Loughborough Lake Trout Stocking

For those of you who don’t know, the Battersea Loughborough Lake Association has forged a partnership with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) and the White Lake Fish Culture Station near Sharbot Lake to release Manitou Lake Trout fingerlings into Loughborough Lake yearly. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, our dedicated volunteers were unable to take part in the project both last spring and this year. The staff from the fish culture station, who released the fish last year from a location in the west basin, did so again this year during the week of April 12th when the receiving temperatures of the lake would have been optimal. Fortunately, they were able to secure a site on the north shore of the west basin. In both cases, 15,000 yearlings were placed into the water. While not as ideal as when volunteers put the fish in designated deep-water locations in the west basin, we are pleased that MNRF and the fish culture program have continued to include our lake in their yearly plans.

Records from MNRF indicate that trout yearlings from the fish culture facility have been put into our lake since at least 1974. For those of you interested in stats, some highlights include:

• The number of fish released range from a low of 1,300 in 1974 to a high of 112,682 thirty years later.

• From 1990 until 2003, approximately 35,000 to 40,000 trout were released yearly.

• No trout were released in 2005 and 2011.

• Since 2015, a total of 15,000 lake trout have been placed in the west basin each year.

Until 2014, MNRF and hatchery staff worked together to put the lake trout in the west basin of Loughborough, sometimes with the assistance of one or two volunteers. In 2015 the Storrington Guides Association - whose interests overlap in many ways with that of the BLLA - set up a meeting with the MNRF and the Lake Association. The discussion led to confirmation of a netting project on our lake and a commitment from the Lake Association to assist with the yearly trout stocking project. Volunteers are recruited to meet with their boats, a cooler filled with cold lake water and a net at a location in the west basin in the early spring. The fingerlings are transferred by the fish hatchery staff from a large, refrigerated tanker filled with cold water to the waiting boats at the shore. Once the boat coolers are filled, the fish are driven to specific locations in the west basin where they are gently placed into the deep, cold water using nets. The project has expanded to include two or three boats from the Queen’s University Biology Department Freshwater Fisheries Conservation Lab filled with students. All of the dedicated volunteers and staff enthusiastically participate in the project which is designed to increase the trout population for those who fish the lake.

One final note … In order to date the fish, staff at the White Lake Fish Culture Station have clipped one fin on each fish following a five-year rotating cycle – RP (Right Pectoral), RV (Right Ventral), AD (Adipose), LV (Left Ventral), LP (Left Pectoral).

The fish on the top has its adipose fin clipped.

(Photo supplied by MNRF, Peterborough District – Kingston office)

Unfortunately, due to budget constraints, 2020 was the last time the fins were clipped.

You can use the edited chart below supplied by the MNRF Peterborough-Kingston office to help date the many large lake trout you’ll be catching this summer!

Gypsy Moths

Gypsy moths caused a large amount of damage to trees in our region in the spring and summer of 2020. Many trees were devastatingly defoliated by hungry gypsy moth caterpillars. You may have first noticed small black hard bits underfoot on paths and docks. I wondered what it was. It turns out it was the gypsy moth caterpillars’ droppings called frass. Some people actually heard and felt it dropping from oak trees – one of their favourite trees. Also on their menu are poplar, birch, maple, willow, apple and even conifers such as white pines and spruce trees. The defoliation was quite widespread in southern and eastern Ontario.

Gypsy moths with eggs.

The introduction of this invasive moth to North America is an interesting story. It was brought to Massachusetts from France in the late 1860s by an entomologist with an interest in silk production. Moths accidentally escaped and have been breeding and spreading across the northeastern U.S. into Ontario, Quebec and the Maritime provinces since then.

Here is a brief outline of the life cycle of the moth. The gypsy moth overwinters as an egg in brownish clusters of 500 or more laid on tree bark, in dark outside areas of homes, under lawn furniture, decks and in wood piles. Once the eggs hatch, the tiny caterpillars will migrate from lower areas of trees and buildings to treetops. Each caterpillar then weaves a long silken thread from which it hangs waiting for wind to carry it to a new tree. This is the only silk it will produce. Once on a tree, it feeds on the leaves or needles. The caterpillar is recognizable by a dark brown body with pale brown hairy tufts and 5 pairs of blue dots followed by 6 pairs of red dots. Approximately 6 weeks later, the 1/16” caterpillar has grown to 3” in length. At this point, it will begin to pupate. The moths appear 13-17 days later and do not feed. Male moths are dark brown with black markings and females are white, larger and do not fly. The females begin to lay eggs and the cycle starts again.

How can you control the damage these moths inflict on your trees? Well, for us it is not easy nor all that effective. Mother Nature does a better if not a particularly fast job. There is a naturally occurring fungus called Entomophaga maimaiga that will kill the moth. Cool wet weather aids its spread. A virus called (Nucleopolyhedrosis) or NPV will infect and kill the moths. Unfortunately, it needs time to replicate and spread through the population. Finally, natural enemies like songbirds, mammals, ants, beetles and parasitoid wasps will eat the pupae or caterpillars.

As a homeowner, you can remove the egg masses by scraping them into a bucket of soapy water. Once the caterpillars appear, you can hand pick them or wrap affected trees with a burlap “skirt” which will trap the caterpillars as they move up and down the trees. They can then go into the soapy bucket! A spray product containing BTK – Bacillus Thuringiensis kurstaki will kill the caterpillars once they are feeding on leaves. Or, once the moths emerge, pheromone traps that attract and catch the male moths before they can fertilize the female can be hung in trees in early summer and are available from local vendors. The internet is a good resource if you want to look further into this problem.

Thankfully, outbreaks of gypsy moths occur only every 7-10 years, though we can expect 2021 to be a continuation of this outbreak. A gradual diminution of the moths will occur as their natural predators and pathogens take over. The continual warming of the planet means we can no longer depend on extreme cold (-20 C) to kill the masses of eggs so unfortunately this invasive defoliator and its predictable outbreaks are here to stay.

Phragmites: How the Mighty has Spread

You have probably seen this perennial grass along roadsides as a huge area of tall, lush silvery green flower heads waving in the wind. Yes, this is an invasive plant. It was introduced to North America in the 1800s and in 2005 was recognized as Canada’s worst invasive plant by Agriculture Canada. Dense stands of this grass have spread throughout Ontario threatening the habitats of the Great Lakes and inland lakes.

Invasive Phragmites, with as many as 200 stems per square metre, outcompete native plants by releasing toxins into the soil, change lake habitats for wildlife and decrease recreational activities. They can grow on shorelines, in wetlands, watercourses and roadside ditches. Despite preferring areas of standing water, the roots, which can grow up to 4 metres long, allow it to survive in drier areas. Reaching a height of 5 metres, or 15 feet, the flower heads turn brown in the fall atop brown, rough, ridged stems.

Phragmites.

A native subspecies of Phragmites exists in Ontario too. Generally, the native version does not grow as dense, is frequently mixed with other plants and has more reddish-brown stems, yellow-green leaves and sparser seed heads.

What can you do if you think the Phragmites on your property are the invasive version? Your Lake Association has applied for a grant to help us develop a program of identification and advice in eradication. More news on that soon, we hope. A good website to consult is Ontario’s Invading Species Awareness Program at www.invadingspecies.com. Once Phragmites have been identified there are several methods of management. On dry land a herbicide can be used, although there is no herbicide permitted for use in or around water in Ontario. Another method on land involves using a spade to cut the roots, pulling up as much as possible then disposing of the plant material, in a safe manner. You can burn it once it is dry or place it in black plastic garbage bags in the sun until it is well rotted, after which it can be sent to the landfill. On wet sites selective cutting beneath the waterline can drown the plant by cutting off oxygen to the lower stems and roots. The new shoots then cannot reach the surface to get oxygen. This can be done using hand tools or amphibious cutting tools. Again, you bag the plants and leave them to decay before sending them to the landfill. Never attempt to compost invasive Phragmites as they can survive and grow in the compost. If you have been working with the plant, brush off your clothing and tools so you don’t transfer seeds to other sites.

Hopefully, you do not have this invasive grass on your property but if you find some you will be more informed on how to deal with it.

NOTE: On June 29th, FOCA will present a Phragmites webinar. Members of the BLLA are automatically members of FOCA and have access to this webinar should you wish to attend. Register by clicking here.

Goat Island - A Treasure Worth our Care

My first experience at Goat Island was in 2008. I had been invited on the annual Father and Son(s) Camping Trip put on by the Goat Island Men’s Association. Now, a place is only as good as the company and the men of the Goat Island Men’s Association have become very good friends of mine. This being said, Goat Island has made the top five on a list of my favourite places on earth.

Surrounded by water provided by beautiful Loughborough Lake on the far north east side, Goat Island is perfectly located. Each of the three camp sites provide their own unique experience and view of the lake. It’s far enough away from Perth Road and Battersea Road that there is no noise from cars and trucks. The cliff behind the island has the North Shore Road located on top of it, and I’ve rarely heard any noise from it. The cliff also provides protection from prevailing winds. Other than the odd fisherman, the only sounds are that of loons, a group of boys having some fun, or my friends having a good conversation.

Goat Island is Crown Land. I’m pleased to share that the Goat Island Men’s Association has been humbly caring for this land for over 20 years. This group has been an example to me that there are times in life where the right thing to do is step up and take responsibility for land - Crown Land being no exception. There are two primary events that happen before our camping trip where this action takes place. One or two people will go out three weeks prior to our trip to see what the Island needs and what equipment we need to bring (a reconnaissance). Then a team is assembled to complete the needed tasks two weeks prior to our event. This involves picking up garbage, cutting up fallen trees, and cleaning the three outdoor toilets. In recent years we have found the island to be kept in fairly good shape with less work needed than in previous years.

At the conclusion of our weekend we stress to the group that they need to take everything home that they brought. The last two or three that remain on the Island do a final check for garbage and unclaimed belongings. They then say farewell to the land, and start the planning process again the following late winter. Today we live in the reality of COVID-19. Last year's trip was canceled. This year's trip is in a holding pattern. We also live in a day of hope, that someday this pandemic will be behind us and we can enjoy large social outings again. My son is currently 2.5 years old and I hold on to the hope that I will be able to enjoy one of my favourite places on earth with him, Goat Island on Loughborough Lake.

Note: Registration to our event is open to fathers and son(s) from the community. If you're interested in further information about the annual camping trip email fredgrendel@gmail.com

Water Quality

In last year’s water quality article I mentioned that the COVID-19 virus had suspended the water quality testing in 2020 with an unknown future as to when it might restart. Discussion at that time related to concerns about how the volunteers at the lakes and the government testing staff at Dorset, Ontario could be kept safe. At this point, there is still no resolution but there seems to be an expectation that the program will resume in 2021. Stay tuned for further developments.

While there are no testing results for 2020, water quality on Loughborough Lake is still good and reasonably stable. We have had no outbreaks of blue green algae but we do have infestations of zebra mussels and Eurasian milfoil. These invasive species have established themselves in the lake although they seem to come and go in cycles.

The picture below, of Milburn Bay on Dog Lake, shows blue green algae in 2019. Dog Lake is one lake downstream from Loughborough Lake and it has struggled with blue green algae; the levels of total phosphate (that is the fertilizer for algae growth) in their waters is two or three times what is in Loughborough Lake. Milburn Bay is at the southern end of Dog Lake just down from the village of Battersea; Milburn Creek, which drains into the bay, gets some of its water from the East Basin outflow at Battersea.

Figure 1 - Screen grab from the Shirley French presentation - https://youtu.be/riOyyBnVwBs

There are no ready solutions for algae growth; harvesting of weeds is not an answer. Removing the weeds can add more sunlight to the algae and actually promote growth. The need is to remove total phosphorous from the water. One approach is to reduce shoreline drainage into the lake – leaving the shoreline in a natural state to catch the runoff – and reduce the sources of phosphates by not using fertilizers and cleaning up malfunctioning septic tanks and sewage waste. Another thing being considered on Dog Lake is using floating treatment wetlands. These are floating man-made platforms into which cattails, blue flag iris, swamp milkweed and willow species are planted. The roots from these plants dangle in the water, absorbing the total phosphorous components as they grow. The plants can be harvested and then composted on land, effectively removing the phosphorous from the water. To be successful, there have to be a number of these platforms – one scenario being considered for this bay is to use 10 platforms over several years. They are not inexpensive (in the order of $600+ per platform) to make but they are subject to wind, waves and ice damage. It will require much effort from the volunteers to maintain these platforms to be effective.

2020 Year End Financial Report

A year of surprises, 2020 was a different year for Battersea Loughborough Lake Association. The virus lockdown prevented our US-based residents from coming up to their cottages. Our Board of Directors decided that the slowdown in economic activity was likely to negatively impact our local businesses and took the decision not to charge for advertising in the 2020 newsletter. Instead, we put the business cards and advertising graphics in the newsletter free of charge, a support to our advertisers who have in turn supported us over the years. We also worked to reduce our lake association expenses, by creating only one newsletter and distributing that digitally rather than using paper and the post office. The additional benefit of such is that it also reduces our carbon footprint. The AGM was a Zoom meeting, avoiding rental and refreshment charges. Web hosting costs and FOCA charges were reduced from earlier years.

There was some cost to this; our annual expenses were $407 higher than our revenues. Deferred revenues – the revenue that we receive from multi-year memberships but cannot recognize until next year or the following year – went down $620. In the end, overall cash, bank and GIC balances declined by $1,027 during the year with the total ending up at $9,385.

Despite the shortfall, the lake association is still on sound financial footing. It is expected that advertising will be solicited in 2021 and some of the cost reductions achieved in 2020 are anticipated to be ongoing.

One thing that did not happen this year was the creation of a high-falutin’ double-entry accounting system as discussed in the last newsletter. Board member Catherine Sutton and I did not get to it during the year. The existing spreadsheet accounting system held together (just fine, thanks…) and that project upgrade remains for another day.

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!

Extractigator: A Solution to a Thorny Problem

You may have Buckthorn trees on your property and you may not even know they are there.  It is a small shrub or tree that came to North America in the 1880s to be used as an ornamental shrub or as a windbreak around homes and fields.  Buckthorn is invasive, spreads aggressively and tolerates many habitats.  In our region around Loughborough Lake they can form dense thickets that crowd and shade out native plants.  Buckthorn seeds are profuse and are carried by birds to germinate widely.  

How can you identify it? Buckthorn is usually the first tree to leaf out and the last to drop its leaves.  Trees grow from two to six meters (6-18 feet) tall with leaves that are egg-shaped and finely toothed.  The leaves are arranged in opposing pairs along the stem.  Most branches older than one year end in a short, sharp thorn.  In the fall clusters of purplish black berries are produced.  

How can you remove Buckthorn? The Lake Association was fortunate to get a grant from Watersheds Canada and the Gottlieb Foundation to purchase 2 Extractigators, which is a plant pulling tool used to remove Buckthorn trees, roots and all! It is a Canadian invention that uses the operator’s weight and leverage to uproot the tree.  It is effective, easy to use, and quite remarkable in action. 

The Lake Association will be lending out the Extractigators to any lake homeowner  to remove this invasive tree, whether they are a member or not.  There are two models to choose from, the Big Daddy at 18.5 lbs is for larger trees and the Classic at 12.5 lbs for trees up to 5cm (2inches) in diameter or when working on a slope.

We will be offering on the ground instruction as needed throughout the spring and summer to those who want to remove Buckthorn from their properties.  Removing Buckthorn from our properties is a big win for our lake's birds, animals and native plants. Contact us if you would like to borrow one, or both, of these amazing tools.

View fullsize

View fullsize