Navigating Treacherous Waters

Loughborough Lake can be difficult to navigate, especially for guests that are new to the lake. All too often, what was supposed to be a fun day on the water, especially in the East Basin, can end up with a broken propellor or worse. Last summer saw an influx of guests new to the lake, who have experienced first hand the west basin is the road better travelled. We often hear people asking: “Why are there no buoys indicating the shoals?” Well, there are lots of reasons, not the least of which is our liability if we start taking responsibility for this. Shoals can change with the seasons as the lake levels change, and rock formations that were once navigable can become unnavigable. Us placing a marker on such formations would pose a legal liability. The second reason is that all these markers need to be removed and put back in place every season, for otherwise they would be carried by the ice floes. Finally, we would like to keep the lake as natural as possible. This not only means that guests should clean up after visiting an island to enjoy the pristine nature on this lake, but also refrain from marking shoals on their own as this could lead other boaters to falsely assume all shoals are marked. So, what to do when you are out and about on the lake?

Navionics app with a view of shoals along the beach of Loughborough.

There is a simple answer for this question, and that is bring your cellphone (handy in case you run out of gas, anyway) and run the Navionics app for Android or iPhone. It has a map of the entire region, which is helpful if you want to explore other lakes in the region, Prince Edward County, or the St Lawrence River. Just go to the iPhone App Store and download the Boating Marine and Lakes app, also on Google Play. Be sure to download the map prior to heading out into unknown territory, and be sure to clean your boat of possible invasive species prior to putting it in the water. All the rock shoals are marked in the app, but do yourself a favour and buy some polaroid sunglasses that allow you to peek through the surface in times of low lake levels. Be sure not to speed as, especially in the East Basin, it can be all too easy to ruin your brand new propellor, or worse. Happy boating!

Invasive and At-Risk Species

You may have noticed in the past few years that more and more people are talking about invasive species and species-at-risk. What exactly are they and how can they impact you and Loughborough Lake? An invasive species is one that does not naturally occur in an area, and whose presence causes environmental, economic, and/or societal damage. With our ever growing global society, we are more connected than ever, but this also means that invasive species have many pathways to establish in our lakes, forests, and fields. Outdoor appreciation, exploring, birding, hunting, paddling, cottaging, and hiking with our pets are all great ways to fuel our outdoor passions, and enjoy Loughborough Lake, but we need to be responsible, and aware of the impact we have on the sensitive areas around us.

I’m going to describe a few of the invasive species found around Loughborough Lake, the problems they cause, and what you can do to help. Some aquatic invasive plant species to look for this summer are Common Frogbit (Hydrocharis morsus-ranae), and Common Reed (Phragmites australis).

Common Frogbit. Photo by Christian Fisher [1].

Common Frogbit, also called European Frog-bit, is an aquatic invasive plant that has found its way into many of Ontario’s waterways. It is native to Europe, and parts of Asia and Africa, and was possibly brought here to be used as an ornamental plant in the early 1900s. Common Frogbit is usually found in areas of slow moving water and can form dense mats of vegetation that prevent sunlight from penetrating the water. These thick mats reduce biodiversity, prevent recreational use of waterways, and remove oxygen from the water which can impact fish populations. Common Frogbit produces a single white flower with three round petals and a yellow centre. The underside of the leaf is a purple/red colour.

Common Reed.

Common Reed, also known as Phragmites, is regulated as restricted under the Invasive Species Act in the province of Ontario. This means it is against the law to buy, sell, trade, or grow Common Reed. You have probably seen this tall grass in ditches, and in wetlands, even if you haven’t heard of it. It is instantly recognizable by how tall it is – mature stands in the right conditions can be over five metres tall! It is an aggressive perennial grass that spreads rapidly. Common Reed releases toxins into the soil which prevent the growth of surrounding plants. Dense stands of Common Reed establish quickly, and provide poor habitat and food for wildlife, including species at risk like the Blanding’s Turtle (Emydoidea blandingii). It can establish in standing water, but can also survive in relatively dry areas allowing it to take over a variety of habitats. You can often find it in disturbed areas, such as in ditches on the side of the road. If you have been in an area with invasive Common Reed, please inspect, clean, and remove mud, seeds, and plant parts from vehicles, pets, equipment, and yourself.

Buckthorn

Other notable invaders to the Loughborough Lake area include Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) and Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolate).

Buckthorn is a small tree that was introduced as an ornamental shrub, and was often planted in agricultural fields as windbreaks and fencerows. It can live in a wide range of soil and light conditions and often grows in dense stands, in open fields, or woodlands. Buckthorn is able to change the soil’s nitrogen levels, making it unfavourable for many other native species to grow. The trees keep their leaves late into the fall and are one of the first to produce leaves in the spring, making them easy to spot during these times of year. They have dark green leaves with fine teeth, with branches that end in a thorn, and produce clusters of black berries. Bird and other wildlife eat the berries and this acts as a dispersal mechanism when seeds are deposited in droppings. The berries act as a laxative, and have little nutritional value. If you have buckthorn on your property, it is recommended that it be cut down and replaced with native species.

Garlic Mustard, second year’s growth.

Garlic Mustard is an invasive forest plant brought to North America as an edible herb. It is found in a range of habitats, including forests, riverbanks, and roadsides. Once Garlic

Mustard establishes, it can outcompete native wildflowers such as trilliums (Trillium sp.) and trout Lily (Erythronium americanum). In its first year (photo left, NCC), the plant produces a rosette of dark green, kidney-shaped leaves with scalloped edges. The second year’s growth (photo right, NCC) is much taller with triangular leaves. The second year plant produces small white flowers and long narrow seed pods that resemble green beans. Seeds of this

(continued) plant can remain viable in soil for up to 30 years. Garlic Mustard has a distinct garlic-smell which can be used to identify the plant when the leaves are crushed. Most small to medium sized patches of garlic mustard can be removed by manually pulling them out and disposing of them in a garbage bag. It’s important to never compost invasive species as you risk introducing them to new areas.

The species outlined above are some of the more aggressive invasive species you might encounter around Loughborough Lake. Unfortunately, they are not the only ones!

Invasive species are especially damaging to species-at-risk, since their survival is already pressured by external factors such as habitat loss or road mortality. By removing and preventing the spread of invasive species around Loughborough Lake, you are helping to improve habitat for many species-at-risk in Eastern Ontario including:

• Eastern Ratsnake (Pantherophis spiloides pop. 1)

• Eastern Ribbonsnake (Thamnophis sauritus)

• Snapping Turtles (Chelydra serpentine)

• Midland Painted Turtles (Chrysemys picta marginata)

• Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina)

• Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens)

• Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus)

• Eastern Whip-poor-will (Antrostomus vociferous)

• Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor)

This list represents only a small sample of the species that are in decline but there are steps you can take to promote their survival.

Learning how to identify invasive species is the first step towards preventing the spread. It is good practice to stay on trails and keep all pets on a leash when hiking. When travelling by boat, reduce your speed near areas with invasive species as this reduces the risk of accidently spreading them. Clean, drain, and dry your boats, paddles and any other equipment when you move from one body of water to another. Just because you do not see a problem, does not mean it isn’t there. Invasive seeds, or larvae could be hitching a ride to make their next unannounced debut.

At the Nature Conservancy of Canada, we manage over 11,000 ha (over 27,000 acres) of land in Eastern Ontario, with a special focus around Loughborough Lake. NCC has a strong commitment to stewarding this land, and one of the main components is keeping invasive species out of our natural areas. It’s everyone’s duty to recognize when invasive species have made their way into an ecosystem, and actively intervene before more damage is done. Once an invasive species has established, it’s difficult to get rid of it.

The Nature Conservancy of Canada hosts volunteer events where you can get involved in the protection of Loughborough Lake and other important natural areas. If you’re looking for a place to start and are wondering how you can directly have an impact, check out www.conservationvolunteers.ca for details on events happening across the country! You can also report sightings of invasive species to the Invading Species Hotline 1-800-563-7711.

It’s a team effort to ensure the survival of our iconic native plants and animals, but by educating yourself about the invasive, and at-risk species in the Loughborough Lake area, you are helping to keep your lake beautiful, natural, and wild for generations to come.

Resources:

1. Common Frogbit photo by Christian Fischer, CC BY-SA 3.0.

2. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. Invasive Species in Ontario. Queen’s Printer for Ontario, 2012.

3. OFAH/OMNRF Invading Species Awareness Program, 2012.

Water Quality

When you get down to it, one of the major reasons why people come to Loughborough Lake is because of, well, the lake. The water is the basis for why people build cottages and homes here, buy boats and other toys and choose to come back and take their annual vacation or even spend their lives beside it. There are obviously many other reasons why we come to the lake but the water is probably key to why we are here. So it follows that lake water quality is really important to peoples’ enjoyment of the lake.

When the Lougborough Lake Association was researching the idea of preparing a "lake planning" study in 2009, water quality was the biggest or most important factor reported in other lake reports that we read. After considerable discussion, the association decided not to do a "lake planning" study; there were a number of reasons why we chose not to undertake it – cost, value for effort, and a lack of enthusiasm were amongst the reasons we did not go with it. However we all agreed as to the importance of water quality and that understanding has directed some of the association activities this year.

Recently, the lake association has increased the number of spots that water sampling is being taken. Up to this point, we had a couple of dedicated volunteers, each taking one sample, one in the West Basin and one in the East. We have increased the number of samples being taken to five – now three are being taken in the more complex East Basin and two are being done in the West Basin. The Ontario Government MOE has agreed to provide analysis of the samples that we take.

Another action that was taken was to enlist the help of a fellow Loughborough Lake resident and association member (he has even agreed to become an association director!) to interpret and explain what is happening to the water quality. Mike Hulley is a consulting engineer and associate professor with RMC and he has had much experience working on water quality problems. It was obvious that increasing the amount of water quality data being collected but not having anybody who could explain it was not going to work; we are grateful to have Mike’s help.

Recently, Mike and long-time Loughborough Lake resident Karl Montgomery got out on the West Basin and did some water temperature and dissolved oxygen tests. The following is what Mike noted:

"The deeper you go in the lake, the cooler that it becomes. Between 10 and 15 metres, there is a temperature drop or thermocline. There is also a reduction in the amount of dissolved oxygen in the water at this same level. It is below 5 mg/L at the deeper levels.  Mike notes that the commonly accepted threshold for trout was 5 mg/L, and apparently this threshold has since been raised to 6 mg/L. Although there are still lake trout being caught, this finding would suggest that trout may not be thriving."

The cause of this is not known - it could be also related to deposition and decomposition of organic material. It could also be seasonal. Oxygen levels in the deeper parts of the lake should improve in the fall as the surface temperatures cool and the higher oxygen content surface waters can blend with the lower level waters. We also do not have a history of oxygen levels in the lake – we cannot compare this result with what has happened in the past. We hope to go out on the lake again later in the fall and do further tests. Experience and knowledge can help us better understand the lake we so enjoy.

Dishwasher Detergent & Phosphates
A recent article in Time magazine noted that in the Spokane River (in Idaho and Washington states) wastewater treatment plants, one third of the phosphates coming to it were from dishwasher detergents. The rest of the phosphates were coming from fertilizers and human waste. Although phosphates have been removed from liquid dishwashing detergents - the kind that you use in the sink - they still remain in dishwasher detergents because of their ability to remove dirt and keep it suspended in the water. Canada has a plan to legislate phosphates in dishwasher detergents to no more than 5% this year, but it looks like that will be deferred, pending more study. 

Phosphates are nutrients, encouraging plant and algae growth in the water. Decomposing plant and algae matter will lead to less oxygen content in the water. So - if you have a dishwasher and you are on Loughborough Lake, please consider using a low dose phosphate detergent. You can purchase 0% phosphate dishwasher detergents.  

Shoreline Restoration

Watersheds Canada is thrilled to come back to Loughborough Lake with an action project! In the Love Your Lake report for Loughborough Lake, several recommendations were made for landowners to voluntarily restore their shorelines to more natural states to benefit the health of Loughborough Lake. Because of generous funding support for Love Your Lake follow-up projects from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Watersheds Canada is able to provide shoreline property owners on Loughborough Lake with an opportunity to have their shorelines professionally restored with native plants at only 25% of the cost to landowners.

The Natural Edge is a shoreline planting program developed by Watersheds Canada and made available to waterfront property owners in Eastern Ontario. This is your opportunity to restore your shoreline with native trees, shrubs, groundcovers, wildflowers, and grasses. Staff from Watersheds Canada will provide you with:

• A free site visit to discuss shoreline concerns, provide recommendations, and assess planting conditions;

• A personalized planting plan, including photos of selected planting areas and ideal plant species;

• The ordering, delivering, planting, and mulching of all plants;

• A free Stewardship Manual to ensure that the newly planted vegetation thrives in the first few years of establishment and growth; and,

• Follow-up and support with your new plants.

Shorelines are among the most important places on earth for wildlife - they are the ribbon of life. Throughout their lifetimes, over 90% of wildlife species use these land-water interfaces for food, shelter, breeding, and rearing areas. Healthy layers of vegetation including trees, shrubs, groundcover, grasses, flowers, and aquatic vegetation benefit wildlife, protect these shorelines from degrading, and support natural processes that are essential to a healthy lake and  a healthy watershed.

With the growth of new cottage developments, cottage-to-home conversions, and commercial and industrial developments along shorelines, these sensitive areas are threatened. With the loss of natural vegetation, several benefits to the lake are compromised, including water clarity and quality, safe swimming areas, and loss of wildlife habitat. With the help of stewardship programs such as these and with the support and participation of individuals like you, our community is coming together to protect and restore these sensitive areas for improved lake health and sustainability.

To participate in this, please contact Chloe Lajoie from Watersheds Canada, at  lajoie@watersheds.ca or 613-264-1244. Site visits begin as soon as the snow melts, and planting takes place in October when the leaves fall! If you have a shoreline with grass to the water's edge, significant erosion issues, or a small existing buffer, your property would be an ideal candidate for the Natural Edge! There are a limited number of properties available for naturalization projects, so be sure to get in touch soon!