinity) are puzzling. The 2006 Watershed Watch report from MVC showed the lake at the beginning last year as somewhat alkaline but by the end of last summer reaching a very high pH of more than 9. (rainwater falls at about a level of 6.0-6.5). This level of alkalinity can be dangerous for some fish species.

Because we could find no reasonable explanation for a Canadian Shield lake to become alkaline, we decided to do some lake testing ourselves. (Commercial testing is way beyond our resources.) Reasonably priced aquarium test kits are available that measure not only pH (acid or alkaline), but also general hardness, carbonate hardness, nitrates (NO₃), and nitrites (NO₂). We do not expect commercial lab quality results, but we certainly should get a good indication of what is happening. So twice a month under the guidance of Ted Manning, we have been testing at six places around the lake (each Director does an area), and as well the major input creeks.

We had no idea what to expect. It turns out that our readings are very similar around the lake and for the input creeks. The pH level is close to neutral which is 7.0 and our results range from 6.0 to 7.5. So where does the alkalinity of over 9 come from?

Maybe it is one of our numerous springs scattered around the lake. The research crew at 151 Lakeside Rd (also known as Lorne and Connie's daughter Joy Bowerman, her husband Trevor Dee, and their two kids, Sarah and Alex (both are part fish according to Grandma), found a spring, put nylon over it and weighted down the outside edges. After a while, it puffed up in the centre, so Trevor carefully took a sample under the nylon. It turned out to be very similar to all of the other sampling with a pH of 7.0 (absolutely neutral), a general hardness of 60, a carbonate hardness of 120, nitrites of 0.5 and nitrates of 20. They did other springs in the area, all with the same general result.

Now we may not know yet about how all these things affect the lake, but we do know that all the input waters and the lake itself yield about the same results.

If you go up to our website and take the Lake Data button, there are all sorts of interesting data there that will eventually end up in our Lake Management Plan. If you do not have access to the Internet, let me know and I will provide printed copy.

Other Lake Data

Did you make it in swimming when the lake temperature was 28°C? If not, too bad because the lake is now starting to cool off. It is in the 24 to 26 range now, and will gradually cool as we go into fall. Cool nights and cloudy days reduce the temperature considerably.

The water level has been both below and above average this summer. We started off in the spring with the highest level we have recorded in twenty two years, but it quickly lowered to average, and then below average. It is now about 8" above the bottom of the north culvert which is slightly above normal. As we get into fall, we will watch the culverts to ensure they are clean and ready for the high levels in the spring.

Have you ever heard of a Secchi (pronouced sec key) reading? It is a measure of the clearness of the water. The cloudier it is, the lower the reading.

Secchi by the way was the name of the man who developed its use. A Secchi disk is a 6" circle divided into four quadrants - two black and two white. You lower the disk in the water until you can no longer tell the difference between the black and white, even though the disk can be distinguished. Young eyes are the best, although Grandma eyes do a very good job as well. Grandpa eyes just won't cut it.

The Watershed Watch reports for the past 20 years have shown the Secchi readings of about 5.5 metres. This year we were about 7.metres for quite a while, then we dropped steadily to 5.8 metres when the weather really started to get hot. We are still above the long term average.

The bottom line for all these things is that the lake is in good condition, and our job is to keep it like that.

The Mississippi Rideau Septic System Office

(The following came in an email fro MVC)

As of July 1, 2007 the Tay Valley Septic Office is now the Mississippi Rideau Septic System Office. This name change reflects the expanded role of this office in both the Mississippi Valley and Rideau Valley watersheds, particularly in the area of septic system re-inspections.

The Mississippi Rideau Septic System Office (MRSSO) assists local municipalities with sewage system re-inspection programs. We encourage property owners to become more familiar with their septic system and its maintenance requirements. In an effort to spread the word to more watershed residents and cottagers the MRSSO will host a series of workshops this summer. The following is a sneak peak, a course outline if you will, of a few of the topics the MRSSO will discuss at the workshops.

Septic System 101. All household wastewater (waters that drain from your toilets, tubs, dishwasher, and washing machine) ends up in the septic tank of your onsite wastewater system. The septic tank separates the liquids from the solids and breaks down organic matter. The solids sink to the bottom and a scum layer forms on top. The wastewater in the middle runs into the leaching bed for further filtration and eventual discharge to ground or surface water.

Houston… we have a problem. The system is quite effective if it is properly maintained. For the health of your family, the health of your neighbors and the health of our local water resources it is imperative that you report problems immediately. Typically, symptoms of a failing system include: unusually healthy grass; a soggy drain field, sewage backup, and sewage odour.

Care and Feeding. To keep your onsite wastewater system operating at its best it needs regular attention. Have the tank pumped every two to three years. Install an effluent filter to minimize the amount of solids entering the leaching bed. Be vigilant about the kinds of things that go down the drain and reduce your indoor water usage.

For further information and workshop dates and locations please contact Jamie Saunders at 613-259-2421 and jsaunders@mvc.on.ca or visit the MVC website at www.mvc.on.ca and click on the septic workshops link.

The Septic Office and Patterson Lake

The first time that I heard about Jamie Saunders was in the June Long Lake Newsletter which had been given to me by a friend. Since then his name has popped into my life just about every week. I was particularly interested in the workshops which were offered this summer in areas outside Lanark Highlands.

I went to see Jamie Saunders on August 10^th to see if we are going to have some local septic system workshops. The answer I got was not what I expected.

It turns out that Lanark Highlands do not have a Sewage System Re-Inspection Program that uses the facilities of Jamie. So here he is at the MVC headquarters in our neck of the woods, and we do not use him.

I asked him about the program. He said that the program is run through the townships, and is not available on a payment basis by property owners. Usually a township contracts for anywhere from 30 to 100 properties around targeted shorelines. The trigger for this targeting is a high e-coli on a waterfront.

My first thoughts were about the heavy hand of authority coming down on some culprit. But that is not the case at all. Jamie said it was a voluntary or semi-voluntary program and there is lots of room for stakeholders input. Their main aim to have working systems rather than punishing offenders.

The regulations covering septic systems is in the Ontario Building Code part 8.

It is my plan to find out more about the Sewage System Re-Inspection Program and whether it has a place in Lanark Highlands. Do we have something else in place? Do we do our own? Are septic systems a problem in Lanark Highlands? Who is our enforcement officer? How much does it cost per year? At the moment, I have more questions than answers. I will work on it.

Purdon Conservation Area

from Mississippi Valley Shorelines,

Summer 2007 Newsletter

The Showy Lady-slipper orchids have again delighted us with their beguiling beauty. Mississippi Valley Conservation manges the site for our visitors and it inhabinants. This season our beloved orchids were also admired by the deer, who seemed to think them a delicacy judging from the number of buds nipped off throughout the site. MVC is investigating ways in which to combat this problem and will keep you posted on our efforts.

On the more positive note, Ted Mosquin, Orchid Guardian and dedicated enthusiast, gave pollination lessons to MVC staff and close to 200 orchids were hand pollinated. With time the plant will produce a seed capsule and has the potential to disperse 20,000 to 30,000 seeds.

Annual General Meeting (AGM)

The AGM of the Patterson Lake Association of Lanark Highlands will take place on September 2, 2007 at the Watsons Corners Hall from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM. The Hall will be opened for registration from 1:30 to 2:00 PM.

Enclosed are the Articles and By-laws of our Association. They have been approved by the Board of Directors and confirmation will be requested at the AGM. In my judgement they are as good a set of by-laws as I have seen for our type of organization. As I noted last year, the basis for them was the Lower Beverley Lake Association set which I found on the Internet. They were obviously prepared by someone with legal training. Now as a retired government employee, they read fine for me as I have read that type of sentence structure all my working life. Some may find the structure a little too carefully worded and too exact, but that is not a bad thing in a legal document. Maybe we will try to do a plain English version to see how that sounds.

By the way, parts of Chapter 38 of the Ontario Corporations Act is the governing law for our Association. We are a not-for-profit corporation. The Act is available on something called e-Laws Ontario. We have a link on our website off the Constitution button. The by-laws that are being presented for confirmation meet all the requirements of Chapter 38.

You will note that the Articles of Incorporation are included before the by-laws. This is quite typical as they give the name and objectives of the organization. They also say that for a not-for-profit that no dividends are to be paid to members - any money we raise has to be used to promote our objectives.

The Articles come from the Province. The by-laws come from the organization. You cannot change your articles unless you go back to the Province and have them changed officially.

The 2007-2008 fees have been set at $20 per lake or associated property. That is the best $20 you will spend this year. For $20 you get a legal organization and six neighbours working hard to keep the lake as clean as it is now, and protect your lake property investment. A lake is a huge part of the cost of a lake property. We will lose a lot if we let the lake become polluted.

Voting at the meeting with be by voting cards with each registered property entitled to one card. Those not registered will not be entitled to vote.

Gas Thief Alert

When we went to return home after last weekend at 151 Lakeside Rd, both my daughter's Dodge minivan and my Dodge minivan gave us a engine warning light saying something was wrong. The car manual suggested some engine cap was loose. I stopped and checked but could not find anything wrong. We didn't find out what the problem was until we took the vans to a garage. The problem was simply that the gas tank lid had been removed and not put back securely.

So how did that happen? My best guess is that someone did or tried to siphon gas from our tanks. They did not tighten the gas tank cap again because it clicks and that noise would have given them away. I have in the past seen people on ATVs with a siphon hose and a gas can, and I do not think they were going to catch frogs. I think I lost about 10 litres because I got a low fuel light before I made it home.

So just one more thing to watch for.

Newsletter

This Newsletter was produced by Lorne Bowerman. Comments, suggestions, or articles are welcome.