MVCA’s Watershed Watch Program Kelly Stiles Lake Networking Group Meeting August 3, 2017

History of the Watershed Watch Program Recent Changes Rotation Parameters Report style Data Presentation

History Initiated in 1998 Partnership between MVCA and Lake Steward Network Program objectives To provide baseline monitoring to 44 lakes To accumulate reliable environmental data and to monitor trends over time To distribute this data to educate residents on sound stewardship practices Variables measured Total phosphorous, Secchi depth, calcium, pH, dissolved oxygen and temperature profiles, Zebra Mussels and Spiny Waterflea

Challenges Previous Rotation Problem Each lake was visited every 5 years Problem Insufficient sampling events Long time to determine trends (due in part in to inter-annual variation)

A 5 year rotation vs yearly data

Solution: A New Rotation Emphasize lakes that are more indicative of the health of the Mississippi River 2 years – Mississippi line 3 years – large lakes representative of each subwatershed 5 years – smaller lakes from each subwatershed 8 years – very small, less developed, headwater lakes Organized by subwatershed Full rotation found in Appendix A of the 2016 Intergrated Report

Changes to Protocol: Total Phosphorous Problem Potential for artificially high TP results from zooplankton in samples Risk of removing samples that may actually be high TP values Data not as comparable to other monitoring programs Solution We began filtering the samples in 2016 80 µm mesh filter Same as LPP Question Will we still be able to compare to historical results? Yes Looking for trends over absolute values Filtering a TP sample Various zooplankton species

Changes to Protocol: Chlorophyll a Problem Requires too many sampling events to get an accurate annual average Expensive lab fees for minimal information Solution Eliminated in the 2016 season TP and Secchi depth are good trophic status indicators Explanation Leftover parameter from old sampling schedule

Changes to Reporting Old Individual Reports New Integrated Report

Integrated Monitoring Report Sections 1. Seasonal Conditions Snow pack, precipitation and water levels 2. Indicators & methodology descriptions 3. Lake by lake results 4. Biotic data from stream sampling 5. Invasive species results Reasons for the Change Efficiency No longer 12 reports/year More holistic analysis Can look at lakes upstream and downstream to see how your lake relates to the system Can consider weather impacts such as droughts and floods Can compare current year to previous year’s TP results

Thank you Kelly Stiles kstiles@mvc.on.ca 613-253-0006 ex 234