The objectives of LOBA’s Environment Committee are: 

• To monitor the environmental health of the Lake of Bays watershed – land and water – and to identify threats that could materially affect that health.
• To promote good stewardship practices that will aid in the sustainability and enhancement of the watershed.
• To ensure that Lake of Bays environmental concerns are fairly and accurately represented in decision making by the Township and District.

A major focus of the committee has and continues to be water quality testing. Sampling is done five to seven times per season across approximately 30 sites and analysis is done on physical, chemical and biological indicators to provide comprehensive information on the character of Lake of Bays water. This is a long term project – phosphorous testing has been done on the lake since the 1970′s, bacti testing was started in 2000, phosphorous testing was expanded and refined in 2003 and benthic invertebrate testing began in 2003 – and we have compiled sufficient information to establish a baseline for these indicators that will serve as the standard against which we measure change in water quality going forward. We have put time, effort and money into establishing a testing program that meets the standards being applied by the Ministry of the Environment and the District of Muskoka and our research is being shared with these entities. 

Other areas of interest for the Environment Committee are: 

• Our two pilot terrestrial plots which track forest health
• Shoreline preservation and rehabilitation
• Wetlands
• Dark skies
• Pits and quarries

Projects

2011 Environment Committee Report

Chair: Deb Cumming 

Committee Members: Andrew Barnett, Deb Cumming, Caroline Konarzewski, Paul Stueck 

Water Quality Sampling: Dee Allott, Deb Cumming, Jennifer Hutt/Bob Hutt, Jim & Midge Monaghan, Cameron Shostak, Carol & Paul Stueck, Nicolas Tomkins, Douglas Turner & Jill Turner 

Water quality monitoring on Lake of Bays continues to be the Environment Committee’s core business. The Lake of Bays Association (LOBA) members have identified water quality testing and a healthy lake as one of its key priorities. The Environment Committee is happy to oblige and spends much of its human and financial capital on water quality monitoring and analysis. Messages to our members have changed very little in recent years:

• phosphorus and bacti levels are well within the very high standards set by the District of Muskoka; Lake of Bays, at the top of the watershed, is blessed with very high water quality
• Notwithstanding our low levels of e coli…do NOT drink lake water; e coli is naturally present

However, our understanding of the intricacies of lake health is growing. Ironically, this is not always leading to more answers, but rather to more questions about climate change and water quality, water chemistry throughout the water column, and the impacts of various stressors. In fact, this is the way of science—knowledge comes through questions and certainly we are deepening our understanding of the external and internal factors that impact our lake health.

It is interesting and relevant to note that our knowledge is growing through a combination of hands-on experience gained through our own efforts and from sharing findings with other organizations—significant ones including, the District of Muskoka, Muskoka Lakes Association (MLA), and the Ministry of Environment’s Dorset Environment Science Centre (DESC). There is awareness at these organizations that the scientists cannot, on their own, do what needs to be done in terms of environmental monitoring. There are not enough bodies or dollars to collect and analyse the data. The District of Muskoka and the DESC, while they each have their own sampling programs, are therefore increasingly interested in and supportive of volunteer-driven environmental monitoring programs that observe the proper scientific protocols. LOBA has always followed the DESC’s protocols for phosphorus monitoring (as does the District) and LOBA and the District of Muskoka co-developed the protocol for bacti testing. As of January 2011, LOBA is the only group in the district to water quality sample in exactly the same manner as the District of Muskoka, although more will do so this year.

In the spirit of collaboration, networking, and common goals regarding water monitoring, interested parties met over the winter of 2011 under a Muskoka Watershed Council led initiative that encouraged dialogue between the scientists (from DESC and from the private consulting firms) and the groups doing the water quality testing. The goal was a pan-Muskoka standardized water quality testing protocol. LOBA is in good shape; the protocol to be adopted is the one we currently use and we are delighted to advise that other groups are buying in. The MLA is tweaking its program for full conformity, the inland lakes in Georgian Bay are adopting this protocol and Huntsville Lake of Bays Lakes Council will attempt to implement water monitoring in accordance with the standard set by the DESC in collaboration with other specialized limnologists (including our consultant).

Cooperation and learning doesn’t stop with water quality monitoring. The Environment Committee has a seat at the table for an MNR led initiative referred to as SMART—Stream Monitoring and Research Team, which focuses on streams as fish habitat but acknowledges the watershed connection between land, streams, and lakes. We have also had the opportunity to support the Andrew Daniels Fish Stewardship Program on a stream rehabilitation project for a small watercourse that originates in Algonquin Highlands but provides habitat for Lake of Bays trout, proving yet again that the environment, and therefore this committee, is not unduly preoccupied with geo-political borders. We are focussed on the health of our lake and the watershed(s) that impact that lake.

2009 Environment Committee Report

Chair: Deb Cumming
Committee Members: Caroline Konarzewski, Paul Stueck
Water Testing Volunteers: Dee Allott, Douglas Turner, Jennifer Hutt, Jim and Midge Monaghan, Paul and Carol Stuecke, Nick Tompkins 

The Lake of Bays Association came into being to represent the interests of waterfront property owners on Lake of Bays. Membership and focus have expanded over time, in recognition of the interdependency between a healthy lake and the local economy, and in reaction to the  that land-based activities have on the lake.  Lake of Bays is not just a body of water; it is also a municipality, a watershed and a community. 

However, the health of Lake of Bays is a high priority for our Association members.  Water quality sampling and analysis is the Environment Committee’s core business, and our resources are allocated accordingly. The Association’s water quality work is research – testing and analysis to expand our understanding of the complexities of lake water health so that we will be able to recognize and respond to any changes that threaten water quality. 

We are blessed with good water quality in Lake of Bays.  While there is E. coli present in the lake, levels are low and suggest that human activity in the watershed is not significantly adding to the E. coli counts.  Phosphorus too is low; well below the Ontario guideline of 20 mg/litre and also well under 10 mg/litre standard set by the District of Muskoka for its lakes.  We are situated at the top of the Muskoka River watershed and development pressures on Lake of Bays have been less than those on other big Muskoka lakes, enabling technology and municipal planning to accommodate growth without pressuring the lake. In short, we have been lucky. 

But … we need to be cautious.  Phosphorus levels are rising in the lake; the period 2002-2009 shows a statistically viable upward trend.  Numbers are well below the District target of 10 mg/litre and our consultants advise that the trend seems to be the result of climatic conditions and not human-based activity within the lake’s watershed. However, with good local stewardship practices, we can help reduce/offset the negative impact of climate change on water quality. 

Environmental stewardship encompasses a broad range of activities and some of the best ways of combating phosphorus overloading in our lake are by not doing things …  being passive and letting the ecosystem take care of itself (don’t wash anything in the lake, don’t maintain lawns, leave the shoreline natural, leave wetlands alone)!  Those with significantly altered properties could consider re-naturalizing their shoreline, eliminating lawns, or reducing shoreline recreational areas.  And all of us need to help with climate change by using less fossil fuel overall. 

It is melodramatic to say that the increasing phosphorus trend that has emerged over the period 2002-2009 is a harbinger of doom; the Lake of Bays Association has kept its membership well informed on the science of water quality and you are all aware that our water quality is excellent.  However, the trend is real and will be difficult to reverse. While the Association is relieved that it doesn’t appear to be caused by anything that we, as a community, are doing directly to the lake, it is important for all of us to be aware of this trend and do what we can to counteract it.  The Environment Committee will stay vigilant in terms of testing, analyzing and interpreting water quality, the Lake of Bays Association will continue to champion water quality and ecosystem health and we ask you to embrace the stewardship activities that are reasonable and meaningful for you.