February 2012

 Submitted by the FRSC Communications Committee

Living or cottaging on the French River or Lake Nipissing makes the issue of water levels and how they are managed a matter of continuing interest.  In this three part article there will be an attempt to explain some of the history of management efforts and where we are today with trying to meet current management objectives.  That is, despite how Mother Nature continually tries to surprise and upset the managers.

The Lake Nipissing – French River watershed is very large at some 19,000 square KM.  It encompasses hundreds and hundreds of lakes, rivers and streams.  When the last glacier that covered all of this area retreated some 10,000 years ago we were left with this beautiful landscape that we all appreciate and enjoy.

The largest lake in the watershed is Lake Nipissing at 850 Sq.KM.  It is the fourth largest lake in Ontario.  The watershed includes the Lake Temagami and Lake Wanapitei areas.  Most of the watershed is north and a little east of Lake Nipissing and most of the waters in the watershed area drain into Lake Nipissing and then down the French River.

The foregoing is background in an attempt to outline the complexities that arise when man decides that we should control water levels on parts of the upper watershed, on the main water body and finally no controls on the bottom end of the drainage which is the French River.

A number of bodies of water that drain into Lake Nipissing have control mechanisms, most do not. Some smaller dams on those water bodies are there simply to hold stable water levels on those waters.  Some of the larger dams are producing power.  There are presently efforts being made at strategic times to co-ordinate the operations of the different dams in order to preserve water for hydro power making or for flood control.

Because so many water bodies are not controlled, the efforts to achieve a good result are not always successful.  Finally, Mother Nature and weather predictions that are sketchy at best, can really throw a monkey wrench into man-made planning.  Efforts will continue however, utilizing best known practices.

During the late 1800’s and early 1900’s forestry operations were extensively being carried out around Lake Nipissing, particularly North and West of the Lake.  The only practical way of moving the logs being harvested considerable distances was down the rivers and into the lake.  For many years there was a large saw mill operation in Cache Bay which is just west of Sturgeon Falls. That mill processed thousands and thousands of the logs that were brought to the lake for many, many years.

However, there was always a problem by early or mid-summer in floating the logs into the bay as Lake Nipissing water levels would naturally go down with summer dryness and cause difficulties in shallow Cache Bay.  So, at some point in the early 1900’s, it was decided that the Government should build dams on the Upper French River in order to facilitate the large lumber interests in getting their logs to the Cache Bay mill.  The dams would provide a stable water level all season on Lake Nipissing.  A desirable level was established and subsequently, has always been referred to as the level for navigation.  The goal every spring was to have the lake at that level by May 15^th.

Over the years many structures such as docks, boathouses and cottages have been established along the lake shores to take advantage of the navigation level.  Boating was also facilitated by the stable water levels.  This was especially true for the larger deep draft vessels such as the successive Chief Commanda’s that sailed the lake from end to end.

When the dams were built on the Upper French River the Government and their engineers apparently gave no thought to what the impacts would be on the Lower French River ecology and the rivers fish population.  It seemed that the only consideration was what the effects would be on the lake and would they be beneficial.

As a result, serious flooding occurred in the 1940’s and 1950’s, along with observable harmful impacts on the river fisheries, brought forth an outcry from the French River Tourist Operators and others about how the dams were being managed.  A long arduous effort began to try and change some of the French River dam operational criteria and mandates.  In the next segment of this story there will be more history presented related to this issue, and what has been achieved to date.

Please watch for Part II in the next edition brought to you by the French River Stewardship Council.

Environmental:

Continue to monitor phosphate hot spots on the French River and determine causes and possible remedies.

Fisheries:
Continue with spawning bed rehabilitation and dam removals.

Tree Planting:
Continue to plant buffer zone around Municipal Landfill site with community partners.

Communications
Continue to improve communication and environmental education to the general public through media and public meetings.

Shore Line Restoration:
Start a new program of shoreline restoration using flower bed plants to filter runoff to the French River.

Community Partnerships:
Continue to foster partnerships with local high school École Secondaire de la Rivière-des-Français, MOE, MNR, Municipality, Businesses and other Environmental Stewardships.

October 2011

Why Spawning Beds Must Be Clean

Walleye (pickerel) usually spawn in rivers, but will also spawn in lakes if the spawning beds are suitable.  A spawning bed is an area, which is usually in shallow water with a gravel bottom and swift moving water.  The swift moving water is required to keep silt from building up and to provide oxygen to the eggs.

The male walleye usually arrive first when water temperature is slightly above freezing followed by the females which arrive later.  The female will select or create a hollow in the gravel and deposit her eggs on the gravel, where they will stick to the rocks. When the female is finished she will move away and the male will pass over the eggs and deposit the sperm necessary to fertilize the eggs.  Once the eggs are fertilized they will hatch in about 26 days. They must get food (zooplankton) within 3-5 days or die.  The food may drift down to them in the current or the young walleye (fry) must drift down stream to find food.

Problem:
The problem many spawning beds are facing today is that the waters of the lakes and streams have an over abundance of phosphates and nitrates. This allows an abundant growth of algae which coats the gravel preventing the eggs from sticking to the rocks. This results in the eggs being washed away by the swift current and not being fertilized.  The French River Stewardship Council volunteers and supporters cleaned three spawning beds this year.  The pictures below show the before and after of cleaning one of the rocks at the spawning site located at Meshaw Falls.

Solution:
Meshaw Falls, Lower Sturgeon River and Bell Island  spawning areas were cleaned by removing debris, re-locating rocks and gravel and  using high pressure hoses to remove algae from the rocks, thus allowing spawning fish access to clean spawning beds.  The cleaned locations will be monitored in the spring of 2012 and if required, further cleaning will be done after the spawn. The Lower Sturgeon River, just west of the Turenne Rd. bridge required the removal of two dams to allow spawning fish access to the spawning areas further up the river.  A barge and excavator were used and the debris was trucked to the Municipal land fill site. The beavers have since returned and started to build another dam.  The FRSC has requested the local trapper to remove the beavers.  This area will also be monitored in the spring of 2012.  The FRSC directors were grateful and would like to thank the property owner, Mr. Scott Campbell who allowed the volunteers, the excavator and dump truck access to his property in order to remove the dams and debris. Presently, nine spawning areas requiring cleaning have been identified on the French River and the FRSC executive has ascertained we require approximately $15,000.00 over the next two years to complete our project.  This portion of our fisheries project could not have been started without the following contributors and volunteers.

Economic Partners,

Sudbury

East/West Nippising Mr. Neil Fox, General Manager was at the Lower Sturgeon River and worked with our volunteers moving rocks and manned the pressure hose. Economic Partners contributed $5,000.00 towards the fisheries project.

Caisse Populaire d’Alban Ltée Mr. Stephan Methot, General Manager, was at Meshaw Falls cleaning rocks with the pressure hose, and a contribution of $1,000.00 was donated to the fisheries project.

Caisse Populaire de Noëlville Ltee Mr. Jean-Serge Pharand, General Manager, attended our AGM in July and a cheque was received for $1,000.00 for the fisheries project.

Ministry of Natural Resouces
Mr. Eric Cobb, Acting Area Supervisor advised us of a $3,900.00 contribution to the fisheries project.

Volunteers
Claude Albert, Ron Aubrey, Carl Bisaillon, Joe Dippong, Ron Garbutt, Jim Hanham, Mac Heddle, Ron Ireland, Richard Martel, Ron Raymond, Moe Rancourt, Jim Rook, Don Vernon and Peter Williams.

November 2011

Community Partnership for the Environment

The French River Stewardship Council held its fourth annual “Plant a Tree for the Environment ” day. This year we are proud to say that once again the community supported the event. The directors would like to thank the following supporters and volunteers for their help:

Vale :

Members of the Environmental Group at Vale. They have provided the French River Stewardship Council with seedling trees for the last four years. This year they provided us with 600 White Spruce and 600 Red Pine seedlings.

Municipality of French River:

Public Works who cleared a buffer zone in front of the municipal landfill site for the planting of the trees. They also provided the students with tools and material.

École Secondaire de la Rivière-des-Français:

The students and teachers, who with great enthusiasm planted all the trees in less than 2 hours. The students then policed the area around the landfill site picking up blown debris. Their concern for the environment is important for future generations. Their willingness to work for the betterment of the community is an inspiration to all.

Caisse Populaire de Noëlville Ltée:

Jean-Serge Pharand, General Manager for volunteering to assist the students in the planting of the trees. He was quick to roll up his sleeves and go to work.

Our annual Membership Meeting will be on Sunday July 24th, 2011 at 1:00 PM at the Alban Community Center

The public are welcome to join and learn about our activities

The agenda includes a guest speaker as well as the election of officers for the next year

Fishing on the French River

Your Stewardship Council is in the process of assuming the activities and responsibilities of the French River Community Fisheries Advisory Committee (FRCFA)

The FRCFA was formed in 1992 by combining a couple of other groups that were working to understand and enhance the status of fishing on the river.

For the last 18 years, the FRCFA has been very active and working diligently with the Ministry of Natural Resources, the various lodges on the river, cottagers, and many local residents in this endeavour.

In 1993 a plan was built to support the natural stocking of the river specifically with Pickerel, but also improving the breeding habitat for Pike and Bass.  This included the implementation of restricted harvesting of fish stocks through implementation and  management of the slot size and reduction of creel limits

The next step of this plan is underway this fall and as you are reading this, a netting program is being implemented by the MNR in all parts of the river to enable the team to determine the level of success of their plan.

For this purpose, the river is divided into 4 sections as follows:

Eastern is from the Dokis Reserve to the Cedar Rapids

Eighteen Mile Bay is from Cedar Rapids to Meeshaw Falls, including Ranger Bay

Central is the main channel, the south side of Eighteen Mile Island to Recollet Falls, including Dry Pine Bay

Western is from Recollet Falls to the Delta

The complete details and results of this program will be presented in the spring of 2010.

Also at that time, your Stewardship council will form a project committee to continue this work and ensure that we not only maintain but continue to improve the fishing experience on our river.

GOOD FISHING AND QUALITY WATER GO TOGETHER

We all owe the folks of the FRCFA a great THANK YOU for their efforts of the last 18 years or so.  When they began this program, fish stocks in the river were in serious decline and we were about to lose our reputation as a primary tourist destination.

A series of studies, both informal and scientific were conducted to enable the team to better understand the then current stocking level in all part of the river.  Individual surveys were done with tourists, residents, commercial businesses and the results compiled to provide a solid data base for the committee.

The plan called for continued monitoring of the fish population to ensure goals were being met.  While the results differed on different parts of the river, all sections showed significant improvement over the test period.

As the program continues its journey to its planned conclusion, we need to make sure we keep up the good work and bring the fish habitat back to all sections of the river to ensure they breed and multiply in a natural environment

Under the guidance of the MNR and the Stewardship Council, the new committee with be charged with identifying all existing and potential spawning sites, ensuring the sites are clean and being used in the spawning season, and implementing whatever enhancements are required to expand the natural reproduction cycles.

The committee will call on our members for assistance and direction.  Funding will be an important part of the program as we will need resources to implement this work.

We will continue to bring you more information in the next edition of the French River Today

The annual meeting of your Stewardship Council was held on July 26^that the Alban Community Center

 President Joe Dippong delivered his review of the major projects from last year. 

• We are continuing to inform the general public of our activities through our local newspaper “The French River Today” we also send update information to our members prior to the annual meeting.
•  In our water quality sampling project we are completing our 3^rd year and final year.
•  From previous year sampling we identified sewage lagoons as a potential source of water quality issues and so began a lagoon study and project.
• We completed our second year of our tree planting project and involved our local schools this year.
• We have been successful in our request for input into dam design for the upper French river dam rebuilds. With our input water quality with respect to oxygen carrying ability was included in the design.
• We have formally been requested by the French River Municipal council to provide our input on water quality issues. We will act as an advisory group with a steadfast focus on water quality.
• We are now a ‘not for profit organization.

 Our plans for 2009 and 2010 include important projects which are:

1. In our advisory role with the Municipality, we plan to pursue next steps and to request government funding to continue our Lagoon project. We feel this is the most important item on our agenda at this time
2. We plan to do some clean up of Pickerel spawning beds. We will be asking for volunteers to help with this and other projects. 
3. Many residents have expressed concerns about the Pickerel fishing declines and so we plan to review with the MNR their policy for the management of Pickerel in the French River. 
4. Testing of water quality will continue in targeted areas and may be expanded where appropriate. 
5. We are planning a membership drive and communications project with grass roots support. We hope to have active members from all areas of the river.
6. The tree planting activities will continue in 2010 and we again plan to involve local schools. 
7.  We are aggressively pursuing government funding for our various projects.

 Greg Mason from the eastern Georgian Bay stewardship Council presented information on the learning’s and challenges of that group with respect to Blue Green Algae and the Sturgeon Bay area of Pointe au Baril.

 Extensive studies and analysis of the water and surrounding areas have determined the levels of phosphorous are excessive and reducing phosphate input is the best way to prevent similar situations, as a result all residents are encouraged to use phosphate free soaps, laundry and dishwasher detergents. This one single action by everyone will greatly reduce nutrient loading.

 In the member’s portion of the meeting, the Board of Directors for the year 2009/2010 was confirmed as: 

Joe Dippong         Ron Garbutt          Rose  Heddle                  Mac Heddle            Dean Wenborne     

Norman Stoner    Terry Young          Mike Palmer              Garrie Roman      Jim Rook

Carl Bisaillon      Richard Martel

 As a volunteer organization, we need active members – please visit our web site for information on how you can join us as a member or as a volunteer to help in our efforts to maintain and improve the long term quality of our water

The French River Needs Our Help 

            Water quality problems are increasing worldwide due to the pressures from population growth and development, and our area is no exception.  Increased pollution levels resulting from human activities are causing serious problems in many waterways, from toxic algae blooms to the decimation of local fish populations.  Phosphorous loading is recognized as a key indicator of water quality and is an area that is being addressed by the French River Stewardship Council.   The targets for phosphorous loading established by our research are;    

• Less than 10 micrograms per litre (?g/L) indicates natural nutrient levels.
• 10 to 15 ?g/L is nutrient enrichment of concern.
• Over 15 ?g/L is an indication of significant water quality problems. 

 After reviewing our second year of detailed sampling results, the French River Stewardship Council is raising the level of concern with respect to the deterioration of water quality. The nutrient loading, as measured by phosphorous concentration, has reached unacceptable levels with 5 of our 14 test sites averaging above 15 ?g/L for the 2008 sampling season and only 3 of 75 tests returning levels less than 10 ?g/L.  If left unchecked the results are very clear; 

• A decrease in water clarity with an increase in weed growth particularly in sheltered and bay areas.  More and more areas will become weed choked. Invasive species such as milfoil will flourish.

• The shoreline and rocks become covered in slippery sediment and algae.  The sedimentation on rocks will have devastating effects on Pickerel and eventually cause a decline in sport fish.  Pickerel, Pike and Bass will be replaced by Carp, Suckers and Catfish species.

• More serious blue green algae events will occur and eventually last the entire summer season. Once this occurs vacationers will leave and property value will plummet. 

These events are already occurring in nearby waters and they are very real. The areas that are of main concern are; 

• The operation of the various Lagoon facilities. These are the lagoons the handle the septic waters from our communities.  We are reviewing our findings with the Clean Water Agency who are responsible for lagoon operation. We have concerns with respect to their operating procedures.  In addition, we are requesting a large Provincial Government grant of approximately $130,000 to develop better water cleaning processes at all lagoon sites.
• The issue of sustainable development and human impact. The things that seemed okay 40 years ago no longer are acceptable. We are working with local municipalities to ensure that the problem is understood and that they become part of the solution.  Environmental concerns must be central in the decision making process.
• We are making a major effort to educate the local public with respect to the real problems we now face.  Simple efforts by individuals, such as using phosphate free detergents and maintaining natural shorelines, can have a significant positive impact.

NEWS FOR YOU 

Your Stewardship Council has completed the second year of our sampling project. We expanded the sampling sites from 12 to 14 as the 2007 results showed two areas of the river that needed a more detailed analysis. The 2008 results are expected shortly and will be posted on our website and sent via mail to all members in our year end membership packages. 

The 2009 program will add an additional 2 sites from the upper French which will be taken by the folks of the Upper French River Cottagers Association. These additions will mean 16 sampling points for the 2009 season. After year end 2009 we will have sufficient and broad enough data to reduce sample points to a few very targeted areas of the river and to provide a technical report of our findings. Sampling and research work to-date shows that our concerns about nutrient loading, specifically phosphates are warranted.  

We are continuing our work towards becoming a not for profit corporation and plan to update our members during our 2009 membership meeting. We plan to hold a public meeting immediately following our members meeting so that we can update the general public on all our activities and future plans. This meeting is currently scheduled for July of 2009. 

Your Stewardship Council is pleased to advise we have joined the Ontario Federation of Cottagers Association 

FOCA is a large and very active group of about 500 cottage associations and, most importantly to us, also has about 300 water stewardship groups as members

We now have access to this membership to share findings and best practices as we work together to improve the quality of water in the French River watershed 

FOCA is well recognized as a professional organization representing the thousands of property owners in Ontario’s vacation areas and has a strong voice at all levels of government. 

Please see some information about management of your septic system elsewhere in this edition 

As always, we need members!!!  If you have not joined us yet – be heard and stay informed!!

As winter approaches and our water turns to ice, your Stewardship Council is busy preparing for some activities in 2009.

 Water testing was completed at 14 locations on the French River in 2008 and samples were taken from early in April to mid October – at least 5 times from most locations, some as many as 9 times.

 A more comprehensive testing program was also undertaken for 2 locations in Ranger Bay as we recognized the heavier population density and felt we should try and get more data from this area.

 As we receive the results of this program, we expect to have a better understanding of our current water quality levels, can compare this year’s findings with previous data, and begin to see some trends in the changes, specifically in the level of phosphates in the water.

 At least one more year of similar testing will be needed to establish solid base line measurements throughout our system.

 Over the winter we are busy planning the following:

 Tree planting rogram with the local schools for late May or early June 2009.

 More comprehensive testing program for the river system for 2009

 Education program about the various logos used to identify products used in your home and garden

 Proceeding with Incorporation as a charitable organization – targeting to have this in place for the 2009

 Plans for the 2009 Public Meeting – will be held in July!!