LAKE STEWARD REPORT 2023
David White reported on lake data.
Ice On occurred on December 13 th 2022, Ice Off, April 16 th 2023 The lake was covered for 124 days. Our running average for ice cover is 132 days. The province has still not released the water chemistry results for 2022.
Phosphorus low, secchi disc (water clarity) 1.9 m with an average of 2 m. meters. Water samples were obtained in May and submitted to the Lake Partner Program for 2023.

Benthic Monitoring has been scheduled for Friday August 18, 10:00 AM at Ellen and Brian Fox's residence 722 East Fox Lake Road. Please keep the date noted if you're able to volunteer.

Friends of the Muskoka Watershed held a webinar in February on cyanobacteria (CYB) aka blue-green algae. It was a very interesting session with Dr. Neil Hutchinson providing current thoughts and scientific details. There has been a huge increase in CYB in Muskoka lakes since 2006, partly due to awareness. Interestingly, CYB is beneficial in releasing oxygen into the atmosphere. There is a well established correlation with high phosphorus levels resulting in blooms. However Muskoka lakes generally have quite low phosphorous levels, in fact, lower than would be expected to result in blooms. Other factors are contributing here. Research has revealed that CYB prefers stable water and competing species do not. Average wind speed has been declining over the last few years resulting in a more stable water column. Acid rain has resulted in lower calcium levels. Calcium is required for zooplankton. Zooplankton graze on algae. Daphnia, an important zooplankton, do better in cooler water and are affected by high chloride concentrations. Climate change and road salt are factors.
Clearly the cause of CYB blooms are many and varied. Let's hope for an environmentally uneventful season. David White Lake Steward