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Muskoka's residents and District Council care about water quality. This important topic impacts the environment, economy, and desirability of the District as both a place to call home and a destination. In an effort to enhance water quality and resident/visitor experience in Muskoka, the District is undertaking causation studies on lakes considered as vulnerable from a water quality perspective. The pilot causation study will be on Peninsula Lake.
Peninsula Lake is the first of nine lakes listed as vulnerable in Schedule E2 of the Muskoka Official Plan (MOP) to undergo a Causation Study. The lake flows west into Fairy Lake and then into the North Branch of the Muskoka River.
Peninsula Lake experienced a blue-green algae bloom in 2017 which led to the lake being classified as "vulnerable" in Schedule E2 of the MOP. As outlined in the MOP, when a lake is listed as vulnerable, a waterbody-wide causation study should be initiated to determine the causes and relative contributing factors which lead to the identified water quality indicator, as well as to produce recommendations and mitigative actions that can be taken by stakeholders, the District, and others to ensure water quality may be enhanced in the long-term.
In addition to experiencing a blue-green algae bloom, Peninsula Lake is a large lake located in two of Muskoka's area municipalities: the Town of Huntsville and the Township of Lake of Bays, with the potential to impact a wide variety of stakeholders. Peninsula Lake has high development potential, has received modest water quality initiative to date, and has a highly engaged Lake Association. For these reasons, District Council has selected Peninsula Lake to be the subject of the pilot causation study.
The District of Muskoka released a request for proposal to hire an environmental sciences consultant to undertake this project and Hutchinson Environmental Sciences Ltd. (HESL) was the successful proponent.
STAY INFORMED:
To receive project updates and to stay informed of the outcomes specific to the Peninsula Lake Causation Study Project, enter your email address in the "Stay Informed" tool (located at the top right-hand corner of this page on your desktop or scroll down on your mobile device) and click the subscribe button.
Muskoka's residents and District Council care about water quality. This important topic impacts the environment, economy, and desirability of the District as both a place to call home and a destination. In an effort to enhance water quality and resident/visitor experience in Muskoka, the District is undertaking causation studies on lakes considered as vulnerable from a water quality perspective. The pilot causation study will be on Peninsula Lake.
Peninsula Lake is the first of nine lakes listed as vulnerable in Schedule E2 of the Muskoka Official Plan (MOP) to undergo a Causation Study. The lake flows west into Fairy Lake and then into the North Branch of the Muskoka River.
Peninsula Lake experienced a blue-green algae bloom in 2017 which led to the lake being classified as "vulnerable" in Schedule E2 of the MOP. As outlined in the MOP, when a lake is listed as vulnerable, a waterbody-wide causation study should be initiated to determine the causes and relative contributing factors which lead to the identified water quality indicator, as well as to produce recommendations and mitigative actions that can be taken by stakeholders, the District, and others to ensure water quality may be enhanced in the long-term.
In addition to experiencing a blue-green algae bloom, Peninsula Lake is a large lake located in two of Muskoka's area municipalities: the Town of Huntsville and the Township of Lake of Bays, with the potential to impact a wide variety of stakeholders. Peninsula Lake has high development potential, has received modest water quality initiative to date, and has a highly engaged Lake Association. For these reasons, District Council has selected Peninsula Lake to be the subject of the pilot causation study.
The District of Muskoka released a request for proposal to hire an environmental sciences consultant to undertake this project and Hutchinson Environmental Sciences Ltd. (HESL) was the successful proponent.
STAY INFORMED:
To receive project updates and to stay informed of the outcomes specific to the Peninsula Lake Causation Study Project, enter your email address in the "Stay Informed" tool (located at the top right-hand corner of this page on your desktop or scroll down on your mobile device) and click the subscribe button.
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Good Morning,
At the September 24th, 2020 Community and Planning Services Committee Meeting, the Peninsula Lake Algae Bloom Causation Study Final Report was brought forward by Hutchison Environmental Sciences Ltd.
Through examining the available information and field data, the final report concludes that the most likely cause of the 2017 bloom was a combination of climate factors including a period of prolonged high air temperature and low wind speed, creating ideal conditions for cyanobacteria (i.e. Gloeotrichia) dominance and rapid growth.
Recommendations for further action can be viewed on page 3 of the staff report.
This report concludes this study.
On behalf of the District of Muskoka, thank you for your continued interest in lake system health in Muskoka and in particular, the Peninsula Lake Causation Study.
At the September 24th, 2020 Community and Planning Services Committee Meeting, the Peninsula Lake Algae Bloom Causation Study Final Report was brought forward by Hutchison Environmental Sciences Ltd.
Through examining the available information and field data, the final report concludes that the most likely cause of the 2017 bloom was a combination of climate factors including a period of prolonged high air temperature and low wind speed, creating ideal conditions for cyanobacteria (i.e. Gloeotrichia) dominance and rapid growth.
Recommendations for further action can be viewed on page 3 of the staff report.
This report concludes this study.
On behalf of the District of Muskoka, thank you for your continued interest in lake system health in Muskoka and in particular, the Peninsula Lake Causation Study.
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Good Afternoon,
As the causation study on Peninsula Lake is coming to a close, the final report by Hutchinson Environmental Sciences Limited is slated to be brought forward to the District of Muskoka Community and Planning Services Committee for their consideration on September 24th, 2020 at 1pm to recommend the Peninsula Lake Algae Bloom Causation Study Final Report be accepted. The agenda for this meeting is anticipated to be available Friday (i.e. tomorrow) and when posted, can be accessed by clicking the below link under the September electronic meeting file.
If you would like to watch the webcast of the committee meeting, please click the link below. A live broadcast of the meeting will be available in addition to the meeting being posted on the District website if you are unable to watch in real time.
Thank you for your continued interest in the Peninsula Lake Causation Study.
Emily Crowder
Planner, The District Municipality of Muskoka
Good Afternoon,
As the causation study on Peninsula Lake is coming to a close, the final report by Hutchinson Environmental Sciences Limited is slated to be brought forward to the District of Muskoka Community and Planning Services Committee for their consideration on September 24th, 2020 at 1pm to recommend the Peninsula Lake Algae Bloom Causation Study Final Report be accepted. The agenda for this meeting is anticipated to be available Friday (i.e. tomorrow) and when posted, can be accessed by clicking the below link under the September electronic meeting file.
If you would like to watch the webcast of the committee meeting, please click the link below. A live broadcast of the meeting will be available in addition to the meeting being posted on the District website if you are unable to watch in real time.
Peninsula Lake Causation Study has finished this stage
Request for Proposal are now open for contribution until August 27, 2019.
Request for Proposal Closed
Peninsula Lake Causation Study has finished this stage
Request for Proposal are now closed. A consultant will be selected and announced in the coming weeks.
Consultant Selected
Peninsula Lake Causation Study has finished this stage
The successful proponent for this project is Hutchinson Environmental Sciences Limited.
Project Start-Up Meeting
Peninsula Lake Causation Study has finished this stage
The project start-up meeting is scheduled to confirm the timeline and work plan for the project.
Consultation Plan Underway
Peninsula Lake Causation Study has finished this stage
Hutchinson Environmental Sciences Ltd. is currently preparing a thorough consultation plan for the project.
Stakeholder Survey Open for Submissions
Peninsula Lake Causation Study has finished this stage
The stakeholder information survey has launched. The purpose of this survey is to collect information from stakeholder's which will help provide the consultant with information regarding the history of Peninsula Lake with respect to algal blooms and lake uses.
Stakeholder Meeting #1
Peninsula Lake Causation Study has finished this stage
An initial stakeholder meeting will be taking place to communicate the purpose of the study to the public and to obtain information from the public that will help form the consultant's project plan.
Stakeholder Survey Now Closed
Peninsula Lake Causation Study has finished this stage
The stakeholder survey is no longer open for submissions.
Draft Report Submission
Peninsula Lake Causation Study has finished this stage
The consultant has prepared a draft report detailing the findings of the study.
Stakeholder Meeting #2
Peninsula Lake Causation Study has finished this stage
A second stakeholder meeting is scheduled for the consultant to present their draft findings to the public and collect any suggestions/comments that may result in changes to the report if necessary.
Final Report
Peninsula Lake Causation Study is currently at this stage
The final report documents the causes of algae blooms in Peninsula Lake based on all available information, summarizes public consultation and includes recommendations for future action.
