Phosphorus and the Kawartha Lakes - Lakefield Herald

Appendix G Future Considerations
The follow ing are three areas for future study:
Empirical Modeling of Phosphorus in the Kawarthas
Building a lake model is an excellent way of establishing where information/research is
needed concerning phosphorus dynamics in the Kawartha Lakes watershed. Contact a
modeling professor to see if she/he has any interested students. A comprehensive model
needs to incorporate the many components essential to lake nutrient cycling (i.e.
residence time, settling velocity, thermocline depth, etc.).
Detailed Study of Pigeon Lake
Located approximately halfway along the lake chain, Pigeon Lake is an excellent lake to
study intensively for the following reasons:
Oliver research centre is already located there. (Potential phosphorus projects for
undergraduate students)
Has two distinct rivers entering the north ends for comparative study of nutrient loads
from southern cropland catchments (Pigeon river) and northern forested catchments
(Nogies creek).
Can test the effect of Bobcaygeon (urbanization, sewage treatment etc.).
Quantify the potential for sediments to release phosphorus
Quantify the potential for zebra mussels, fish and other invertebrates to excrete
phosphorus
Quantify the P changes in Pigeon Lake through time
There is increasing evidence that Zebra Mussels are not an answer to phosphorus
reductions but rather a short-term reduction in phosphorus concentrations that only
compounds future challenges in phosphorus regulation (Hecky et al., 2004). Dr. Eric
Sager is already working on Macrophyte relationships with phosphorus concentrations; a
companion (unified) study with Zebra Mussels would be beneficial as it is highly
probable that they are the key players in phosphorus cycling in the Kawartha Lakes.
Upstream/Downstream Assessments
This is a variant of a traditional control/impact experimental design and very simple to
employ. Create six monitoring stations (sampling sites), two above the phosphorus
source in question and four at successive intervals downstream (10, 50, 100, 200meters).
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