Simcoe-Muskoka Health unit monitors water quality and issues advisories for public beaches, drinking water and blue green algae.

Blue-Green Algae If you spot a possible bloom, report it immediately to the Pollution Hotline online, or at 866-663-8477.

The health of our lakes is affected by rising temperatures, changes to rainfall, phosphorus leaching into the water from septic systems and lack of trees and/or aquatic vegetation between cottages, septic systems and the water. Excess phosphorus promotes algae blooms, reduces available oxygen for fish populations and in certain cases (blue green algae) results in toxins that are harmful to all life forms. Over the past few years, we have noticed higher accumulations of pollen and algae on our lakes. Now is the time to take action to ensure the ongoing health of our lakes. How? Monitor lakes - Through Lake Partner program (below) Contact MOECP for sampling if you notice unusual algae amounts or types. (Matt McNeice | Senior Environmental Officer | 705-733-4387 | matt.mcneice@ontario.ca) Check septic systems for obvious failures (cracks, leaks, bubbling areas from weeping tile). Recommended setbacks for septic systems is 30 m, so consider this when installing a new system. Further to this, keep landscaping minimal and encourage a natural shoreline to act as a buffer between septic systems and the lake.

The Lake Partner program is a volunteer-based water-quality monitoring program for Ontario's inland lakes. The Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks coordinates this program from the Dorset Environmental Science Centre (DESC) in partnership with the Federation of Ontario Cottagers' Associations. Each year, more than 600 volunteers monitor water quality in almost 550 inland lakes at over 800 sampling locations. We have volunteers monitoring all 4 Lakes - Thanks to Larry Green (Tasso), Jeff Peeters (Blue), Doug Markle (Toad) and John Kearns (Camp) for your commitment to our environment.

June 24, 2020 Matt from MOECP (Matt McNeice | Senior Environmental Officer | 705-733-4387 | matt.mcneice@ontario.ca) sampled the water in Blue Lakes and Tasso lakes to identify an algae or pollen situation.

The Blue lake sample contained the following:

Small amounts of the following types of algae were observed in the sample, at levels considered too low to contribute to a bloom:

· blue-green algae (specifically Anabaena (aka Dolichospermum))

· cryptophytes (specifically Rhodomonas)

· diatoms (specifically Navicula)

· dinoflagellates (specifically Ceratium)

· golden-brown algae (specifically colonial Chrysophyceae, Dinobryon)

· green algae (specifically Cosmarium)

Observations included particles that were not identified as algae: debris, Protozoa.

The Tasso Lake sample I took the day prior contained the following:

Small amounts of the following types of algae were observed in the sample, at levels considered too low to contribute to a bloom:

· blue-green algae (specifically Snowella, Aphanocapsa, Merismopedia)

· cryptophytes (specifically Rhodomonas)

· diatoms (specifically Tabellaria, Coscinodiscus)

· golden-brown algae (specifically Dinobryon)

Observations included particles that were not identified as algae: debris, pine pollen, bacteria,

Zooplankton, Protozoa

Lake Health

TASSO, TOAD, CAMP AND BLUE LAKES ASSOCIATION