Kennisis Lakes Water Quality Testing Programs
Physical and Chemical Water Quality Testing
The KLCOA has been testing the Kennisis Lakes water since 2002. We have participated in water quality (WQ) testing through:
- Lake Partner Program (https://foca.on.ca/lake-partner-program/) FOCA and MECP (2002-Present)
- Lake Trout Lakes WQ Monitoring Program – Ministry of the Environment Conservation and Parks (MECP) (2002, 2003, 2008, 2015, 2016)
- Broad Scale Monitoring Program – Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF)– (2011)
- Testing the Waters Program U-Links – Haliburton (2022- Present)
The current Testing the Waters Program is monitoring 38 sampling locations in 25 Haliburton Lakes including ours. Most lakes are being testing 2x/year (Spring, Fall) and a selected group are being tested 3X/year (Spring, Fall and Winter under the ice).
The program is partially funded by Haliburton County and donations from Haliburton Lake Associations with the cost of chemical analysis covered by Lake Associations.
The KLCOA samples 5 basins in the Kennisis Lakes – 2 in Kennisis Lake, 2 in Little Kennisis Lake and 1 in Paddy’s Bay. These locations have been selected to match historical sampling locations in order to trend WQ data over time. The sampling locations are shown in the map below.
Results of this WQ testing program is available on the KLCOA website HERE.
Water Quality Parameters Monitored
The table below shows the parameters monitored in the Testing the Waters Program and compares the monitoring parameters with the other water quality monitoring programs.
All About Phosphorus
Phosphorus, or P, is a naturally occurring element and one of the three nutrients required by all forms of life – phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium. Phosphorus is very important in our lake ecosystems because it is the limiting nutrient in them. In other words, there is naturally an abundance of potassium and nitrogen, so any extra phosphorus that is added to a lake is quickly used by the ecosystem to create new plant growth, like algae. Excessive phosphorus can lead to algal blooms and in some cases Blue-Green Algae which can be hazardous to aquatic life, humans and pets.
What is the main source of phosphorus?
Phosphorus occurs naturally in the environment. Most phosphorus in a lake comes from the soil, plants, animals and precipitation in and near the lake. Human development and activity can significantly contribute extra phosphorus to a lake. It’s this extra phosphorus that we can control and need to worry about.
The common sources of phosphorus, which can be controlled or influenced by our community members:
- Sewage (septic systems): Maintain your septic system and remember to have your tank pumped out every 3 to 5 years. Have your septic system inspected every 5-10 years. If a new septic system is in your future, look for one that binds phosphorus. The best systems use special soils or have tertiary treatment technologies.
- Shoreline Buffer: Make sure that your property has as little hard surface or grass as possible, and maintain vegetation like native trees, flowers and shrubs, especially near the shoreline. A 20m (66ft) vegetated buffer is recommended.
- Fertilizers: neither chemical nor natural fertilizers (manure) should be used near the lake or other water such as creeks, rivers and wetlands. These fertilizers contain phosphorus as one of their components; the phosphorus is what makes plants and grass grow!
- Soaps and cleaners: Many soaps and cleaners contain phosphorus (in phosphate form) as a binding agent. Look for phosphate-free cleaners, shampoo, and laundry detergent. Remember: never use TSP outside near the lake – the P stands for phosphorus!
All About Water Clarity
What is water clarity?
Water clarity is a measure of how far down light can penetrate through the water column. Clear waters are characterized by low concentrations of suspended particles and/or algae, whereas turbid waters are marked by high levels of suspended particles that cloud visibility by absorbing and scattering light. Water clarity can be measured many ways including a simple visual measurement with a black and white disk called a Secchi. Because water clarity is closely related to light penetration, it has important implications for the diversity and productivity of aquatic life that a system can support. For example, clearer water allows more sunlight to reach submerged aquatic vegetation that is important for oxygen production, wildlife habitat and food. Additionally, clear waters are generally valued for aesthetic and recreational purposes. Water clarity can vary naturally due to tides, storm events, wind patterns and changes in sunlight.
Why is it important to evaluate water clarity?
When human activities upstream and in the watershed increase soil erosion and nutrient inputs beyond natural conditions, water clarity can be reduced. In addition to limiting the appeal of waters for swimming and other recreational uses, the sediments and nutrients that reduce clarity can also be harmful to aquatic ecosystems by smothering nearshore habitats, burying benthic communities and changing algal growth patterns.
What can water clarity tell us about the condition of water?
Water clarity provides a visual indication of the condition of water. It is affected by physical, chemical and biological factors that are connected to the natural geology and human use of the surrounding watershed. Some waters are naturally turbid. However, waters that receive excessive inputs of nutrients (such as fertilizer runoff) and sediments (for example, from construction runoff) are generally less clear and more turbid.
What causes colouration of lakes?
Most lakes in Haliburton are very clear because they have very low nutrients (primarily Phosphorus), but many factors can contribute to the colour of a lake. Dissolved organic carbon, usually found in lakes whose watershed is rich in peaty soils, is most often responsible for the `tea` colour of some lakes in Haliburton. Some lakes can appear green if they are biologically productive, that is, having higher nutrient levels such as phosphorus.
Comparison of Water Clarity in Kennisis Lake and Little Kennisis Lake.
Water clarity in the Kennisis lakes has been monitored by the KLCOA for over 30 years. The water clarity has decreased in both lakes since the initial Secchi Depth measurements were taken in 1992 as shown in the charts below. Although both lakes still have very good water quality, the data shows that Kennisis Lake generally has better water clarity than Little Kennisis Lake . This is due to a number of factors including the flush rate in the big lake (greater dilution) and the water sources for both lakes.