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 %i NEWBORO Township Township of Athens of Rideau LAKE Lakes City of Brockville Township of Front of Yonge Township of %Ð South Frontenac Leeds & the Township of Thousand Stone Mills Islands %i Town of City of Gananoque%Ð Greater Kingston Napanee %Ð %Ð Loyalist Township %v Legend Frontenac Islands Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority Cataraqui River Watershed Newboro Lake %v 0 10 20 km ´ © crca.ca/disclaimer/ 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 Crosby Newboro Newboro Lake Little Loon Lake Lake Elgin Clear Lake Mosquito Lake Indian Lake ´ Devil Benson 0 2 4 km Lake Lake © crca.ca/disclaimer/ Chaffey's Locks 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 Location & Bathymetry The map below shows water depths and the topography of the lake bottom (bathymetry) and direction of water flow. Wa- ter flows into Newboro Lake from Loon Lake and Upper Rideau Lake via the Rideau Canal, and flows out to Indian Lake. ad Ro n NEWBORO LAKEan de Road cc M Legend Sunnysi Bass Bay Boat Launch John Street Outflow _ MISSISSIPPI VALLEY Inflows CONSERVATION AUTHORITY Lake Depth (metres) Water Street 2 2 0-1 Newboro 2 Wright Island _ Mackay Island 2-3 2 Lockstation 2 2 McCaskill 4-5 Island 2 2 2 Crosby Road 6-11 2 Blair Road 2 12-19 20+ Hutchings Road 4 2 G ib s o 2 n 4 Iron Mine Bay 2 Lucky Bay R 2 6 o 6 Preston Stedmans Long Island e a Island Island n 2 a d L 4 2 ow Garrett Road ad 4 e 4 4 M Pritchards 2 Island Millers Bay Rosal Island 4 4 4 4 4 4 2 2 _ Leisure Point Sheep Island 2 Rosal Bay 2 2 Gibson Island 6 4 Stevens Creek d 2 Foley Island a Bobs Island Clear Lake Road o 2 R d Salines 20 12 k a 6 c o Island o R L t 2 6 s n ' i Hungry Bay y o 12 e P 4 f Lewis Bay 4 d f e oa a r 6 R 6 6 y h 6 l u l 6 o Pine Glen Road C s F i 6 2 4 e 4 6 L 4 Stouts 6 6 Lower Bay Stouts 4 Upper Bay _ d oa ´ y R Brad 0 0.5 1 km ad Ro Isthmus Disclaimer: This map is not intended for navigational purposes. Bathymetry Data © Navionics © crca.ca/disclaimer/ 3 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 biodi- versity 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 cal- cium 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.