Starry Stonewort, an invasive form of algae, is affecting two areas on Ston(e)y Lake. This algae, that looks like a weed, forms a tangled mat and can take over shallow areas of a lake. Fragments can spread and be transferred to other areas by boat traffic. For more information and map of infested areas, see this Special Alert.
The Kawartha Lake Stewards Association will hold its fall meeting on Saturday, October 5, 2019, 10:00 am until noon at the Lakehurst Community Hall, 979 Lakehurst Circle Rd., only 10 minutes from Buckhorn ON. For details see notice.
Instructions for this year’s volunteers are available here and from the Resources link above. There is also a separate SGS Chain of Custody form for printing on page 14 of 16, near the end of the document. This form must be submitted with your water samples when delivered to the SGS Lakefield Lab.
KLSA wants to know what you as members think is important to the Kawartha Lakes and is seeking your input. Your comments will help us develop projects and materials relevant to the needs, interests, and concerns of those who utilize the Kawartha Lakes. Go to the survey here.
The KLSA Spring Meeting is May 11th from 10:00 – 12:00 noon at the Bobcaygeon Arena and Community Centre, 51 Mansfield St, Bobcaygeon.
We are pleased to have Dr. Jim Buttle whose topic will be: “Lake Ice Dynamics and the Kawarthas: Climate Change at your Dock”. Hear about what other residents and Lake Associations are doing to protect and enhance the Kawartha Lakes. Printed copies of the 2018 Lake Water Quality Report will be available at the meeting, for pick-up and distribution. For an electronic view of the report “Our Kawartha Lakes: Past, Present and Future”, go to the Published Material link.
All are welcome to attend the meeting and the agenda is attached.
The Federation of Ontario Cottagers Associations (FOCA) expressed concern that the MOE Lake Partner Program (LPP) may be in danger of the Ontario Government streamlining and cost cutting efforts, threatening the continued efforts of the LPP program. FOCA asked for support of Lake Associations and other organizations like KLSA in the form of letters to the Minister outlining support for the LPP program. See this link for the KLSA letter of support.
KLSA strongly supports the decades old, low cost programs that the LPP runs with volunteers and volunteer organizations throughout the Province of Ontario. KLSA was started after the Walkerton tragedy, in 2000/2001, by the volunteer Lake Stewards throughout the Kawartha Lakes that were already doing lake water sampling and testing through the LPP program in our area. KLSA supports the continuation of the LPP and the long term data collection on lake water clarity, temperature and nutrient loading (phosphorus concentration) in Ontario Lakes. This ongoing water quality information is critical in our area for monitoring changes in the Kawartha Lakes that could impact local businesses, tourism, property values, municipal market value taxes and tax assessments, lake capacity, and development projects throughout the area.
The report on the Status of Dissolved Oxygen Levels in Pigeon, Lovesick, and Stony Lakes, by the Fleming College students Credit for Product (C4P) team, has been added to the Published Material page. This report looks at the current dissolved oxygen (DO) levels, total Phosphorus (TP) concentration, and benthic communities in Pigeon Lake, Lovesick Lake, and Stony/Clear Lakes.
Your KLSA board met on November 26th with our C4P students at Fleming College in Lindsay. The board is meeting again this morning, January 25, 2019, to get an update on the preparation of our annual Lake Water Quality Report and to prepare for the Spring Meeting in early May. Look for more updates on the website and FaceBook page.
KLSA together with the Queen’s University PEARL laboratory team have now released the final report on this 3 year study of sediments in the Kawartha Lakes. The report is available on the Published Material page under Publications.
The KLSA fall meeting is Saturday October 13th at Lakehurst Community Hall, 979 Lakehurst Circle Rd, Buckhorn. See October 13 2018 poster Final for more information.
