Hi from Angie and Peter Heydon, and Marc Lichtenberg, Oxbow’s volunteer Lake Stewards,
Since our Annual Meeting has been postponed indefinitely this year due to Covid-19, we are sharing updates about our lake environment by email. We do two types of tests as volunteers through the Ontario Lake Partners Program:
Significant increases in algae harm water quality, food resources and habitats, and decrease the oxygen that fish and other aquatic life need to survive. Algae increases when there are too many nutrients entering the lake. This can also lead to algae blooms that produce algal toxins which can be harmful to human and animal health. Typical sources are lawn fertilizers and septic leakage. You will never have to use fertilizers if you scatter clover seed over a third of your lawn! Valley Feeds at 233 Main sells clover seed. If you do fertilize, keep it well back from the lake shore. East Arm is still experiencing a decline in visibility due to higher algae levels. Where the disc used to disappear at around 19 feet down (2004), last year it disappeared at 12 and a half feet. West Arm is holding steady around 11 and a half feet. So far this year our disc readings are better, showing an extra 3 feet of visibility on both arms!
LOON REPORT Sadly, for the first time in Cottager memory, we did not have a pair (or two) of loons on the lake through the summer of 2019. I haven't seen chicks in over 20 years. Loons are in decline in Ontario. Some migrated through in May but as of June 17, 2020, a pair hasn't been seen. What can we do about this? Responsible boating. Please do not create any wakes in the small bays on the east arm, especially in the month of June! Watercraft wakes swamp loon nests, which are right at the shoreline, and the chicks die of exposure. (This is in addition to Oxbow’s “No Wake” zone through the narrows, to avoid hurting swimmers and damaging docks and boats in that zone.) Let's hope we’ll see the loons return - how can you have a northern lake without those haunting calls? It's estimated that call has been around for 25 million years. Great health to everyone, have fun and to share one of the best quotes I've read on what our purpose on this planet is: “To witness creation and help it in every way we can". Tune in to our Preserving Oxbow menu option on the Oxbow Lake Cottagers’ Association website (http://oxbowlake.weebly.com/preserving-oxbow) for more enviro info. If you need any input on things natural around the lake, please feel free to contact us: [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] .
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June 2020
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Oxbow Lake Cottagers' Association
Respecting, Preserving, Enjoying! |
Pollution Reporting for the Public
Please report immediately if you witness any of the following:
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