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Lake Water Remediation
Algae Problems
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| Algae Blooms on Beach |
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| Photo by Brian MacGillivray |
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| Photo by Matthew Santi |
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| Photo by Brian MacGillivray |
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Since 2006, the Simon Lake Community Stewardship Group has been working closely with
the City of Greater Sudbury to find a solution to the lake's persistent algae blooms over the summer months. These algae blooms
have created foul odors and prevented use of the lake for swimming, fishing, boating, and other normal summer activities.
The excessive growth of algae has been linked to high levels of phosphorus in Simon Lake. Indeed, the phosphorus levels measured
in Simon Lake (and nearby McCharles and Mud Lakes) last summer were among the highest ever recorded in over 20 years of monitoring.
Many circumstances are believed to have contributed to this, including a poor spring freshet over the last several
years due to low snowfall and spring rains and higher than normal summer temperatures. Historically, the high phosphorus levels
can be linked to discharges from the City's 3 wastewater treatment plants along Lower Junction Creek (at Kelly Lake, in Lively
and in Naughton). It is also believed that much of the phosphorus is being released from the organic material at the bottom
of Simon Lake.
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Approaches to Remediation Barley Straw Bales -- Barely Makes A Difference
Use of Straw Bundles fails to Slow Algae Blooms
by Perry Sarvas
People driving by Simon Lake in the summer of 2007 might
have noticed a string of evenly spaced white plastic jugs floating on the surfce near the north shore of the lake. The
jugs marked the locations of barley straw bundles placed in the lake in May of 2007 by the Simon Lake Community Stwardship
Group. We estimate that we placed over 500 bundles in the lake, stretching from the Reserve Road bridge to the beach
area of Simon Lake Park.
Why barley straw? Studies have shown barley straw to be effective in controlling algae
in small ponds. How it works is not completely understood but, as the straw rots, it releases compounds that appear
to slow the growth of algae. It is simple and environmentally-friendly, and the stewardship group felt it was worth
a try on Simon Lake.
It was a labour-intensive community effort. Over 300 bales of barley straw were
purchased, along with a long roll of plastic mesh. The mesh was cut and carefully sewn into bags, and these bags were
stuffed with straw to form bundles. These bundles were then carefully placed in shallow water along Simon Lake's north
shoreline, along with bricks to weigh them down, and the jugs to mark their locations.
Unfortunately, it quickly became clear that the barley straw was not going to work.
By June, the algae had returned, and by July it had completely engulfed the straw bundles.
Despite this, the Simon Lake barley straw project did have some important successes.
It brought many people together and strengthened our fledgling Stewardship group. It caught people's attention (it even
got some media coverage) which led drectly to new members joining our group. And, it got the City's attention.
We demonstrated that, as a community, we were willing to roll up our sleeves and do something for our lake. This
led to meetings with City officials and, ultimately, to the City's decision to install coherent water resonators this summer.
Many community members got involved in the Simon Lake barley straw project. The
Simon Lake Community Stewardship Group would like to thank everyone who supported this project through donations of money
and materials. A special thank-you to the folks who volunteered their time and energy to help with the barley bundle
installation in the Spring and clean-up in September!
Coherent Water Resonator -- EOS 2000 System
| Coherent Water Resonator installed on Simon Lake. |
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| Photo by Matthew Santi |
The City of Greater Sudbury installed
2 coherent water resonators in Simon Lake in 2008. These devices are designed to help reduce the algae growth, which
has been particularly strong in our lake during the summers of 2006 and 2007. Over last winter, City staff worked with the Simon Lake Community Stewardship Group to find
a solution to these persistent algal blooms. The City evaluated a number of potential methods to control algae growth,
including alum, artificial circulation, aeration, and dredging. Most were considered ineffective, environmentally risky,
or cost prohibitive. It was
decided to try a new technology called a coherent water resonator. The device is a solar powered instrument which operates
by sending a very low level of electromagnetic waves through the lake by means of an antenna suspended just below the water
surface. Case studies in ponds, lakes and sewage lagoons throughout North America and Europe showed a sustained increase
in oxygen levels in the water body where these resonators were installed. This has helped to prevent the release of
phosphorous from the bottom of the lake, depriving the algae of a vital nutrient needed for growth. The City has used
a resonator, with encouraging results, in some of its sewage sludge ponds. Coherent water resonators are licensed in
Canada by WCI Envirnmental Solutions Inc. under the name EOS 2000 technology. Besides the resonator, the EOS 2000 technology includes the release of a microbial supplement.
It is hoped the actions of these aerobic microbes will reduce the amount of organic material at the bottom of Simon Lake.
WCI Environmental Solutions Inc. asserts the EOS 2000 system is environmentally friendly with no risks to water quality, fish
and fauna. Other advantages of the EOS 2000 over other options are: - lake bottom sediment is not stirred up
- no ongoing maintenance costs
- the unit/s can operate throughout winter months
On 23 April 2008, Councilor Jacques Barbeau presented a
motion to City Council for use of 2 resonators in Simon Lake. This motion was passed and the resonators were installed
in late May. The microbes were released in Simon Lake on June 25. Over the summer, City staff routinely monitored
Simon Lake for dissolved oxygen levels, phosphorous levels, water clarity and microbial activity. Unfortunately, conditions that summer did not permit a
true test of the effectiveness of the EOS 2000 system. Simon Lake did not have much algae growth this summer; however,
neither did most Sudbury-area lakes. So, it was difficult to guage the impact of the resonators. Presently, the
City is assessing its monitoring results, but we will have to be a bit more patient before we know whether the coherent water
resonator have made a difference. Regardless
of the outcome, the Simon Lake Community Stewardship Group is grateful to the City for this bold initiative designed to help
the community of Naughton. In particular, we extend our thanks to councilor Jacques Barbeau, Mayor John Rodriguez and
the rest of City Council, as well as City staff members Stephen Monet, Lana Haslam and Bob Langarini. UPDATE
TO COHERENT WATER RESONATORS: - In mid-2008 City Council approved the use of 2 resonators
in Simon Lake on a trial basis, with the option of backing out of the contract if the resonators were not effective;
- In September of 2009, Simon Lake representatives met with the City before the pre-agreed
trial period deadline, to suggest we opt out of the contract as there was no measurable improvement to lake water quality
in Simon Lake (most likely because we are on such an open river system);
- In October 2009, the City made arrangements with WCI to keep the resonators (which were installed in Minnow Lake)
for one more year, at which time the City would keep one resonator and send the second resonator back to the company.
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The normal problems associated with ice fishing are related to garbage, huts, etc., being left behind on the ice.
The Ministry of Natural Resources monitors and regulates ice fishing, and the relative rules and regulations will be found
by clicking on the picture to the right:
| Feature Logo Submission for March/April. |
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| by Student at Lively District Secondary School |
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