PATTERSON LAKE NEWSLETTER

May 2007

www.pattersonlake.bowerman.ca

Lake Water Quality: New Data and a Puzzle

by Ted Manning

The 2006 Watershed Watch reports are in. The good news is that our lake is still healthy and has changed little in the last three decades. (See the Mississippi Conservation Authority website at www.mvc.on.ca/water/watch.html for the full report).

While the key indicators for the lake are still good, the results regarding acidity of the lake (or in this case alkalinity) are puzzling. The report shows the lake beginning the year as somewhat alkaline but by the end of the 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. Another area of concern is incoming phosphorus: while the lake overall is still OK, some areas may not be - this is likely caused by leakage from septic tanks and from lawn fertilizers coming into the lake.

The study also found that, particularly late in the year, the deeper part of the lake lacks oxygen - forcing the fish to live in the upper parts of the lake water. This reinforces concerns over the lake level, and the need to be good lake stewards.

The Lake Association is starting a water monitoring program to be done by each Lake Association representative twice a month. The Watershed Watch study was based mostly on samples taken in the deepest part of the lake - building on a thirty year record. We propose to expand this - and make certain that we have a good record of the condition of lake water in each part of the lake on a regular basis. We will be measuring lake temperature, pH, nitrate, nitrite and total alkalinity twice each month from May to September starting this year. This will help us in identifying potential problems and will add to the information available to us in developing the lake plan.

Some Startling Data from the Lake Report

by Lorne Bowerman

Ted covered the highlights of the Lake Report. I would like to add a few comments about one thing that stopped me dead in my tracks while reading the report..

Phosphorus is MVC's "key nutrient of concern which can cause weed and algae growth and threatens fish habitat by reducing oxygen levels".

One of the most startling bits of data was the amount of phosphorus that could be contributed to the lake by fertilizing lakeside lawns once per year - 1960 grams out of a total of 3355 grams in a high phosphorus lifestyle. If you do not fertilize, the value is zero. Septic tanks could add a little over 500 grams of the 3355 grams. So many times we think of septic tanks and the damage they might do, but rarely do we think of the fourfold damage from lawn fertilizers.

Would you trade your green lawn for green water? Think about it. What is most important.

Lake Management Plan

From the initiative of our last AGM, the Board decided to do a lake management plan for Patterson Lake. This is a five year project. A lot of it is data gathering.

The initial phase was started last fall with a visioning questionnaire. It was a narrative form with the respondents answering general questions like what do you like about our lake, what should be changed, what could be improved over the next 20 years, etc.

It did not take many replies before the general trends showed up. In a few words, Patterson Lake is great as it is and we should do everything to keep it that way. Amen to that.

We had a number of things highlighted like speeding boats, septic tank cleaning, shoreline protection, and lake levels, but no great burning issues that requires us to rally our forces to defend our homes and cottages.

The next phase will progress during the year with the development of another questionnaire on the issues raised, but this time you will be asked to rank the importance of the issues. For example, if one question were "Is swimming in the lake important to you?", then the response choices could be all the way from Not Important to Very Important. In due course.

OPP Lake Surveillance

The following excerpt is from an OPP/Lake Associations Meeting May 3, 2007 with OPP Lanark Detachment Commander Inspector Gerry Salisbury

1. What are the local OPP plans for level of effort in surveillance of local lakes and boaters this summer? How much time/manpower do the OPP expect to apply in being out on our lakes?  Do they intend to focus on specific lakes, specific boat types (e.g. big and fast?)?

Inspector Salisbury said that beginning May 15 the marine officers Scott McNames and Lyndon Murray (or whoever is covering for them on their days off) will be out on the local lakes full time (seven days a week) throughout the summer. They will rotate through all the lakes. The SAVE team will also spend some time on local area lakes this summer. In addition to the regular rotation of coverage on the local lakes, any lake associations with specific concerns can contact the OPP.

In response to the question about focusing on specific boat types, Inspector Salisbury said that the officers would be looking at all boat types for all offences.

Follow-up questions from this question included ….

· If there is no public access on a lake - how do the OPP get on a lake? Inspector Salisbury said that the OPP would work with the lake association to receive permission to use an access at a lake resident's boat access point.

· Are the OPP boats washed between visits on a one lake and then another lake? - yes, it is a provincial policy that this must be done.

· How is boating speed determined by OPP? - hand-held radars. The Inspector said that most speeding violations occur on the larger lakes like the Rideau.

· Most offences identified on lakes are either liquor or equipment especially inadequate # of life jackets.

· There was also a question about whose responsibility was it to deal with disregard for fishing bylaws. Inspector Salisbury confirmed that it was MNR. N.B. On occasion the OPP and MNR do partner for patrols out on the lakes.

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 5:00 PM. The Hall will be opened for registration from 1:30 to 2:00 PM. You can save time and line-ups by pre-registering at you road association meetings.

The 2007-2008 fees have been set at $20 per lake or associated property. 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.

Newsletter

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