Lake Water Quality Program - Greater Sudbury · Human Resources Development Canada’s Youth...

Lake Water Quality ProgramEconomic Development and Planning Services

2004 ANNUAL REPORT

www.city.greatersudbury.on.ca/lakewaterquality

1ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING SERVICES @ LAKE WATER QUALITY @ 2004 ANNUAL REPORT

CITY OF LAKES

The City of Greater Sudbury is known as “the City of Lakes” encompassing several hundred lakes andsmaller water bodies. There are 330 lakes over 10 hectares and 47 lakes greater than 100 hectares.Lakes are a valued natural resource in Sudbury and it is due to this richness that the City and its citizenshave a vested interest in the water quality and health of our lakes.

LAKE WATER QUALITY PROGRAM

The Lake Water Quality Program is a field-based program that monitors water quality of urban lakes.The program aims to safe-guard the supplies of potable water, improve the ecological health of our lakes,maintain a healthy fisheries and support the creation of lake stewardship groups. All of the informationcollected will be used to establish a long-term database of water quality indicators so that trends in waterquality and ecological lake health can be identified and appropriate management decisions can be madeto protect our lakes. The lake water quality program also provides assistance and manages a resourcenetwork for lake and watershed stewardship groups.

PARTNERS

In 2004, the Lake Water Quality Program was a successful partnership with the City of Greater Sudbury,Human Resources Development Canada’s Youth Internship Canada Program and the Co-operativeFreshwater Ecology Unit.

1) List of PartnersCity of Greater Sudbury Sudbury and District Health UnitHuman Resources Development Canada Ministry of Natural ResourcesCo-operative Freshwater Ecology Unit Nickel District Conservation AuthorityMinistry of the Environment-Lake Partner Program Lake Stewardship Groups

STAFF AND INTERNS

1) Lake Water Quality Program Co-ordinator

The City of Greater Sudbury provided funding for the position of Lake Water Quality Program Co-ordinator.

2) Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC)

i) Youth Internship Canada Program

The Lake Water Quality Program, with funding from Human Resources Development Canada’s YouthInternship Canada Program, employed 2 recent graduates from the community. One Lake MappingIntern and one Lake Research Intern were hired for a six month contract starting in January 2004.


LAKE WATER QUALITY PROGRAM COMPONENTS

1) Summary of Activities

Activities 2004 2003 2002 2001

Lakes sampled-Spring Phosphorus 32 30 33 42

Chemical parameters tested 15 7 77 76

Presentation to lake stewardship groups 4 4 3 2

Request for lake information on lakes via email and telephone

16 12 - -

Number of lake stewardship groups 31 31 17 10

2) Spring Phosphorus Sampling

Phosphorus is the main nutrient (fertilizer) that controls the growth of algae in lakes. Algae and aquaticplants need phosphorus to grow; more phosphorus in a lake means more algae.

Phosphorus samples are collected in the spring shortly after the ice is off the lakes, during a period called“spring turnover”. This is the best time to sample for phosphorus since it is the only time of year thata surface water sample represents the phosphorus concentration throughout the whole lake. Phosphorusenters a lake primarily through surface runoff from human sources such as septic tank seepage, lawnfertilizer runoff, agricultural runoff, municipal wastewater, and soaps and detergents. Also, dependingon the amount of ground cover and bedrock and the soil conditions around lakes, phosphorus sourcesin lakes may originate from natural sources through erosion. Also, depending on the amount of groundcover, exposed bedrock and the soil conditions around a lake, phosphorus sources may originate fromnatural sources through erosion.

Lakes with spring phosphorus values of 20 micrograms per litre (µg/L) or greater are classified aseutrophic or nutrient enriched. Eutrophic lakes are warm, and poorly oxygenated, and can exhibit lowwater clarity and thick algae blooms. Lake with spring phosphorus values of 11 to 20 µg/L are termedmesotrophic lakes, which are moderately enriched with some nutrients. If a lake has spring phosphorusvalues of less than 10 µg/L, the lake is oligotrophic, unenriched with low quantities of nutrients. Referto Appendix 1 for more information on the different categories of lakes using spring phosphorus values.

The 2004 spring phosphorus sampling program started in early May. A helicopter was used to sampleas many lakes as possible during the short spring turnover period. A total of 32 lakes were sampled.Lakes were chosen based on historically high phosphorus concentrations, a lack of historicalinformation, their susceptibility to lakeshore development and human activities, and requests from lakestewardship groups.


3) Name of lakes sampled for spring phosphorus

The following table is a list of the lakes sampled for spring phosphorus in 2004 with their size andlocation within the City of Greater Sudbury.

Lake Area (ha) Shoreline Township Watershed Unit

Beavers 20.1 2.9 Lorne Lower Vermilion

Beavers 16.9 2.4 Lorne Lower Vermilion

Bethel 31.2 2.4 McKim Ramsey

Clearwater 76.0 5.0 Broder Panache

Crooked 26.3 3.9 Broder Upper Junction Creek

Daisy 36.6 5.9 Nelson Panache

Forest 15.8 2.2 Broder Panache

Frenchman 43.8 5.3 Wisner Upper Vermilion

Garson 126.5 9.1 Garson Whiston River

Gordon 180.0 13.7 Fairbank Mid Vermilion

Grassy 94.9 8.2 Louise Lower Vermilion

Hanmer 54.4 5.9 Hanmer Upper Vermilion

Hannah 27.7 2.8 Broder Ramsey

Joe 216.2 18.7 Wisner Rapid River

Kusk (Rat) 174.9 10.5 Louise Lower Vermilion

Linton 27.7 4.7 Broder East Wanapitei River

Little Raft 19.7 2.3 Broder East Wanapitei River

Long 861.3 52.9 Broder Panache

McCrea 15.7 2.6 Blezard Whitson River

Middle 28.1 3.4 Broder Ramsey

Minnow 20.9 2.1 McKim Ramsey

Mud 47.8 4.2 Waters Lower Junction Creek

Nelson 308.8 21.2 Bowell Nelson River

Onwatin 34.2 5.4 Hanmer Upper Vermilion

Panache 8034.1 417.9 Dieppe Panache

Ramsey 792.2 34.0 McKim Ramsey

Silver 21.8 3.6 Broder Panache

Simon 102.0 6.2 Graham Lower Junction Creek

Vermilion 1126.6 32.4 Fairbank Mid Vermilion

Whitson 473.4 45.9 Blezard Whitson RIver


4) Map of lakes sample for spring phosphorus

The following map locates the 32 lakes sampled for spring phosphorus in 2004.


5) Spring Phosphorus ResultsThe following bar graph outlines the 2004 spring phosphorus results. Of the 32 lakes, 6 lakes had springphosphorus concentrations greater than the Ontario Provincial Water Quality Objectives (PWQO) of 20µg/L. For a complete list of results for 2004 and an explanation of each chemical parameter, refer toAppendix 2.


LOCAL LAKE STEWARDSHIP GROUPS

In the City of Greater Sudbury there are currently 31 lake stewardship groups actively championing for our lakes by

participating in community-based monitoring programs. The following is a list of the lake stewardship groups.

Lake Name Township Watershed Unit

Bass Lake Fairbank Fairbank

Beavers Lake Lorne Lower Vermilion

Broder 23 Lake Broder East Wanapitei River

Clearwater Lake Broder Panache

Dixon Lake Wisner Upper Vermilion

Ella Lake Capreol Wanapitei

Fairbank Lake Cottagers Association Fairbank Fairbank

Frenchman Lake Wisner Upper Vermilion

Hanmer Lake Hanmer Upper Vermilion

Ironside Lake Stewardship Lake Hutton Roberts River

Joe Lake Wisner Rapid River

Kusk (Rat) Lake Louise Lower Vermilion

Lake Panache Campers Association www.lakepanachecampers.com

Dieppe Panache

Little Lake Panache Property Owners Association Louise Panache

Little Round Lake Waters Panache

Lohi Lake Broder Panache

McFarlane Lake Broder Panache

Minnow Lake Restoration Group www.minnowlake.ca

McKim Ramsey

Makada (Black) Lake Waters Panache

Nepahwin Lake Stewardship Group McKim Ramsey

Nelson Lake Bowell Nelson River

Raft Lake Ratepayers Association Dill East Wanapitei River

Silver Lake Committee Broder Panache

Simon Lake Graham Lower Junction Creek

St. Charles Broder Ramsey

Skill Lake Denison Fairbank

Tilton Lake Tilton Panache

Vermilion Lake Fairbank Mid Vermilion

Wanapitei Lake Rathburn, Wanapitei

Windy Lake Stewardship Committee Dowing Onaping River

Whitewater Lake Snider Whitewate


1) Map of lake stewardship groups

The following map displays the location of the 31 lake stewardship groups in the City of Greater Sudbury.


COMMUNITY MONITORING PROGRAMS

Community Based Monitoring Programs is a process where concerned citizens, lake stewardship groups,government agencies, industry, and academia collaborate to monitor, track, and respond to issues ofcommon community concern. These programs are designed in a way that allows the average person tocollect valuable scientifid data. They are easy to use and provide lake stewardship groups a betterunderstanding about the health of their lakes while at the same time providing the scientific communitywith the information they need to conduct their research. Lake Stewardship involvement in theenvironmental management of our lakes is increasingly important to foster sustainability and publiceducation. This is demonstrated by the participation of many lake groups in various national andprovincial community based monitoring programs.

1) Canadian Lakes Loon Survey 2) Lake Partner Program

Bennett Bass

Broder 23 Bethel

Crowley Big Beaver

Fairbank Little Beaver

Laurentian Fairbank

Little Panache Frenchman

Little Raft Ironside

Lohi Joe

McFarlane Little Panache

Raft Lohi

Ramsey Makada (Black)

Richard McFarlane

Robinson McCrea

Nepahwin

3) Ontario Federation Anglers and Hunters - Nelson

Invasive Species Awareness Program Panache

Dixon Raft

Frenchman Richard

Hanmer Robinson

Joe 4)Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup

Nelson Little Panache

Little Panache Ramsey

Tilton

GREATER SUDBURY LAKE IMPROVEMENT ADVISORY PANEL (GSLIAP

The Lake Advisory Panel is a panel of City Council appointed by Council to provide advice andrecommendations back to the municipality on matters relating to lake water quality. In 2004, themembers of the second-term of the Lake Advisory Panel were appointed by City Council. The Panelis made up of 2 city councillors, 6 community volunteers, and 6 local water quality experts. Since theirappointment the Panel has had 5 meetings. The 3 year term of appointment for the lake advisory panelwill expire with the term of City Council at the end of November 2006.


1) Members of GSLIAP for 2004-2006

City Councillors

Councillor Janet Gasparini

Councillor Eldon Gainer

Community Representatives Technical Experts

Austin Davey, Chair John Gunn, Co-operative Freshwater Ecology Unit

Elin Maki Flora Bill Keller, Co-operative Freshwater Ecology Unit

André Ferron Paul Sajatovic, Nickel District Conservation Auth.

Bernard Gervais Ed Gardner, Sudbury District Health Unit

Perry Kirkbride David Pearson,Co-operative Freshwater Ecology Unit

Graeme Spiers Ministry of Natural Resources representative

2) Recommendations

Official Plan:

• Recognize in the Official Plan the nine long-term ecological monitoring lakes (Clearwater, Daisy,Hannah, Joe, Labelle, Lohi, Middle, Nelson, Swan).

• Investigate and implement a voluntary septic system re-inspection program.

• Investigate and implement stormwater runoff retention/filtration ideas.

Lake Water Quality:

• Expand the lake water quality program to adopt the Lake Trout and Loon as icons.

• Support a Pesticide Management Plan in the City.

• Continue to develop and support the lake water quality website as a learning tool for lake resources.

• Continue to develop and recognize the support of existing and new partnerships with various interestgroups and organization.

• Support the development of a Living with Lakes Centre on Ramsey Lake.

Lake Stewardship:

• Continue to support and encourage lake stewardship groups and help them deal with their individualissues.

• Investigate the means and methods to support lake stewardship groups.

• Provide addditional resources in support of lake stewardship groups.

WEB SITE www.city.greatersudbury.on.ca/lakewaterquality

The new Web page for the Lake Water Quality Program is currently up and running. Our site explainsthe achievements of the program as well as offering healthy lakefront living tips to lake stewardshipgroups. This Web site is a work in progress and is updated on a regular basis. New to 2004 is "LakeInformation", an introduction to the history of individuals lakes in the ares with interest facts and mapsfor the lake. We will continue to improve the site on a regular basis.


WATER QUALITY SUMMARY

Interpretation of 2004 Spring Phosphorus and Chemical Survey

The big picture shows no surprises and in most cases trends are toward improvement in water qualityrather than deterioration. For example, Mud and Simon lakes in the nutrient-rich Junction Creek chaindownstream of the city, both show considerable improvement in phosphorus concentrations comparedwith 1995, although both are still above the target of 20 micorgrams per litre (µg/L). This is reflected inthe fact that Mud Lake still had algal growth problems this summer but Simon (and McCharlesdownstream of Simon) did not. However, Mud Lake's concentrations are dropping.

Data from individual lakes point to the following :

• Phosphorus results from Mud and Simon show that long term improvement in the Junction Creeksystem is gradually moving upstream toward the city. This is to be expected because of the slowbenefits to sediment quality of sewage treatment in Lively and at the city plant on Kelly Lake Road.Increase in the diversity of the fish population is also known to be following the improved waterquality. However, both lakes are still high in several other measures.

• Most lakes that are above the 20 ppb phosphorus target are well known as nutrient rich. Minnow andBethel are improving but are still very high. Bethel, in particular, has very greatly improved since the1980's when it received sewage effluent. Phosphorus is now almost a tenth of the historicalconcentrations in Bethel.

• The two Beaver Lakes have not previously been included in the city survey. They are surprisingly highin phosphorus and Little Beaver is also contaminated by road salt. The reason for the phosphorusconcentrations needs to be investigated.

• The concentration of phosphorus on at least two occasions in the last five years has been high enoughin several lakes that attention should be given to identifying possible sources of contamination (suchas septic systems, soil erosion, lawn fertilizers, sediment release). These lakes are Crooked, Garson,Grassy, Gordon, Hannah, Kusk (Rat), and Little Panache. Ramsey Lake appears to be maintaining amoderate concentration of phosphorus with no distinct trend toward improvement or deterioration.

• Road salt contamination, seen in high sodium and chloride concentrations, is evident in all lakes closeto roads with Minnow Lake, which receives storm drainage from the Kingsway, leading the list.Ramsey Lake remains at the elevated concentrations known from previous years. Others with notablyhigh concentrations are Little Beaver, Bethel, Hannah, McCrae, Middle, Mud, Silver and Simon.

• Acidity is much less of an issue than even just a few years ago. For example, Silver Lake has improveddramatically, almost certainly as a result of liming of the land in the watershed as part of therevegetation program.

CO-OPERATIVE FRESHWATER ECOLOGY UNIT 2004 PROGRAM

In 2004 the Co-operative Freshwater Ecology Unit sampled a total of 25 lakes withing Greater Sudburyusing the NORDIC netting method. The lakes were sampled with the support of Ministry of theEnvironment, Ministry of Natural Resources and Laurentian University. The results of this extensivesurvey provided the Lake Water Quality Program with a list of fish species in the lakes. Fishcontaminants information was also provided to the City and is used by the Ministry of the Environmentto update the "Guide to Eating Ontario Sport Fish". This shared data partnership with the City of GreaterSudbury's Lake Water Quality Program has allowed this valuable data to be shared with the community.Refer to Appendix 4 for more details of the fish species in the lakes, water quality graphs and tables ofrelating to long-term environmental monitoring lakes.


FINANCIAL SUMMARYThis year was the fourth year the Lake Water Quality Program received funding from outsidesources. The cost of the 2004 program was $132,287. However the total value of the program was$382,827 thanks to the shared data from the Co-operative Freshwater Ecology Unit. The followingtable and chart summarize the financial contributions, including in-kind contributions of services andmaterials.

PROGRAM CONTRIBUTORS NUMBER OF

POSITIONS

NUMBE

R OF

WEEKS

SOURCE AMOUNT

LABOUR- Cash

Human Resources DevelopmentCanada - Job Creation Partnership

2 26 Federal $ 21,453.00

SERVICES - In Kind

Ministry of Environment – LakePartner ProgramCo-operative Freshwater EcologyUnit

Provincial

Provincial

$ 5,000.00

$ 10,000.00

MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES -In Kind

Ontario Federation Anglers HuntersInvasive Species Program

Non-profit $ 2,000.00

SUB TOTAL $ 38,453.00

City of Greater SudburyContribution

Municipal $ 93,834.00

TOTAL $132,287.00

Cost of Co-op Unit Complimentary2004 Program Results - OperationalCosts

MOE,MNR, LU

$250,000.00

TOTAL VALUE OF PROGRAM $382,287.00


Appendix 1

Trophic State of Lakes


Trophic State of Lakes

Trophic State is a an indicator of water quality. Lakes are classified into three categoreis based ontrophic state: oligotrophic, mesotrophic and eutrophic. These categories reflect a lake's nutrient ancclarity levels. An increase in the trophic state can result in adverse ecological changes in a lake. This increase in known as eutrophication and may usually occurs naturally at very slow rates but doesoccur at a faster pace due to human activities in the watershed.

Trophic Level PhosphorusConcentration

(µg/L)

Secchi DiscDepth (m)

Characteristics

Oligotrophic <10 >5 • Clear, deep and free of weeds and large algaeblooms

• Low in nutrients, have low primary production,and do not support large fish populations

• May be a lake trout lake• Watershed usually contains few wetlands

Mesotrophic 11-20 3 - 4.9 • More nutrients and production than oligotrophiclakes, but not as much a eutrophic lakes

• Some aquatic vegetation and wetland areas thatsupport a wide variety of wildlife

• Able to support a wide variety of fish

Eutrophic >21 <2.9 • Most productive lakes and tend to be shallow• Have larger areas of aquatic vegetation• Have large wetland areas• May be susceptible to algae blooms• Support large fish populations • Prone to oxygen depletion in the hypolimnion


APPENDIX 2

SPRING PHOSPHORUS RESULTS FOR 2004

&

CHEMICAL PARAMETER DEFINITIONS



Chemical ParametersTable of the chemical parameters tested for in 2004 with a definition of each parameter, the importance and recommendedlimits of each parameter

Water QualityParameter

Definition Reason for sampling Recommended Limit

pH Measure of hydrogen-ion concentration in water. Extreme changes in pH values impairs the reproductionof aquatic life and species diversity.

Lethal effects of pH on aquatic life occur below pH4.5 and above 9.5.

6.5 to 8.5 (PWQO)

Alkalinity(mg/L)

The ability of water to neutra lize acides. High values cause excessive hardness andincreases the capacity to buffer acides.

Should not be decreased by>25% of natural values.(PWQO)

Phosphorus(µg/L)

Key nutrient influencing the growth of plants and algaein lakes.

To determine the effects of human influences onaquatic ecosystems.

Less than 20µg/L.

Conductivity(µS/cm)

The ability of water to pass an electric current.Conductivity in water is affected by the presence ofdissolved solids such as chloride, sulphate phosphatesodium, magnesium, calcium, iron and aluminium.

The higher the conductivity the greater the ability toconduct an electric current and the greater theamount o f disso lved solids. Conduct ivity istemperature dependent and increases withincreasing temperature.

50-1500 micro-siemen percentimetre (µS/cm ).

Potassium(mg/L)

Common mineral in earth's crust and essential for plantgrowth. Most surface waters are usualy < 20 mg/L.

Indicator of man-made sources of industrialeffluent and agriculture run-off. High levels cancause algae prob lems and can be toxic to aquaticlife.

No Recom mended Limit

Sodium (mg/L) Highly soluble and found everywhere in the waterenvironm ent. Major sources include raod salt,agriculture run-off, geological formations and watersofteners.

High levels can cause algae problems and can betoxic to aquatic life.

Driking Water: 20 ppm(ODWS)

Calcium (µg/L) The m ost commonly found subtance in water, normallyfrom bedrock leaching, and effluent discharge. Animportant e lement for aquatic life and for pH buffering inlakes.

High amounts can cause algae problems andwater hardness.


Magnesium(µg/L)

Most common elements in the earth's crust. Found inall natural waters and is esential for all life. Consideredrelatively non-toxic.

High amounts can cause water hardness. No Recom mended Limit

Chloride (mg/L) Is important for metabolic processes as it enfluencesosmosis of salts and ion exchange.

Chloride ion (Cl-) in lake water is considered anindicator of human activity. Chloride is highlyreactive c reating salts and acides in water.

0.002 mg/L (2 µg/L)(PWQO)

Total KjeldahlNitrogen (TKN)

(mg/L)

A measure of both ammonia and organic forms ofnitrogen. Major sources include sewage treatment planteffluents, agricu lture run-off and developm ent.

Excessive amounts contribute to eutrophication oflakes creat ing pro lific algal b looms that negativelyimpacts aquatic life.


Sulphate (mg/L) Natural in many m inerals but is o ften derived from acidicdeposition i.e acid rain. High amounts that exceed thebuffering capacity of a lake can lead to reduced pHlevels in a lake.

Sulphate reduces the pH within a lake byincreasing the acidity levels.

Drinking W ater: 500 mg/L(ODWS)

Chlorophyll A(µg/L)

Green pigment in a ll plants and the main pigm ent inalgae that transforms light into energy duringphotosynthesis.

Chlorophyll A is used to estimate the amount ofalgae (phytoplankton) in surface water. Highchlorophyll A values indicate high amounts ofalgae.

Depends on aesthetic issues andblue-green a lgae formations.

Nitrate (mg/L) Nitrate is the primary form of nitrogen used by plants asa nutrient to stimulate growth.

Excessive amounts indicate human activity andleads to increase algal growth

Concentrations that s timulateweed growth should be avoided. (CWQG)

PWQO = Provincial Water Quality Objectives, Ontario Ministry of the Environment, 1994

ODW S = Ontario Drinking Water Standards, Ontario Ministry of the Environment, 2000

CWQG = Canadian Water Quality Guidelines for the Protection of Aquatic Life, Canadian Council of Ministers of Environment


APPENDIX 3

2004 Spring Phosphorus Results by Individual Lakes


APPENDIX 4

Co-operative Freshwater Ecology Unit 2004 Program

Summary of :

NORDIC Fish Survey

Water Quality Graphs for pH, Copper, Nickel, Sulphate

Comparison Maps of Amphibode distribution for 1993 and 2004

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