Download Kennisis Lake Community Environmental Monitoring Program

Kennisis Lake Community Environmental Monitoring Program
researched and written by Kaitlin Breton-Honeyman,
edited by Cam Douglas
produced for: Kennisis Lake Cottage Owner’s Association, Lake Planning Committee
2006
Table of Contents
Introduction ……………………………………………………………….
1
Nature Watch ……………………………………………………………..
3
Ontario Turtle Tally ………………………………………………………
4
Canadian Lakes Loon Survey …………………………………………….
4
Project Feeder Watch ……………………………………………………..
5
Invading Species Watch ………………………………………………….. 5
March Monitoring Program ………………………………………………
6
Ontario’s Lake Partner Program ………………………………………….
6
Know Your Bugs …………………………………………………………
7
Fish/Creel Surveying ……………………………………………………... 7
Night Lighting ……………………………………………………………. 8
Public Use Lands Monitoring …………………………………………….
8
“Quiet Time” Monitoring ………………………………………………… 8
Conclusion ………………………………………………………………..
9
Brochure for Kennisis Lake ………………………………………………
10
Introduction
The aim of the Kennisis Lake Community Based Environmental Monitoring
Program is to collect key data in order to monitor change in, on, and around the lake.
The monitoring of change is essential to identifying threats to the lake and to track
positive progress of initiatives created by the Plan. It should also help to identify areas
that require further research.
Community monitoring programs are an integral part of environmental
stewardship. They hold powerful possibilities in terms of fostering community education,
empowerment, advocacy and action in both present and future generations. The research
goals of these programs are to supplement and help direct scientific research; at no point
should these projects replace or reduce publicly funded scientific research. Most of the
mini-programs that are proposed for Kennisis Lake are well-established programs that are
run by a wide range of bodies including the Canadian Government, the Government of
Ontario and the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters. In addition to these well
established programs there are some programs that are specifically designed for Kennisis
Lake. Most of these programs also have no financial cost associated with them, although
some of the Bird Studies Canada programs have a small ($35) fee. Many of these
programs come with kits upon registration and include materials such as instructions,
posters and data sheets. The overall community monitoring program for the Lake would
likely be best coordinated by a volunteer who would recruit, train and liaise with groups
of individuals and families would do the on-the-ground monitoring work. The
coordinator would also compile and report the results. There may also be an opportunity
to apply for student employment funding to promote certain aspects of the program, with
particular emphasis on the education and involvement of children 5 to 12 years of age.
This could take the form of a Saturday morning Children’s Ecology Program during July
and August for example.
This project not only has monitoring goals but also has important educational and
community building aspects. A major goal of the project is to get community members
out interacting with each other and their environment. This is critical in order for
1
cottagers to make connections between human activities and the consequences to the lake
ecosystem. The ability of young children to connect with nature early on significantly
influences their attachment to the environment later on in life. The vision of this project
is that it will foster ongoing environmental responsibility.
The following sections provide a brief explanation about each of the different
proposed monitoring programs and provides a weblink to more information. The first
several projects exist elsewhere already and the last four are programs specifically
designed for Kennisis Lake.
Proposed next steps of this project include:
•
Determine which programs to prioritize for the first year of implementation
•
Collect and develop necessary information and monitoring packages for each
program
•
Volunteer recruitment - distribute a brochure to all cottagers (sample attached),
explore possibilities of a poster and information meeting on a long weekend
•
Create sticker/stamp incentive book for incentive for children (sample attached)
•
Knowledge mobilization- at a May 24 or early summer meeting and through a one
page flyer present information from the data collected throughout the year.
•
Develop a 3 question ‘quick and dirty’ feedback form for all program volunteers
to put into a Suggestion Box at year end.
•
Determine future goals and next steps in the program’s development and research
goals based on feedback.
2
NatureWatch
http://www.naturewatch.ca/english/
This program consists of a number of sub-programs and is aimed at community
monitoring or “citizen science”. It is administered by a collection of organizations
including the University of Guelph, EMAN CO and Nature Canada. These programs
include FrogWatch, WormWatch, IceWatch and PlantWatch. Two of these programs are
proposed for immediate implementation; others could be added with sufficient interest
and volunteer resources.
Of these programs Kennisis has chosen the following two programs:
•
FrogWatch
Frogs are particularly interesting because they live between
terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. They are also very sensitive
to pollution and other environmental stresses because of their
skin. This makes these amphibians important indicator species.
An indicator species is a species that can be used to infer the health of the ecosystem
because of their sensitivity and their importance in the food web. Frogs are also very
sensitive to temperature change because its relationship with their hibernation. If it is not
cold enough frogs will not hibernate and they get undernourished because their food
source has been depleted. Therefore there is much concern that as the temperature rises
with global warming vulnerable frog species will not survive the winter to breed again in
the spring.
This program monitors frog calls during the mating season. This gives important
information about species distribution as well as changes in the start times and length of
their breeding seasons. This information is put onto a provincial database.
•
Ice Watch
This program monitors the freeze up and break up of lakes. This is also of
particular importance in light of global warming. It is important for scientists to be able
to know if ice patterns are changing. Information is collected in a central database and
used to determine broad changes in patterns. Includes information and forms.
3
Ontario Turtle Tally
http://www.torontozoo.com/adoptapond/TurtleTally.asp
This program is run through the Toronto Zoo. The
program collects information on turtle
sighting/observations. It compiles all of this
information into a database to determine turtle
species distribution in Ontario.
Volunteers simply need to fill out an online form.
Canadian Lakes Loon Survey
http://www.bsc-eoc.org/cllsmain.html
This is a national program run by Bird Studies Canada. Loons are very sensitive
to the impacts of human activities and therefore serve as an indicator about general lake
health. Loons are fish eater so they also represent the health of the fish species. If there
are no fish there will be no loons.
They are under threat from acid rain,
shoreline development, water
fluctuation, watercraft and nest
predators. Loons also serve as a
symbol of wilderness and captivate old and young alike. This program runs through the
summer:
•
June: How many pairs of loons can be spotted on the lake?
•
July: Newly-hatched chicks?
•
August: How many chicks have survived?
When you sign up for this program ($35) they will send an information kit with forms.
4
Project Feeder Watch
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/
This survey goes on all winter, monitoring the type of birds visiting
bird feeders. This is a long term project that looks at trends in the distribution
and abundance of bird species. The monitoring takes place from November till
early April, making this program ideal for cottagers that reside at Kennisis
Lake year-round or spend time over the winter. The program can also be very
flexible and people can choose how often and how long they want to
participate. There is a kit that provides posters, data sheets, instructions and
feeding guides.
Invading Species Watch
http://www.invadingspecies.com/
indexen.cfm
There are currently over
160 species in the Great Lakes
Basin that are non-indigenous to
the region. To date the effects of
these species is largely unknown.
This program is
coordinated through the Ontario
Federation of Anglers and
Hunters (OFAH). Volunteers
collect water samples and send them to OFAH to be analysed. The samples are analysed
for the presence or absence of larvae of invasive species by the central lab and the cottage
community is notified about which species are present. This will allow the community to
know which invasive species are present in their lake and plan accordingly. It was
through this program that the Kennisis Lake community came to know that it had been
invaded by the invasive and ecologically disruptive spiny water flea.
5
March Monitoring Program
http://www.bsc-eoc.org/mmpmain.html
Wetlands are of great importance in maintaining the water quality of Kennisis and
its watershed as a whole. Threats to wetlands include filling, damming, pollution and
invasive species. Marshes are a particularly diverse wetland type and provide habitat to
many species. This program is run by Bird Studies
Canada. It involves monitoring amphibians and
marsh birds. The program provides volunteers with a
kit that contains instructions, data sheets and a tape
with songs of amphibians and marsh birds. The
amphibian aspect is very straightforward with only a
possible 13 species to identify. The volunteer walks
along a designated route and listens at set locations
for calls. This is done for 3 nights a couple of time a
year to listen for changes in calls. The bird surveying
is more advanced and requires some prior birding skills.
Ontario’s Lake Partner Program
http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/envision/water/lake_partner/
This program is run by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment and is conducted
throughout the province of Ontario. It monitors water-quality on a large scale.
Volunteers collect water samples in May (for lakes on the shield) and send them to the
Dorset Environmental Science Center to be examined. Samples are analysed for total
phosphorus. In addition to water samples, volunteers also make monthly water clarity
observations using a Secchi disk. Kennisis Lake has already been participating in this
program and will continue to do so in upcoming years. On our lake, monitoring is done
at either end of the big lake and at one point on the little lake.
6
Know Your Bugs
http://www.kahshelake.ca/lake_plan_research.htm
This program involves macroinvertebrate
sampling from the lake bottom. The invertebrates
are caught with a net and then coarsely identified.
The species present are representative of the
conditions of the lake. Different species have different
tolerances, for example “worms” are more tolerant than
many other invertebrates. A shift in the species present
can indicate changes in lake condition such as; pollution,
nutrient levels and light availability. In this manner
invertebrates can be used to infer the health of the lake.
This program exists for many different lakes but it would
need to be modified for Kennisis.
Fish/Creel Surveying
This program would be specifically designed for
Kennisis Lake and would have different funding
possibilities. The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
runs a program called the Community Fisheries and
Wildlife Involvement Program (CFWIP), in which
community groups, such as cottage associations, can submit
a funding proposal for a specific project like a fisheries inventory. The program would
aim to get people who are fishing to fill out a form indicating where they fished, for how
long, what species were caught, how many of each species and if the fish were kept or
released. This project will require some proposal writing work and project development.
7
Night Lighting
This program will track progress made by dark skies educational initiatives of the
Plan. The number of lights in a given distance of shoreline will be monitored at different
times of night, for different days of the week and over different parts of the summer (and
the rest of the year, volunteer resources permitting). Several different families would be
needed to monitor the full shoreline of both lakes.
Public Use Lands Monitoring
This program would monitor the use of Blueberry
Islands, Lipsy Bay and Norah’s Island.
Number of visitors, visit duration,
activity types and adherence to
management plan policies would be tracked by volunteers
throughout the busy summer season – especially on weekends.
“Quiet Time” Monitoring
This program will monitor buy-in to the proposed suggested “Quiet Time” on
Sunday mornings. Obvious noise such as power boating, chainsaws, other power tools
and lawnmowers would be noted by volunteers around the lake. Cottagers could be
encouraged to notify the coordinator of this program in an ad-hoc manner of positive
changes in Sunday morning solitude. The objective is not to identify people who break
the recommendation but rather assess the program’s contribution to increased quality of
life.
8
Conclusion
The overall Community Monitoring Program needs to be meaningful and to
function in cottagers’ minds. Therefore this project should continue to evolve to fit the
changing needs of the Lake and its community. This program should also facilitate
community spirit and will hopefully reach out to some who have yet to directly engage
directly in shared lake stewardship. This program could serve as a wonderful example of
the power of citizen science. The result will be a greater understanding and feeling of
responsibility for Kennisis Lake and the information collected from these programs
should also shape future research and policy decisions on Kennisis Lake.
9
Even More Programs…
Want to get more involved?
•
Open to ALL members of the Kennisis
lake community- great opportunities for
children, families and elders
•
It’s up to you how much you’d like to
become involved- we welcome ALL levels
of participation from a once- a-year
measurement to becoming a Kennisis
Lake Program Lead
•
It can be as easy as getting an activity
booklet and following its directions to
start monitoring! (Don’t forget to report
your findings to the Program Leader)
•
You can go to our website ( web address
here) and follow the links to the project
report. Find out more about our different
Kennisis Lake programs
Know Your Bugs
This program involves sampling
macroinvertebrates like worm-like species and bugs from
the bottom of our lake. Then we’ll roughly identify the
invertebrates that are caught with a net. The species we
find can be representative of the conditions of the lake.
(Different species have different tolerances for different
lake conditions. For example, “worms” are more tolerant
than many other invertebrates. A change in the kinds of
species netted over the years can tell us about the on
Kennisis Lake
Community
Environmental
Monitoring
Program
Kennisis Lake Cottage
Association
going health of our lake.
Invading Species Watch
There are currently over 160 species in the Great
Lakes Basin that are non-indigenous to the region. To
date the effects of these species is largely unknown.
Volunteers collect water samples and send them to
OFAH to be analyzed. The samples are analyzed for the
presence or absence of larvae of invasive species and
the cottage community is notified about which species are
present.
Kennisis Lake Cottage
Association
Phone:
Website:
Email:
Go Outside
Get Involved
and let’s
work together to
look after our
lake!
What is our Community
Environmental
Monitoring Program?
These programs provide all cottagers with the
chance to be involved in what is happening
environmentally to our lake.
Our Goals:
•
To monitor changes in our lake
•
To help our young cottagers learn more
about their lake’s ecosystem
•
•
•
To help us all make more connections
between changes in our activities on the
lake with changes in the lake’s ecology
Ontario Turtle Tally
This program is run by the Toronto Zoo. It
collects information on turtle sightings and
observations. All of this information from across the
province is complied into a data base to determine
how turtle species are doing in Ontario. There is also
a part of the program specific to the Kawartha region
called Kawartha Turtle Tally which is run by Trent
University.
Project Feeder Watch
This survey can go on all winter long,
monitoring the type of birds visiting bird feeders. This
is a long term project that looks at trends in the
distribution and abundance of bird species. Monitoring
takes place from November till early April, making this
program ideal for cottagers that reside at Kennisis Lake
Canadian Lakes Loon Survey
year round. The program is also very flexible and
This is a national program run by Bird Studies
cottagers can choose how often and how long they
Canada. Loons are very sensitive to the impacts of
participate. There is a guide kit that provides posters,
To share responsibility for the health of
our lake
human activities and so can serve as indicators about
data sheets, instructions and feeding guides.
To direct our planning for our lake and
any other research we might need in the
future
memories for old and young alike.
our lake’s general health. Loons are also lasting
Fish Surveying
FrogWatch
This program is to be especially designed for
Frogs are so interesting for so many reasons.
Kennisis Lake and will need some volunteer program
They not only live between terrestrial and aquatic
development assistance. The program aims to have
ecosystems but they are also very good indicators of
people who are fishing fill out a form saying where they
pollution and other environmental stresses because
fished, for how long, what species they caught and how
their skin is so sensitive. It’s important for us to know
many of each and if they kept or released the fish.
more about these amazing amphibians.
This program monitors frog calls during their
mating season. This gives us important information
about their species distribution as well as changes in
length or time of their breeding season.