Township agrees to add algae clean up to 2008 budget discussions

Those who have been writing the township of Huron-Kinloss wanting action taken to fight the growing algae problems along the lakeshore may get their wish, at a cost.

Council heard from Matt Pearson of B.M. Ross and Associates of Goderich and agreed at its Oct 15 meeting in Ripley to consider its options after being “inundated with letters” of concern.

The township has been hearing for months about what ratepayers call “totally unacceptable conditions” of the beaches and near shore water quality in both the lake and the Pine River. At one recent meeting, a resident showed up with a pale of algae, showing the frustration some residents feel.

They are not alone in that feeling however, according to Twolan. He says that he and council share in their frustration and have made many efforts to get upper levels of government on board with finding a solution.

Council heard from staff saying that, “We continue to receive letters of concern regarding the algae on the lakeshore,” and copied three more recent letters for council’s review.

Twolan said residents continue to ask that dollars be spent to try to fix the problem and that he believes the township needs to investigate several options.

He said there are a number of agricultural tile drains running over the Point Clark bluff and wonders if the nitrate filtration systems being used by the Pine River Watershed Initiative Network would be beneficial to reduce the amount of nitrates entering the lake from those drains. He asked if council was willing to put money into the filters.

Twolan also asked if council was willing to hire additional summer students to help clean up the algae or debris that is building up on the shoreline.

The discussion was lengthy as to what action could be taken, although no particulars could be finalized at this early a stage.

Many things must be taken into consideration, such as cost and which beaches would be targeted for clean up. It is unknown at this time whether it would be the clean up of specific beach areas, or sensitive environmental areas, such as the groins south of the Point Clark lighthouse. That area has been identified as a holding area for sludge and rotting algae, which gets trapped until storms or heavy wave action carries it to the once pristine Point Clark Beach.

B.M. Ross and Associate’s Matt Pearson spoke on the subject.

He said that algae building up on the shoreline is nothing new, it is new to parts of Huron-Kinloss, which has never before seen the large amounts which occurred this summer. He said there was no simple solution to the problem of algae growth.

Although algae needs nutrients, particularly phosphorus to prosper, they weren’t the only contributing factor.

He said that scientists believe that invasive species such as mussels, lower water levels and higher temperatures are also contributing to the additional algae.

Pearson explained that mussels filter the water, causing sunlight to penetrate it more easily. This can aid the growth of algae in two ways. It adds sunlight and causes water temperatures to rise. As well, the additional clarity of the water helps algae to grow in deeper water; wave action then brings the algae to shore.

Algae needs nutrients and sunlight; warmer temperatures compound the problem. “If you’re a believer in global warming, then the problem may get worse. If not, then the lake levels could rise in a few years and we may see improvement”. He did not speculate as to whether or not he believed lake levels would go up.

Another problem is that there are two different types of algae affecting the shoreline, each coming to shore at different times of the year.

The first is cladophora. It is the type of algae most commonly seen here in the past. Pearson said that cladophora has normally washed up early in the season, in May or early June.

The other algae, chara , began showing up on the Huron-Kinloss shoreline this year, (2007), about mid-summer and continued its presence well afterwards. Pearson said it began showing up in the Bruce Beach area around Sept 15.

Chara’s common name is muskwort, (sometimes known as stonewort or muskgrass). Chara is a green alga, which is plantlike in appearance. It is commonly found in lakes and ponds where calcium is abundant as carbonate or bicarbonates. Deposits of calcium on the surface of the plants make them feel rough to the touch. They are readily recognized by their musky or garlicky odor. Problems with the species occur when dense growths impede water flow and interfere with recreational activities.

Another friend of chara is phosphorus. Like cladophora, sunlight and warmer temperatures help along the growth.

“It’s a big problem,” he said. “The only thing we could stop is the phosphorus.” (Lake levels, warmer water temperatures and the presence of invasive species such as zebra mussels are out of our control.)

He says that although statistics indicate phosphorus levels are down overall in the lake since the 1970’s, “I don’t know if we are putting in more or less.”

As for the origin of the phosphorus, he said, “After a big rain, it just flushes out, not just from agriculture, it can also come from the land itself.”

He says the township should continue to pressure senior levels of government to get involved. “It will take more resources than you as a township can provide.”

There is also no quick solution to the problem. “It may take years to understand the problem.”

Councillor Jim Hanna commented, “We’re doing the best we can. I guess we’re looking for a silver bullet.”

Hanna asked, “If we had all the money we needed, what could we do as a council in our mandates?”

“To stop algae from coming to shore? Not very much,” said Pearson. “Encourage the government to study it on a large scale.

Councillor Eadie said that she had recently spoken with an official at Environment Canada who told her “if everybody around the lake did their part, it may help.”

She used Point Clark as an example. If everyone reduced or eliminated the use of lawn fertilizer, made sure their septics are working properly and reduced the water flowing through the system, it may make a difference. She said education is also important and that the woman at Environment Canada was interested in “helping with the educational programs.”

“You’ll still have people upset next year,” said Pearson, “because that won’t stop it,” “Attempt to handle the algae when it reaches the shore, a management plan. You can start a management program (to clear the beach of the algae), but you’ll have to figure out which beaches to clean up, who will do it, etc. It’s going to cost money.”

“There’s lots of good people here with real problems,” said Hanna. “We’re willing to put money into this on the ground.” He also asked that those writing the letters also send copies to the province and the federal governments.”

Twolan agreed, adding that some of the letters are getting personal.

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