Monitoring Muskoka’s Water Lake System Health Monitoring Program 2011 Results Lake of Bays Township Council May 22, 2012

Monitoring Activities Total Phosphorus & Other Parameters Water Clarity Dissolved Oxygen Temperature Shoreline Land Use Surveys Benthic Macroinvertebrates The fieldwork for the 2011 Lake System Health Monitoring Program began in May and concluded in August. Components of the program included:   Spring phosphorus sampling conducted in May; Water sample collection for base chemical parameters in May; Secchi depth measurements conducted in May and August; Temperature and dissolved oxygen readings conducted in May and August; Shoreline land use surveys conducted in June and July; Benthic macro-invertebrate sampling from May to August; Terrestrial forest plot establishment from May to August; and Docktalk presentations and displays from May to August.

Water Sampling Phosphorus and other chemical parameters, Secchi depth, dissolved oxygen and temperature Location # of Sites # of Lakes Bracebridge 8 Georgian Bay 13 11 Gravenhurst 12 Huntsville 9 Lake of Bays 26 20 Muskoka Lakes 19 Seguin * 5 2 Total 91 72 The monitoring program is a field-based program that monitors approximately 193 sample locations on 164 lakes on a rotational basis. The sampling program includes tests for Secchi depth (a measure of clarity), phosphorus concentrations, dissolved oxygen and temperature profiles. Through our funding agreement with the Dorset Environmental Science Centre, not only are our phosphorus samples analyzed, but other parameters, such as pH, conductivity, alkalinity, calcium, and nitrogen, are measured. # of sites & lakes monitored this year in each AM

Lakes in dark blue were monitored in 2011 for chemical parameters. 91 sites on 72 lakes Worked with SSEA, MNR, GB, DESC, Seguin

Lakes in dark blue were monitored in 2011 for chemical parameters. 91 sites on 72 lakes Worked with SSEA, MNR, GB, DESC, Seguin

Lake Data Sheet The data is summarized for each site in the Lake Data Sheet, available online through the Muskoka Water Web.

Shoreline surveys were completed for 6 areas in 2011, completing the list of Over Threshold lakes. These are outlined in red on the map. 54 areas have been surveyed to date. All maps are available online from the Muskoka Water Web. Benthic monitoring was carried out at 26 sites on 24 lakes and two rivers. These are coloured green on the map. Aquatic Data sheets are available for each lake monitored online from the Muskoka Water Web.

As part of the water quality model review, 40 sites that go anoxic in August were monitored for late summer hypolimnetic phosphorus concentrations. Elevated phosphorus concentrations provide a direct indicator of internal load for sampled lakes, and can be used to test and refine the relationships between depth, internal load and oxygen status in the water quality model. These lakes are outlined in orange on the map.

Access to Data Annual Water Quality Monitoring Report Muskoka Water Web Lake Data Sheets Shoreline Land Use Survey Maps Aquatic Data Sheets MNR Fisheries Fact Sheets Stewardship Resources & Information www.muskokawaterweb.ca Muskoka strives to make our data as accessible as possible. A report is produced each year with the details of the monitoring program, and it is available on the District of Muskoka website. The Muskoka Water Web site was created several years ago as a portal for all things water in Muskoka. New information is added all the time.

2012 Schedule Chemical Monitoring: 80 sites on 63 lakes (LOB: 13 sites on 13 lakes) Shoreline Surveys: Cardwell, Clear, Sunny, Prospect, Grindstone, Webster, Dotty and Bing Lakes Biological Monitoring: participation of at least 35 organizations

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