Main Issues:
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Team Name: Team Muskrat
Partner: Jaime Sebastien Communication Lead: Rachel Schroeder Team Members: Rachel Schroeder (Data Communications), Robert Stanton (Editor), Garrett Thoms (Data Analysis), Paul Lavergne (Equipment/Logistics), Cassandra Rea (Risk Assessment/Management) |
Project Overview:
This project is focused on the water quality of Muskrat Lake in Cobden Ontario. The lake is eutrophic with elevated levels of phosphorous which cause algal blooms in the water. This can cause two problems; toxins and dead zones. Cyanobacteria (or blue-green algae) are a phylum of bacteria that grow in algal blooms and many of them produce toxins such as microcystin. Toxins from blue-green algae can affect the liver (hepatotoxins), or the nervous system (neurotoxins). High levels of these toxins in Muskrat Lake has led to beach closures and swimming bans on the lake. It’s also recommended for people to not eat the organs of fish, since the toxins in the water affect those regions. Microorganisms can create dead zones by using up a high amount of oxygen and by feeding on the larger amount of organic matter available from the algal bloom.
A major source of phosphorous loading in the lake is Snake River which drains into Muskrat Lake. Snake River carries waters rich in phosphorous from agricultural runoff to Muskrat Lake. Other sources of phosphorus contamination occur through septic tank leaks from cottages on the lake shore, the sewage treatment plant in Cobden, and agricultural runoff into the lake.
This project partnered with a cottage owner on Muskrat Lake who is concerned with quality of the lake’s water. The project consisted of sampling the lake’s water over three days: October 1st, October 2nd and October 3rd, 2013. On the first day water samples were collected as well as secchi depth at three different locations at the inflow and outflow of rivers connected to the lake (Snake River and Muskrat River). On the second day four samples were taken at various spots on the lake. Samples were collected in containers as well as secchi measurements taken and different water quality parameters were measured directly using the YSI. An extra sample of cottage water was taken the first day for comparison as well as a sample where algae growth was very dense. On the second day an extra sample was taken from Snake River to see if it had elevated nutrient levels from cows drinking directly out of the water.
All samples taken were found to have phosphorous, the main parameter determining algae blooms, levels above the MOE guidelines to avoid the nuisance growth of algae, which is set at 20ug/L. The samples ranged from 47ug/L of phosphorous to 818ug/L. That range is higher than previous studies done and may be due to a difference in methodology such as filtering the samples. Water quality surveys have been conducted since 1978 on Muskrat Lake and the range of phosphorous excluding the highest and lowest values is between 30ug/L-60ug/L.
The DO (Dissolved Oxygen) tended to be below the guideline of 7mg/L for lake trout in the hypolimnion layer of the lake, but above that guideline in the epilimnion layer. Those results are similar to previous studies done by the MOE.
The algae samples were dominated by what appeared to be microcystis, which is a type of cyanobacteria that produces the toxin microcystin.
Related Links:
http://www.wwf.ca/conservation/freshwater/freshwaterhealth/?gclid=CKT956TX5LoCFVFk7AoduGoAvA
http://www.d.umn.edu/~seawww/quick/faqpdf/wqfaq.pdf
http://www.cdc.gov/hab/cyanobacteria/pdfs/facts.pdf
http://www.whitewaterregion.ca/meetings/muskrat-lake-2012.pdf
http://www.whitewaterregion.ca/meetings/Official%20Plan%20Pack.pdf
http://www3.algonquincollege.com/pembroke/files/2012/03/Potential-Toxic-Effects-of-Algal-Blooms-3.pdf?file=2012/03/Potential-Toxic-Effects-of-Algal-Blooms-3.pdf
http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/stdprodconsume/groups/lr/@ene/@resources/documents/resource/std01_079681.pdf
http://www.obvcapitale.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Determining-the-trophic-state-of-your-lake.pdf
http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/stdprodconsume/groups/lr/@mnr/@letsfish/documents/document/256676.pdf
A major source of phosphorous loading in the lake is Snake River which drains into Muskrat Lake. Snake River carries waters rich in phosphorous from agricultural runoff to Muskrat Lake. Other sources of phosphorus contamination occur through septic tank leaks from cottages on the lake shore, the sewage treatment plant in Cobden, and agricultural runoff into the lake.
This project partnered with a cottage owner on Muskrat Lake who is concerned with quality of the lake’s water. The project consisted of sampling the lake’s water over three days: October 1st, October 2nd and October 3rd, 2013. On the first day water samples were collected as well as secchi depth at three different locations at the inflow and outflow of rivers connected to the lake (Snake River and Muskrat River). On the second day four samples were taken at various spots on the lake. Samples were collected in containers as well as secchi measurements taken and different water quality parameters were measured directly using the YSI. An extra sample of cottage water was taken the first day for comparison as well as a sample where algae growth was very dense. On the second day an extra sample was taken from Snake River to see if it had elevated nutrient levels from cows drinking directly out of the water.
All samples taken were found to have phosphorous, the main parameter determining algae blooms, levels above the MOE guidelines to avoid the nuisance growth of algae, which is set at 20ug/L. The samples ranged from 47ug/L of phosphorous to 818ug/L. That range is higher than previous studies done and may be due to a difference in methodology such as filtering the samples. Water quality surveys have been conducted since 1978 on Muskrat Lake and the range of phosphorous excluding the highest and lowest values is between 30ug/L-60ug/L.
The DO (Dissolved Oxygen) tended to be below the guideline of 7mg/L for lake trout in the hypolimnion layer of the lake, but above that guideline in the epilimnion layer. Those results are similar to previous studies done by the MOE.
The algae samples were dominated by what appeared to be microcystis, which is a type of cyanobacteria that produces the toxin microcystin.
Related Links:
http://www.wwf.ca/conservation/freshwater/freshwaterhealth/?gclid=CKT956TX5LoCFVFk7AoduGoAvA
http://www.d.umn.edu/~seawww/quick/faqpdf/wqfaq.pdf
http://www.cdc.gov/hab/cyanobacteria/pdfs/facts.pdf
http://www.whitewaterregion.ca/meetings/muskrat-lake-2012.pdf
http://www.whitewaterregion.ca/meetings/Official%20Plan%20Pack.pdf
http://www3.algonquincollege.com/pembroke/files/2012/03/Potential-Toxic-Effects-of-Algal-Blooms-3.pdf?file=2012/03/Potential-Toxic-Effects-of-Algal-Blooms-3.pdf
http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/stdprodconsume/groups/lr/@ene/@resources/documents/resource/std01_079681.pdf
http://www.obvcapitale.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Determining-the-trophic-state-of-your-lake.pdf
http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/stdprodconsume/groups/lr/@mnr/@letsfish/documents/document/256676.pdf