Newboro Lake Lake Fact Sheets

lake fact sheet ( 2017 ) Newboro Lake Lake Fact Sheets

The Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority (CRCA) has provided environmental leader- ship and service to local communities since 1964. It is one of 36 watershed-based agencies within Ontario dedicated to the conservation and protection of the natural environment through a variety of management tools including land ownership, education, monitoring, reporting and regulation.

To learn more about the lakes in our region, the CRCA and partners collect samples, take measurements and compare this information against established standards to identify any significant changes or areas of concern. This Lake Fact Sheet focuses on key parameters to assess the health and resilience of Newboro Lake with respect to nutrient loading, invasive species colonization and acidification.

Township of Elizabethtown-Kitley

NEWBORO Township Township of Athens of Rideau LAKE Lakes City of Brockville

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1 Lake Fact Sheets Newboro lake

Newboro Lake is located in the upper reaches of the Cataraqui River watershed at the village of Newboro. Nearby lakes include Devil Lake, Loon Lake, Upper Rideau Lake, Mos- quito Lake, Benson Lake, Indian Lake, Clear Lake and Little Lake.

Legend Upper Westport Rideau Boat Launches Lake

Watercourse

Waterbodies

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Newboro Lake

Little Loon Lake Lake Elgin Clear Lake Mosquito Lake

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County: United Counties of Leeds Grenville Municipality: Township of Rideau Lakes

Watershed: Cataraqui River Coordinates: 44.630 Lat., -76.116 Long. Average Depth (m): 3.20 Volume (m3 x106 ): 57.0

Surface Area (ha) Max. Depth (m) Shore Length (km) 1846 23.8 90.0 2 3

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Stevens Creek Stevens L r B _ _ Lake Depth (metres) Legend The map below shows water depths and the topography of the lake bottom (bathymetry) and direction of water flow. Wa flow. of water and direction (bathymetry) the lake bottom of and the topography water depths below shows The map ter flows into Newboro Lake from Loon Lake and Upper Rideau Lake via the Rideau Canal, and flows out to Indian Lake. out to Indian and flows the Rideau Canal, Lake via Upper Rideau Loon Lake and Lake from into Newboro ter flows Lake Characteristics

Newboro Lake is a natural, shallow, warmwater lake enhanced by the construction of a dam located on the Canadian Shield. Like the majority of lakes within the Cataraqui Re- gion, Newboro Lake mixes in the spring and fall due to lake water warming and cooling. During mixing, nutrients are cycled throughout the lake twice per year and may appear cloudy with a brown or green colour from algae that use the cycled nutrients. Later in the spring, summer, and winter, water temperatures vary by depth (thermal stratification) so multiple fish species are found at different depth and temperature ranges. Refer to the Cataraqui Region Lake Assessment Report for more detail.

Water levels are regulated through the Rideau Canal System by Parks Canada at Chaffey’s Locks. With the building of locks, Newboro Lake was raised by about 1.8 meters1. Indian, Mosquito, Loon, Clear and Benson Lakes are also managed at this lock station. Water levels are maintained within one-meter fluctuation based on spring/summer and fall/winter varia- tions in rainfall, snowmelt, and rate of evaporation.

Lake Features

Important natural features: Provincially Significant Wetland, Area of Natural & Scientific Interest

Surrounding Land Use: Woodlands, Wetlands, Agriculture, Residential (seasonal and permanent)

Primary Water level control: Parks Canada (Rideau Canal System)

Water Access: Off Lock Road in the village of Newboro (parking fee required)

4 Lake Characteristics Vulnerability

Information about Newboro Lake has been used to identify whether it is vulnerable to a few common stressors to lake water quality and biodiversity. Stressors include excess nutrient build up (eutrophication), the introduction of invasive species, and pH levels that are too low (acidification). Refer to the scoring card below that grades these risks for New- boro Lake.

Eutrophication: The process of increasing nutrient levels in a waterbody. It results in excess algal growth, lower oxygen levels, and reduced biodiversity. For more information refer to the Cataraqui Region Lake Assessment Report. Important natural features: Provincially Significant Wetland, Low: Low nutrient levels (oligotrophic), minimal algae present Area of Natural & Scientific Interest Medium: Moderate nutrient levels (mesotrophic), algae present Surrounding Land Use: High: High nutrient levels (eutrophic), algae bloom presence likely Woodlands, Wetlands, Agriculture, Residential (seasonal and permanent) Invasive Species: Species that are not native to an environment, but are introduced, establish, and reproduce in a new system. For more information about invaders Primary Water level control: in the region, refer to Appendix 5 of the Cataraqui Region Lake Assessment Report. Parks Canada (Rideau Canal System) Absent: No aquatic invaders reported Water Access: Present: Aquatic invaders established Off Lock Road in the village of Newboro (parking fee required)

5 Vulnerability

Acidification: The process of lake water becoming more acidic, resulting in reduced biodiversity and increased water clarity.

Low: pH 6.5 to >7.5, not impacted, neutral or alkaline conditions Medium: pH 6 to 6.5, sensitive but acceptable range High: pH <6 hyper-sensitive, threatened or critically impaired

Newboro Lake Vulnerability Scores

Eutrophication Invasive Species Acidification MEDIUM PRESENT NO DATA

• Based on an average total phosphorus concentration of 0.012 mg/L, nutrient levels are moderate providing for a productive lake with some risk of nuisance algae bloom growth • Zebra mussels have been reported by Parks Canada1 Vulnerability Water quality

The water quality of a lake is affected by many factors including temperature, pH, oxygen, nutrients (trophic status), and transparency (Secchi disk depth). Classifying lakes by these factors can provide a better understanding of lake health. For more information, refer to the Cataraqui Region Lake Assessment Report.

Water Quality Summary Thermal Regime: Warmwater Total Phosphorus (mg/l): 0.0122 Dissolved Oxygen (mg/l): No data pH: No data Trophic Status: Mesotrophic2 Average Calcium(mg/l): 26.34 Average Secchi Depth (m): 5.363

Newboro Lake is on the border between mesotrophic and oligotrophic conditions, as the average Secchi disk depth indicates low nutrients due to a high degree of clarity, while the average total phosphorus concentrations infer higher nutrient concentrations are cycling within the lake5. As shown on the total phosphorus graph, concentrations are variable, but calculated to be stable. Further monitoring will determine whether an increasing trend de- velops since some recent measurements have been elevated.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (1989) has predicted that low pH (acidic) conditions are unlikely based on a high buffering capacity due to high carbonate and calcium concentrations within the lake. This means that the wide range of species found in Newboro Lake will be protected from the effects of acidification. Average calcium is crucial for the formation of shells and skeletons. Newboro Lake has sufficient calcium for healthy growth and development and for the successful reproduction of invasive mussels. Zebra mussels have been reported to be within the Rideau Canal System, including Newboro Lake. 7

Aquatic Diversity

Newboro Lake hosts a large diversity of warm and coolwater fish species. There are two fish sanctuaries on the lake located at Old Iron Mine Bay and The Bog with no fishing per- mitted6. Fish species previously caught on Newboro Lake are listed below. There are also a variety of minnows supplementing the food chain along the shallow shoreline areas that have not been listed. common fish families species present

North American Brown Bullhead Catfish Yellow Bullhead Pikes Northern Pike Yellow Bullhead

Herring Alewife

Sunfishes & Largemouth Bass Basses Smallmouth Bass Pumpkinseed Bluegill Rock Bass Black Crappie

Carps & Common Carp Minnows Bluntnose Minnow Blackchin Shiner Blacknose Shiner Common Shiner

Perches & Yellow Perch Darters Walleye

8 Aquatic Diversity

Aquatic Diversity fisheries management zone active fish stocking 6

18 NONE

There are some species at risk in the region that will benefit from good lake care practices. At the time of reporting, the following species at risk have been observed within the last ten years7:

• Blanding’s Turtle • Eastern Musk Turtle • Northern Map Turtle • Snapping Turtle • Bridle Shiner

Additional species may also be present, but have yet to be reported. It is important to conserve shoreline vegetation and woody debris, and reduce pollution to maintain healthy aquatic communities.

For more information, follow the links below:

Fish ON-Line Guide to Eating Ontario Fish Reptile and Amphibian Atlas Species at Risk by Region Zone 18 Fishing Regulations

9 natural altered How to protect your lake

Maintain a natural shoreline: Handle and dispose of chemicals Create a buffer zone by planting native spe- properly: Fuel motor craft responsibly to cies to control erosion, increase habitat for avoid spills and bring extra chemicals and wildlife, maintain cooler water temperatures storage containers to a hazardous waste (shade), protect from flooding and improve depots. water quality. Manage animal waste and grazing Contact Watersheds Canada to learn more areas: Avoid overgrazing as it can expose about their Natural Edge shoreline natural- soil and increase erosion. Remove animal ization program. waste to avoid excess nutrients.

Build low impact-docks: Maintain your septic system: Increase habitat and reduce sediment Septic systems can last 15-25 years if disruption. Examples of low impact docks properly maintained; pump out your septic include cantilever, floating or post styles. tank every 3-5 years. Keep septic systems far from the shore to reduce risk of water pollu- Reduce runoff from pollutants: tion and limit damage. Use phosphate-free, biodegradable soaps and detergents at a distance from the lake Prevent the spread of invasive and limit or eliminate fertilizers to decrease nutrient input. Limit the amount of hard sur- species: Clean, drain, dry and disinfect any faces to control runoff of pollutants entering watercraft prior to entering the lake. Do not the lake. release live fishing bait or aquarium fish. 10 Become a citizen scientist: Citizen science is a great way to learn and engage with nature. Volunteers provide valuable research that allow scientists to track environmental changes to a greater extent than if they were to do it alone. Learn how to get involved by visiting the sites below. Invading Species Watch Program www.invadingspecies.com Lake Partner Program www.desc.ca Loon Watch www.birdscanada.org Nature Watch (frog, plant, ice, worm) www.naturewatch.ca Ontario Reptile & Amphibian Atlas www.ontarionature.org Water Rangers www.waterrangers.ca altered To report large blooms of algae: Leeds, Grenville & Lanark Health Unit 613-345-5685 Blue-Green Algae Bloom Sighting (MOECC) 1-800-268-6060

To report invasive species: EDD Mapping System App www.eddmaps.org/ontario Invasive Species Hotline (OFAH) 1-800-563-7711 or [email protected]

For more information: Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority 1-877-956-2722 or 613-546-4228 Newboro & Loon Lake Association www.facebook.com/newboro Water Level Questions (Parks Canada) 1-888-773-8888 or [email protected]

1 Parks Canada – Rideau Canal System 2 Average total phosphorus data provided by the Lake Partner Program and PWQO 3 Average Secchi Disk depth provided by the Lake Partner Program and Parks Canada (2009-2015) 4 Average total phosphorus concentration provided by the Lake Partner Program (2009-2015) 5 Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (1989) Acid Sensitivity of Lake is Ontario 6 Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry Fisheries Data (Fish ON-line and personal communication, 2016) 7 Ontario Nature Reptile and Amphibian Atlas and Fisheries and Oceans Canada 11 1641 Perth Rd. Glenburnie ON K0H 1S0 613-546-4228 | [email protected] | crca.ca

Published: 03/17 Published: