Sydenham Lake State of the Lake 2016 June 20, 2017 Funding Provided by: Source Protection Municipal Implementation Fund Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate 1 Acknowledgements The Sydenham Lake Plan Project has benefitted from the support and contributions of many groups and individuals including: volunteers from the Sydenham Lake Association; and staff from South Frontenac Township and County of Frontenac; Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority, Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, and the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change. Sydenham Lake Steering Committee Sydenham Lake Association • Bill Peairs, Chair • Jeff Peck • Graeme Watson • Mark Schjerning • Jack Fox Cataraqui Conservation Authority • Tom Beaubiah • Holly Evans South Frontenac Township • Lindsay Mills Frontenac County • Joe Gallivan Facilitators: French Planning Services Inc. • Gord Rodgers • Randy French • Brent MacDougall (Watersheds Canada) Agency Partners • Victor Castro ‐ Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change • Tom Beaubiah, Holly Evans – Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority • Monique Charette ‐ Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry Funding Partners • Thanks to the County of Frontenac and South Frontenac Township and to the Cataraqui Conservation Authority for their facilitation of funding sources. • Thanks to the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change for funding through the Source Protection Municipal Implementation Fund. • Thanks to Jennie Kapusta, South Frontenac Township for map production. • Thanks to the Sydenham Lake Association for its contribution to funding of this project. Other Contributors • Helen Parfitt, Commodore, Sydenham Lake Canoe Club • Wilma Kenny and Dave Borrowman for contributions to the History Section How to get involved or find more information: All of the background information that is referenced in this document is available at www.sydenhamlake.ca. If you have additional information that you would like to share, please contact any of the following: Sydenham Lake Association www.sydenhamlake.ca. i Table of Contents 1. Welcome to the State of the Lake ...................................................................................................... 1 2. About the People ‐ Values and Issues ................................................................................................. 2 2.1.Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 2 2.2.Values .......................................................................................................................................... 2 2.3.Issues and Actions .......................................................................................................................... 2 3. Lake & Watershed Characteristics ...................................................................................................... 5 3.1.Name and Location ........................................................................................................................ 5 3.2.atershed Characteristics ................................................................................................................ 5 3.3Lake Characteristics ........................................................................................................................ 8 4. History ............................................................................................................................................. 15 5. Climate, Climate Change and Lake Impacts ...................................................................................... 23 5.1.Description of Local Climate ........................................................................................................ 23 5.2.Climate Change ............................................................................................................................ 26 5.3.Lake Impacts ................................................................................................................................ 26 6. Source Water Protection .................................................................................................................. 28 6.1.Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 28 6.2.Identified Drinking Water Threats ‐ Sydenham Intake Protection Zones ................................... 29 6.3.Source Protection Plan Policies ................................................................................................... 30 7. Geology and Soils ............................................................................................................................. 35 7.1.Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 35 7.2.Economic Geology ....................................................................................................................... 36 7.3.Soils ........................................................................................................................................... 38 8. Water Levels .................................................................................................................................... 40 8.1.Water Level Management ........................................................................................................... 40 8.2.Potential Threats to Water LeveL ................................................................................................ 41 9. Water Quality................................................................................................................................... 43 9.1.Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 43 9.2.Measuring Water Quality ............................................................................................................ 43 9.3.Historical Overview: Lake Trophic Status .................................................................................... 44 9.4.Today’s Water Quality Conditions ............................................................................................... 45 9.5.Highlights of Water Quality ......................................................................................................... 55 10. Natural Environment ........................................................................................................................ 57 10.1.Introduction............................................................................................................................. 57 10.2.Frontenac Arch Biosphere Reserve ........................................................................................... 59 10.3.Forest Cover ............................................................................................................................... 60 10.4.Significant Natural Areas and Features ..................................................................................... 60 10.5.Wetlands .................................................................................................................................... 62 10.6.Shoreline and Littoral Zone ....................................................................................................... 66 10.7.Wildlife ....................................................................................................................................... 66 10.8.Species at Risk ............................................................................................................................ 69 10.9.Invasive and Nuisance Species .................................................................................................. 70 11. Fishery ............................................................................................................................................. 75 11.1.Past Management and Events ................................................................................................... 75 11.2.Status of Current Fish Community ............................................................................................ 77 12. Land Use .......................................................................................................................................... 86 12.1.Current Land Use in the Watershed .......................................................................................... 86 12.2.Current Shoreline Land Use ....................................................................................................... 86 12.3.Potential for Development ........................................................................................................ 91 12.4.Land Use Control ....................................................................................................................... 92 13. Social and Recreation ....................................................................................................................... 95 14. Recommendations for Lake Plan Actions ....................................................................................... 101 References ................................................................................................................................................. 103 ii 1. Welcome to the State of the Lake