PATTERSON LAKE
NEWSLETTER
August 2007
www.pattersonlake.bowerman.ca
Lake Water Quality: Still a Puzzle
In the last newsletter we reported that the key
indicators for the lake are still good, however,
the results regarding acidity of the lake (or in
this case alkalinity) are puzzling. The 2006
Watershed Watch report from MVC showed
the lake at the beginning last year as somewhat
alkaline but by the end of last summer reaching
a very high pH of more than 9. (rainwater falls
at about a level of 6.0-6.5). This level of
alkalinity can be dangerous for some fish
species.
Because we could find no reasonable
explanation for a Canadian Shield lake to
become alkaline, we decided to do some lake
testing ourselves. (Commercial testing is way
beyond our resources.) Reasonably priced
aquarium test kits are available that measure not
only pH (acid or alkaline), but also general
hardness, carbonate hardness, nitrates (NO3),
and nitrites (NO2). We do not expect
commercial lab quality results, but we certainly
should get a good indication of what is
happening. So twice a month under the
guidance of Ted Manning, we have been testing
at six places around the lake (each Director does
an area), and as well the major input creeks.
We had no idea
what to expect. It turns out that
our readings are very similar around the lake
and for the input creeks. The pH level is close
to neutral which is 7.0 and our results range
from 6.0 to 7.5. So where does the alkalinity of
over 9 come from?
Maybe it is one of our numerous springs
scattered around the lake. The research crew at
151 Lakeside Rd (also known as Lorne and
Connie’s daughter Joy Bowerman, her husband
Trevor Dee, and their two kids, Sarah and Alex
(both are part fish according to Grandma), found
a spring, put nylon over it and weighted down
the outside edges. After a while, it puffed up in
the centre, so Trevor carefully took a sample
under the nylon. It turned out to be very
similar to all of the other sampling with a pH of
7.0 (absolutely neutral), a general hardness of
60, a carbonate hardness of 120, nitrites of 0.5
and nitrates of 20. They did other springs in
the area, all with the same general result.
Now we may not know yet about how all these
things affect the lake, but we do know that all
the input waters and the lake itself yield about
the same results.
If you go up to our website and take the Lake
Data button, there are all sorts of interesting
data there that will eventually end up in our
Lake Management Plan. If you do not have
access to the Internet, let me know and I will
provide printed copy.
Other Lake Data
Did you make it in swimming when the lake
temperature was 28°C? If not, too bad because
the lake is now starting to cool off. It is in the
24 to 26 range now, and will gradually cool as
we go into fall. Cool nights and cloudy days
reduce the temperature considerably.
average this summer. We started off in the
spring with the highest level we have recorded
in twenty two years, but it quickly lowered to
average, and then below average. It is now
about 8″ above the bottom of the north culvert
which is slightly above normal. As we get into
fall, we will watch the culverts to ensure they
are clean and ready for the high levels in the
spring.
of a Secchi (pronouced sec
key) reading? It is a measure of the clearness of
the water. The cloudier it is, the lower the
reading.
Secchi by the way was the name of the man who
developed its use. A Secchi disk is a 6″ circle
divided into four quadrants – two black and two
white. You lower the disk in the water until you
can no longer tell the difference between the
black and white, even though the disk can be
distinguished. Young eyes are the best,
although Grandma eyes do a very good job as
well. Grandpa eyes just won’t cut it.
years have shown the Secchi readings of about
5.5 metres. This year we were about 7.metres
for quite a while, then we dropped steadily to
5.8 metres when the weather really started to
get hot. We are still above the long term
average.
The bottom line for
all these things is that the
lake is in good condition, and our job is to keep
it like that.
The Mississippi Rideau Septic System Office
(The following came in an email fro MVC)
As of July 1, 2007 the Tay Valley Septic Office
is now the Mississippi Rideau Septic System
Office. This name change reflects the expanded
role of this office in both the Mississippi Valley
and Rideau Valley watersheds, particularly in
the area of septic system re-inspections.
The Mississippi Rideau Septic System Office
(MRSSO) assists local municipalities with
sewage system re-inspection programs. We
encourage property owners to become more
familiar with their septic system and its
maintenance requirements. In an effort to
spread the word to more watershed residents
and cottagers the MRSSO will host a series of
workshops this summer. The following is a
sneak peak, a course outline if you will, of a
few of the topics the MRSSO will discuss at the
workshops.
Septic System 101. All household wastewater
(waters that drain from your toilets, tubs,
dishwasher, and washing machine) ends up in
the septic tank of your onsite wastewater
system. The septic tank separates the liquids
from the solids and breaks down organic
matter. The solids sink to the bottom and a scum
layer forms on top. The wastewater in the
middle runs into the leaching bed for further
filtration and eventual discharge to ground or
surface water.
Houston
we have a problem. The system is
quite effective if it is properly maintained. For
the health of your family, the health of your
neighbors and the health of our local water
resources it is imperative that you report
problems immediately. Typically, symptoms of
a failing system include: unusually healthy
grass; a soggy drain field, sewage backup, and
sewage odour.
Care and Feeding. To keep your onsite
wastewater system operating at its best it needs
regular attention. Have the tank pumped every
two to three years. Install an effluent filter to
minimize the amount of solids entering the
leaching bed. Be vigilant about the kinds of
things that go down the drain and reduce your
indoor water usage.
For further information and workshop dates
and locations please contact Jamie Saunders at
613-259-2421 and jsaunders@mvc.on.ca or
visit the MVC website at www.mvc.on.ca and
click on the septic workshops link.
The Septic Office and Patterson Lake
The first time that I heard about Jamie Saunders
was in the June Long Lake Newsletter which
had been given to me by a friend. Since then his
name has popped into my life just about every
week. I was particularly interested in the
workshops which were offered this summer in
areas outside Lanark Highlands.
I went to see Jamie Saunders on August 10th to
see if we are going to have some local septic
system workshops. The answer I got was not
what I expected.
It turns out that Lanark Highlands do not have
a Sewage System Re-Inspection Program that
uses the facilities of Jamie. So here he is at the
MVC headquarters in our neck of the woods,
and we do not use him.
I asked him about the program. He said that
the program is run through the townships, and
is not available on a payment basis by property
owners. Usually a township contracts for
anywhere from 30 to 100 properties around
targeted shorelines. The trigger for this
targeting is a high e-coli on a waterfront.
My first thoughts were about the heavy hand of
authority coming down on some culprit. But
that is not the case at all. Jamie said it was a
voluntary or semi-voluntary program and there
is lots of room for stakeholders input. Their
main aim to have working systems rather than
punishing offenders.
The regulations covering septic systems is in
the Ontario Building Code part 8.
It is my plan to find out more about the Sewage
System Re-Inspection Program and whether it
has a place in Lanark Highlands. Do we have
something else in place? Do we do our own?
Are septic systems a problem in Lanark
Highlands? Who is our enforcement officer?
How much does it cost per year? At the
moment, I have more questions than answers.
I will work on it.
Purdon Conservation Area
from Mississippi Valley Shorelines,
Summer 2007 Newsletter
The Showy Lady-slipper orchids have again
delighted us with their beguiling beauty.
Mississippi Valley Conservation manges the
site for our visitors and it inhabinants. This
season our beloved orchids were also admired
by the deer, who seemed to think them a
delicacy judging from the number of buds
nipped off throughout the site. MVC is
investigating ways in which to combat this
problem and will keep you posted on our
efforts.
On the more positive note, Ted Mosquin, Orchid
Guardian and dedicated enthusiast, gave
pollination lessons to MVC staff and close to
200 orchids were hand pollinated. With time
the plant will produce a seed capsule and has
the potential to disperse 20,000 to 30,000 seeds.
Annual General Meeting (AGM)
The AGM of the Patterson Lake Association of
Lanark Highlands will take place on September
2, 2007 at the Watsons Corners Hall from 2:00
PM to 4:00 PM. The Hall will be opened for
registration from 1:30 to 2:00 PM.
Enclosed are the Articles and By-laws of our
Association. They have been approved by the
Board of Directors and confirmation will be
requested at the AGM. In my judgement they
are as good a set of by-laws as I have seen for
our type of organization. As I noted last year,
the basis for them was the Lower Beverley Lake
Association set which I found on the Internet.
They were obviously prepared by someone with
legal training. Now as a retired government
employee, they read fine for me as I have read
that type of sentence structure all my working
life. Some may find the structure a little too
carefully worded and too exact, but that is not a
bad thing in a legal document. Maybe we will
try to do a plain English version to see how that
sounds.
By the way, parts of Chapter 38 of the Ontario
Corporations Act is the governing law for our
Association. We are a not-for-profit
corporation. The Act is available on something
called e-Laws Ontario. We have a link on our
website off the Constitution button. The by-laws that are being presented for confirmation
meet all the requirements of Chapter 38.
You will note that the Articles of Incorporation
are included before the by-laws. This is quite
typical as they give the name and objectives of
the organization. They also say that for a not-for-profit that no dividends are to be paid to
members – any money we raise has to be used to
promote our objectives.
The Articles come from the Province. The by-laws come from the organization. You cannot
change your articles unless you go back to the
Province and have them changed officially.
The 2007-2008 fees have been set at $20 per
lake or associated property. That is the best
$20 you will spend this year. For $20 you get
a legal organization and six neighbours
working hard to keep the lake as clean as it is
now, and protect your lake property
investment. A lake is a huge part of the cost of
a lake property. We will lose a lot if we let the
lake become polluted.
Voting at the meeting with be by voting cards
with each registered property entitled to one
card. Those not registered will not be entitled
to vote.
Gas Thief Alert
When we went to return home after last
weekend at 151 Lakeside Rd, both my
daughter’s Dodge minivan and my Dodge
minivan gave us a engine warning light saying
something was wrong. The car manual
suggested some engine cap was loose. I
stopped and checked but could not find
anything wrong. We didn’t find out what the
problem was until we took the vans to a garage.
The problem was simply that the gas tank lid
had been removed and not put back securely.
So how did that happen? My best guess is that
someone did or tried to siphon gas from our
tanks. They did not tighten the gas tank cap
again because it clicks and that noise would
have given them away. I have in the past seen
people on ATVs with a siphon hose and a gas
can, and I do not think they were going to catch
frogs. I think I lost about 10 litres because I
got a low fuel light before I made it home.
So just one more thing to watch for.
Newsletter
This Newsletter was produced by Lorne
Bowerman. Comments, suggestions, or articles
are welcome.
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