Lake Steward’s Report – Marc Lichtenberg

1. Love Your Lake project - is on our lake this summer to audit shoreline health of each property and provide feedback to property owners. See Love Your Lake online for details.
2. Lake Health is good, phosphate levels, clarity, algae. Our level is around 7 and needs to be under 12. Dissolved oxygen in the water is dropping.
3. Cold springs help with summer lake health. Residents can limit phosphate and nitrate use (fertilizers, etc.). Buy clover seed rather than fertilizer. Don’t use pesticides. Natural nitrogen regulator.
4. Shade your shoreline to cool the water. Turn down water heater when not needed.
5. Limit phantom power (unplug things).

​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:
 

1. Measuring algae levels by dropping a white disc into the lake and measuring the point at which we can no longer see the disc.

 
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!
 

1. Measuring the level of Phosphorus in the lake.

Too much phosphorus can cause increased growth of algae and large aquatic plants. When total phosphorus remains under 10 μg/L, a lake rarely experiences nuisance algal blooms. Good news - both arms of Oxbow Lake continue to have acceptable readings of: West - 4.9 and East - 5.6.
 
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] .