Plants That Invade Our Waterbodies

The following is the text of a handout from the CRE Laurentides, kindness of Bryan.

A plant is considered exotic when it is found outside of its natural range. The newly colonized environment is often devoid of predators of this foreign plant. This factor, combined with other advantages linked to growth and reprodution, makes exotic plants feroicous competitors of indigenous plants, to the point where they become invasive.

Aquatic exotic invasive plants (AEIP) can represent a serious threat to the environment. They alter the compostiion of natural ecosystems and disturb local biodiversity. Their proliferation has negative repercussions on the economy and on society, mainly by reducing tourism and the development of cottages. Recreatonal activities such as fishing, canoeing and swimming can be limited by an infestation of AEIP. The multiplication of AEIP can also negatively affect the value of lakeshore properties.

Controlling and managing AEIP is difficult. Once in place, it is almost impossible to limit their propagation. That is why it is crucial to insure that they do not enter our lakes.

In Quebec, many species of AEIP are present and established at varying levels. These include:

European frog bit (Hydrocharis morsus-ranae)
yellow floating heart (Nymphoides peltata)
water chestnut (Trapa natans)
curly-leaf pondweed (Potamogeton crispus)
Eurasian water milfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum)

Further information can be found on the Web at:  www.crelaurentides.org

Water Testing Results, 2016 (Summary)

The following is a summary of the extensive report compiled by Jerome Rousseau and Madeleine Palmer. The full report will be available soon on the lake Web site at www.lakeanneclub.com


Samples were collected on Saturday, August 13, 10 a.m. and noon.  Nine sites were tested for fecal coliforms, colour, turbidity, pH, and phosphorus.  The samples were taken 10 m from shore.

Three sites far from shore were tested for chlorophyll-A and dissolved organic compounds, both of which give information about the effect of rotting organic material on water quality.  Taken together, levels of chlorophyll-A, dissolved organic compounds, and phosphorus tell us about the amount of nutrients in the lake. 

Furthermore, three sites were tested for cyanobacteria.  

SUMMARY OF 2016 RESULTS

Fecal Coliforms
Fecal counts are 50% higher than 2014-2015, which were unusually high (This year, the average per sample is 13.8, as opposed to the cumulative average of 3.91 for all years).   
High coliform counts can be associated with rains (sometimes heavy rains) just prior to testing day:  2016 was a rainy summer. Records indicate 29 mm of rain from 11 to 13 August, but the reason for the increase remains to be established.  

According to Public Health norms, untreated lake water is not safe to drink.  However, it is still in the “Excellent” range for swimming. Public health norms state that drinking water should have zero coliforms, whether fecal or otherwise. Our lake tests measure only fecal coliforms.  

Household tests provide information about other coliforms.  It is recommended that lake water be treated by boiling or with a UV filter system before drinking. 


Phosphorus
Phosphorus concentration indicates the amount of nutrients reaching the lake through runoff (This is linked to the risk for algae blooms). After four years of low levels, phosphorus concentrations were moderately high last year, and again this year. If this persists, it will be a cause for concern.


Chlorophyll A and Dissolved Organic Carbon
The levels of chlorophyll-A and dissolved organic compounds are based on three samples taken far from shore.  The concentration of chlorophyll-A indicates the abundance of phytoplankton (microscopic plants) which are more common if phosphorus levels are high, if the weather is hot, and if water moves slowly. This year, the tests average 2.52 µg/l, which is excellent (but higher than the cumulative average by 40%).  

The quantity of dissolved organic carbon tracks the effects of rotting vegetation and animals. Dissolved organic compounds give a brown colour to water.  The average for Lake Anne this year is relatively low at 3.8 mg/l.  It has remained unchanged in the last four years. 


Colour and Turbidity
Colour can be caused by natural minerals, vegetable matter, or other organic compounds. There was a slow increase in colour until 2008, when it appeared to level off. There was a spike in 2015, when it was more than twice as high as the previous years.  This year, with a level of 29.4, it is higher than the cumulative average (24.2), but less than last year (41.3). 

Turbidity levels above 5 are not a problem for swimming, but untreated water at sites above the norm may not be potable (even without coliforms).  Last year, the average turbidity level was 5.66, with 4 sites above the norm.  This year, it has gone down to 3.86, with no site above the norm. 
           

pH
Water is acid below a pH of 7 and alkaline above that number.  This year, the pH is 7.25. Overall, there is a trend towards slowly increasing alkalinity, except for the last two years. 


Cyanobacteria 
There were 3200, 1998, and 2111 cyanobacteria/ml at the three sites tested.  These sites were chosen because they experience less water movement than the lake as a whole, therefore they are the kinds of areas in which cyanobacteria can proliferate.  Results showed a low count that is not a cause for concern.

As mentioned previously, we took these samples in order to measure trends.  The presence of cyanobacteria in a lake is normal.  Problems arise when their density is too high, at which point they produce algae blooms.

The microbiologist said that said the following changes are worth reporting immediately (to Madeleine or Jérôme):  

• Dead frogs in the lake, because frogs are particularly sensitive to cyanobacteria.
• An unusual or rapid increase in algae growth, or of cloudy water resembling broccoli or pea soup. 

Conclusion

This year, three measures are higher than average: fecal coliforms, phosphorus, and colour.   These changes suggest an increase in dissolved organic substances and material in suspension in the water.  These are all associated with a risk for algae blooms.  It is too soon to say whether this is a trend, but, if these measures stay at these levels, this will be a cause for concern. 

We have a healthy lake where we can swim safely.  We will continue to monitor the health of the lake, so that we can be proactive. 


What we can do to keep Lake Anne healthy

We can help maintain the health of our lake by following these guidelines: 

• Septic systems need to be cleaned regularly (every two years for frequent residents, every three years for weekenders).  They also need to be verified to make sure there are no leaks and leaching fields are functional.
• By regulation, the first 15 m of shore line should be covered in bushes and trees to absorb nutrients.  Lawns promote run-off which adds to the phosphate load in the lake. Avoid churning up the nutrient-rich sediments lying on the bottom of the lake. 
• Avoid fertilizers, especially on lawns and steep hills, and anywhere near the lake.Use only phosphate-free detergents (both for dishwashers and washing machines). 

Lake Anne Club Web Site Now Live

William Wankly announces the following:

The Lake Anne Web site is open for use and comments. The URL is www.lakeanneclub.com

The site is protected by username and password, and accommodates different user roles such as:

• general public
• authorised user
• family
• property owner
• shareholder
• author
• director 
• administrator

Access to content is controlled on the basis of role.

In order to gain access, you will need to set up a site account with your chosen username and password.  Access will be blocked until the administrator has vetted your account application.  A number of people have attmepted to gain access since the site's inception, hence the need for administrator oversight of accounts.

Once the administrator has vetted the account setup and allocated the appropriate roles, you will be able to tour the site.  It is pretty sparse at this stage, with test stuff scattered around, but it's a start.

Minutes, both draft (for directors only), and approved (for the rest of us), are displayed either under the Home menu item or the Books (Minute Book) menu item.

The Lake Anne Blog is referenced from the site and may eventually be included through an RSS feed.

Those with the Author role will be able to create books.  Jill Johnson is working on a history of the lake.  Jerome Rousseau's history, based upon the minutes of directors' meetings, is already on the site.

Andrew Martin-Hugessen has agreed to assist me in the administrator's role.  This is a full-on volunteer project, so please bear this in mind when looking through what's there.

There is a forum section and comments can be made everywhere, so don't be shy.  If you want to blog, there is a basic blogging function anyone can use.

Not Rare, but Rarely Seen

September 6, 2016 -- Stephanie sent these photos of a visitor to her windshield and then a paddle.

The gray tree frog, Hyla versicolor (aka: eastern gray tree frog, common gray treefrog, tetraploid gray tree frog) is actually a pretty amazing little creature. It is almost exclusively nocturnal and arboreal, living up in trees, which is why we don't see them often. They are usually found on the ground only during mating season, or catching bugs around porch lights.

These frogs can vary in colour, for purposes of camouflage, from nearly black to nearly white, depending on what they're sitting on. They are slower at this than chameleons. 

For more on our little neighbours, check out

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gray_tree_frog

Dam!

Tuesday, September 6, 2016 -- An expedition to the beaver dam on Long/Woods'/Boathouse Bay during the Labour Day weekend revealed an extreme rupture. This presumably was a result of very heavy rains recently. Thanks to Alan and Lisa for alerting us to this. It explains the sudden dramatic rise in the lake's level, which seemed excessive despite the torrential rainfall. We saw no evidence of any efforts by the beavers to rebuild the dam. Yet.

We then made for the Outlet, where we discovered our tail-slapping friends had been busy, and outflow was reduced to a trickle. Willie, Kathy and Clare played in the muck for a bit and restored a reasonable rate of flow. How long it will last is a question for the beavers. We'll check again in a couple of weeks.

The dam in Long/Woods'/Boathouse Bay is really more of a channel.

Clearing muck from the clogged outlet.

2016 AGM and Water Testing

Pencil in the date!

Water testing will take place on Saturday, August 13. Testing kits and instructions can be collected and returned between 10 a.m. and noon from/to the Palmer-Rousseau residence.

The AGM will also be held on Saturday, August 13, exact time TBD, but probably at about 2 p.m., chez Ken and Jen -- 29 ch. Hugessen.

Further details on both events will be provided closer to the date. This is just an early warning of upcoming important stuff, so you can clear your desk and join the fun.

Eco Preservation Through Boat Washing

For years, there has been a smallish sign at the gates on Anne Est and Mr. Joe Roads exhorting us to various commendable behaviours that will help preserve our native environment by preventing the introduction of non-native, invasive species. Probably you, like I, have ceased to see it. I recommend a review next time your unlocking your way in or out.

Below is a link to a brief article (thank you, Stephanie) explaining the importance of boat inspection and washing in controlling invasive species. This, of course, applies only if you are bringing a boat in "from away", as they say in Newfoundland, or if you have anyone bringing a boat for a visit.


http://dunany.ca/why-you-should-absolutely-wash-your-boat/7567

*****

In other news: the mosquitoes, after a ferocious start, seem to have settled down to a dull whine, principally mornings and evenings. But, never fear! The deer flies are here! Fortunately, so are the dragonflies and I, for one, wish them happy hunting.

Advanced notice of the 2016 Annual General Meeting

The date for this year's Annual General Meeting has been rescheduled one week later to coincide with the water testing day that Jerome has already set up. The new date is:

                             Saturday, August 13th, 

                         time and place to be advised.

Formal notice, the proposed agenda, financial statements, etc. will be issued in early July as usual.

The meeting is considered open so all are welcome to attend.

For the Board,

Derek Johnson

Secretary

Beaver count erratum

The number of beaver taken by Matt Taylor reported in the earlier beaver post is too low. The actual total is 11.

• Rainbow Creek: 2 adults, 3 young
• Gustave dam: 1 adult, 3 young
• McDougall bog: 1 adult, 2 young

Apologies for the error.

Bryan Hollingworth

 

"Bob's for the Birds" Spring Report

The disappearance of the ice is a special event in the Lake Anne calendar.  Probably the most important event during the year.  Certainly one of the most anticipated!

This year it happened over three days.

Associated with the "Goneing" of the ice this year were:

• The arrival of a solitary loon, as well as another pair later on in the day.  The three are still here as I write.
• Six snow geese stopped over, as well as assorted Canada geese.  All moved on, but others continue to arrive sporadically.  A couple of big seagulls visited but moved on.
• Several hooded mergansers, as well as two mallards, showed up around Green Mountain.  No common mergansers yet!
• Trout are rising to feed off of Green Mountain point.
• Derek and Sylvie came up on Friday to watch two deer and five wild turkeys cross their lawn.  Pansy saw another single turkey on the Big House's driveway.  And I heard a real commotion at 7:00 AM on Saturday, between Derek's dock and the inside corner of Derek's bay, when one or more coyotes barked, periodically, at the turkeys who were in the trees.  Trying to flush them, I guess.  The brouhaha lasted a good half-hour.
• The resident broad-winged hawk made his first appearance on Saturday, his mournful "KIE" cry heard on  Anne Est, as he patrolled along the length of the road.

Lots of deer tracks and raccoon paw prints, every morning, on the road.

Great weekends in April.  Bright and sunny every weekend.

Looks good for this summer!

Bob

Beaver Activity, November 2015 through March 2016

Reported by Matt Taylor, submitted by Bryan Hollingworth.

Early winter ice conditions made it very difficult to set traps up to the end of December. There was no beaver activity in: Mary's Lake, behind Blachfords', Wood's Bay.

In Wood's Bay, the beaver dam let go sometime in the fall. If you look at the dam location from the  lake, you will notice a large flat rock on the right side. It is believed that water gets under the dam, then freezes, raising the rock, which causes the dam to fail. This has been the cause of previous dam failures and was once again this fall.

Beavers were located in the McDougall bog, but no new construction, dens or dam improvements were noticed. A large female and two smaller beavers were taken from this area.

Beavers were also located in the creek running from Dey's (Thompson's) Lake, which crosses the Gustave Road about 1 km from Mr. Joe Road on the west side. The Township of Wentworth is responsible for this dam, and I (BH) called them several times this past summer/fall to let them know that Wentworth North had put in two 24-inch culverts last year and that the outlet at the dam is one 24-inch Morency* drain, which is not adequate to handle the water flow, especially when the beavers have it blocked. The situation was checked by Wentworth's beaver guy in the fall, but the drainage pipe was entirely blocked again by December. Matt cleared out the debris, but this has to be done regularly if the drainage is to be effective and to prevent either a dam burst or the flooding of the Gustave Road. I will advise the Wentworth people of this. From this area, Matt was able to remove one large female and two smaller beavers.

Matt's contract calls for us to pay him $100 per beaver, so we are sending him a cheque for $600.

In addition:
Bob Gaudreau has seen large wolf tracks on Anne est road, so be careful when walking pets. Contact Bob for further information.

*A Morency drain is a pipe put through a dam wall with a wire cage at the inlet end to prevent the beavers from blocking it and the bog's outflow. Matt says we have clever beavers as they were able to figure out where the leak was and block off the cage.

Back in Business

After a very pleasant winter in the Caribbean, your humble editor is back and, I might add, so is at least one loon.

The ice is almost gone and the loon is newly back.
Next up: geese.

Many thanks to Derek for taking up the bloggerly slack during my absence. I look forward to keeping the Lake Anne community apprised of all the goings on here in the lap of beauty over the coming months.

Kathleen

Conservation Presentation by Gore

Hello Everyone,

As you may recall, last summer, Lake Anne welcomed Mathieu Madison, the Environmental Manager for Gore Township, to give a presentation on “The Basics of Nature Conservation in Gore”.  In his presentation, Mathieu outlined the process the Township is going through in terms of its new strategic planning process, including setting new goals for Protection and Enhancement of the Natural Landscape. This process envisions setting new urban planning guidelines and zoning regulations.

The presentation was attended by many residents, but others who could not attend have requested to see a copy of Mat’s presentation, which is attached.               

  

Although only a few Lake Anne residents have properties in Gore Township, the topic is relevant to all of us. As Mathieu mentions the Dalesville watershed (slide 14) has potential as a conservation initiative including land in Mille Iles and Wentworth Townships as well.  Note that Lake Anne is a significant property owner in the headwaters of the Dalesville water system.

In the presentation Mathieu also gives an overview of how other lake associations and property owners in the Laurentians are approaching the issue of nature conservation on private land, whether through a nature conservancy, establishing a land trust or by participating in Quebec’s voluntary conservation program as enacted in the province’s Natural Heritage Act.

As mentioned at last year’s Annual General Meeting, the LA Board of Directors is looking at various options related to nature conservation on Lake Anne Club land. We hope to have some further information to share in advance of this summer’s AGM.

In the meantime, please contact me if you have any questions or would like any further details on this topic.

I look forward to see many of you at the lake this summer! - Stephanie

Stephanie Foster

Fostering Sustainability

Cell. 416-722-4497

www.fosteringsustainability.ca

Update on Subcommittee Recommendations

There was an important communication from a Subcommittee of the Board chaired by Reid McDougall and Pam Ross dealing with various issues relating to how we manage our affairs both as co-owners of the Lake Anne Club Inc. and in relation to the individual property owners.

[Because there is not control on access to this blog, the material has been removed. In future, information of any sensitivity will be emailed to property owners until our Lake Anne Web site is launched. That will be password protected.]

 Much has stayed the same at the Lake, yet some important changes are also occurring. The Lake remains the go-to place for the next generation to learn how to swim and for families to reunite. Even though many of you travel from afar, you still manage to come!

Some of the changes are internal, of note the increase in joint ownership. Other changes are externally driven, including more involvement from the municipalities in setting regulations and policies under planning legislation passed by the province. The value of land has risen significantly as developers serve the demands for cottage style life, resulting in a surge in property taxes on our buffer land, and reaction by municipalities to secure sufficient green space. As the Club's property spans five separate municipalities, this can be a challenge.

I invite you to stay engaged and informed on key issues. As well as directly consulting with you from time to time, we will be posting regular updates and information on the Lake Anne Blog at lakeannenews.blogspot.ca, created and edited by Kathy Hugessen. Your contributions to the Blog are also very welcome.

[Sentence and link deleted.]

Signed

Derek Johnson

Company Secretary

This entry was editied. Changes are shown in red.
kmh