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Environmental Meeting – This Saturday!!

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Saturday July 20nd 10:00 AM – 12:00 Noon   Sturgeon Point Church

SPA is hosting the third annual Environment Information Session to present topics we think will be of interest to the residents of Sturgeon Point.  The Kawartha Lakes has a diverse environment from the Canadian Shield to the St Lawrence Lowlands, “The Land Between”, and the quality of this environment is of major importance to us all.  This session will feature the following guest speakers and topics

Mr David Pridham  Kawartha Lakes Conservation  Up-date on the Sturgeon Lake Management Plan

            This is a very ambitious program to document the lake and near-shore characteristics and to develop recommendations that will guide land-use planning in the area.

Ms Samantha Burke  Graduate student Trent University  Benthic macro invertebrates as indicators of water quality plus a brief introduction to the Kawartha Lakes Steward Association document ‘The Algae of the Kawartha Lakes’

            Copies of the ‘The Algae of the Kawartha Lakes’ will be available at the Session.

Samantha will describe how studying the critters in the water tells us a lot about the health of the lake.  There will be a quiz at the end to see how many know what Benthic macro invertebrates are.  Hint  GOOGLE it

Chris Appleton  Treasurer of Kawartha Lakes Steward Association and Resident of Sturgeon Point Outline of the Objectives and Activities of the Kawartha Lakes Steward Association (KLSA)

            KLSA is involved in many interesting environmental studies and programs, such as the Sturgeon Lake Management Plan and is a valuable source of information on the issues and health of our local environment.  

Lucas Tyukodi  Invasive Species Community Outreach Liaison – Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters  Discussion of invasive animals and plants: Rusty Crayfish, Round Goby, Garlic Mustard and Emerald Ash Borer.

Blue-Green Algae – Get to Know its True Colours

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The article below was published by The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit: 

GET TO KNOW ITS TRUE COLOURS
– Season For Blue-Green Algae Arrives, Bringing Reminder to Beware – and Be Aware – of Potential Risks to Public Health –

People who swim, drink and use water from area lakes are being reminded to be on the lookout for blue-green algae (BGA), and to change their habits accordingly if they detect it.

The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit is encouraging residents, cottagers and visitors who use area lakes and waterways to educate themselves about BGA to reduce their potential health risk. In the past few summers, BGA has surfaced in local lakes, particularly in shallow, still water and during extremely warm temperatures.

“Reports of blue-green algae in our region have been more common in the summer months, so it is important to beware of the risks associated with BGA and be aware of what to look for in the water,” says Richard Ovcharovich, Manager of Environmental Health with the HKPR District Health Unit.

BGA, also known as cyanobacteria, are primitive microscopic organisms that occur naturally in lakes, bays and inlets around the world. Normally, the algae are barely visible, but during warm weather the algae can rapidly increase in shallow, still waters to form a large mass called a bloom. Dense blue-green algae blooms can make the water look like a bluish-green pea soup, or a shiny paint slick. Most algae blooms are short-lived and will break down in a few days or weeks.

While many forms of blue-green algae are harmless, some forms produce toxins that can be harmful to humans and animals. This means that any exposure to the water, be it drinking, swimming, bathing, cooking or washing, can lead to health problems. The extent of how sick people can get depends on the type of BGA and how long they are exposed to the toxins, Ovcharovich says.

“If you see or detect serious signs of blue-green algae in a lake or local waterway, avoid using the water at all costs,” he says. “Boiling the water won’t help either, as this kills the algae resulting in the release of more toxins into the water.”

The Health Unit is helping raise awareness about BGA through an information campaign called Blue-Green Algae: Get to Know Its True Colours. The goal is to help people who use area lakes recognize BGA and take appropriate precautions.

Environment Meeting

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This is the fourth annual Environment Meeting. This year’s event presents 6 invited speakers and there’s something for everyone. These issues affect us all in many ways
At this meeting the following topics will be discussed:
  • Preserving Natural and Cultural Heritage in the Kawarthas – Mike Hendren
  • Lake Management Planning; Your Shoreline as Natural Heritage
  • The Future of Our Waterways
  • Lindsay-Ops Landfill Public Review Committee Update
  • Integrated Community Sustainability Plan for the CoKL

Rick McGee, Mayor of CoKL will also be attending this meeting.

This is an excellent opportunity to hear about what’s going on in our area and what’s being done about it. There will be refreshments served afterwards. Please join us.

Blue Canoe visiting Sturgeon Point Wednesday and Thursday this week!

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Kawartha Conservation’s Blue Canoe program technicians will be visiting shoreline properties in Sturgeon Point on August 8th and 9th. This program brings you personalized tips and advice that will help you improve and protect your lake and property. Blue Canoe representatives will also be presenting a “Dock Talk” at the Upper Wharf on August 18th from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.

You can find more information about this program at the Blue Canoe website. You can also contact the Blue Canoe program office at the following contact numbers:

Phone: 705-328-2271 ext 228
Email: [email protected]