Scugog Lake Stewards

02/07/2025

MORE ON THE SCOURGE OF EURASIAN WATERMILFOIL (EWM) in Lake Scugog. It and other 'weeds' are spurred on by high levels of phosphorus and nitrogen nutrients in the waters of our Lake Scugog running off the land.

The arrows in the below pictures shows the story of the origin of that heavy nutrient flow: Untreated stormwater runoff from an extensive new development behind these houses. You can see not only the massive EWM beds just out from the culvert, but also how the heavy flow pushes growth out from the immediate area of the outlet. Ensuring runoff is captured and treated before it enters the lake is critical. More later!

02/06/2025

SO, WHAT IS THE W**D IN THE LAKE THAT PEOPLE HATE THE MOST? EURASIAN WATER MILFOIL! This invader from Eastern Europe arrived in Lake Scugog in the mid 1960's and found the lake the perfect home offering shallow, nutrient rich water and underlying sediment. It blasted throughout the lake. In the 1970's, 1980's it was very thick in its coverage. Then its natural cycle, or some predator, reduced it to manageable for many years. Then in 2003-2005 it came back with a bang, newly hybridized with our native northern milfoil to become a stronger, thicker, more obnoxious plant than ever! HMMMM! NATURE RETHINK: While we hate that plant, it also saw great fishing and little if any blue green algae blooms. What is right and why? More later.

02/06/2025

THE EXPLOSION OF THE POPULATION OF THE VERY ANNOYING INTRODUCED ASIAN LADY BEETLES IS 'A TWO EDGED SWORD' that tells us that long-term study must accompany any release of a non-native predators to assess the possible negative effects. Lady beetles were introduced many, many years ago in the US to fight aphids in field crops and orchards. They have been very successful and have reduced the use of pesticides; but if they have abundant crop aphids to provide food, they over-proliferate. As homeowners, we hate them because they overwinter in our houses, they are stinky and they bite. The warmer the winter, the more the aphid population increases in the spring. A two edged sword.

Long-term pre-release study of non-native predators is now 100% required. Regarding the phragmites fighting moths, they have been be intensively studied for problems since 2017 by Agriculture and Agrifood Canada and other agencies and found to be very docile and Phragmites Australis specific.

02/03/2025

PRAGMITES GRASS IS A PROFOUND THREAT TO OUR WETLANDS AND SHORELINES and how terrible it is that this non-native, aggressive, strong grass keeps spreading into the vitally important 8,000 acre plus Osler Marsh to the south. A long-term solution may be available to help moderate its growth ... two moths are being introduced in the Toronto and Durham regions that just attack Phragmites Australis. Read the report on Dr. Ian Jones, U. of T.'s presentation at our recent Science Social all about the grass, the moths and where the current releases are taking place: www.scugoglakestewards.com/research/

02/02/2025

ON THIS WORLD WETLAND DAY, WE CELEBRATE HAVING 22.2 SQ. KM OF WORKING WETLANDS IN THE SCUGOG WATERSHED. Wetland soils clean water by acting as a natural filter, trapping and treating sediments and pollutants like nitrogen and phosphorus as well as metals, hydrocarbons, bad bacteria, .. through a physical processes and chemical reactions. But most importantly biological activity in the soil and water break down contaminants, effectively purifying the water before it reaches our lake and rivers. Join Ducks Unlimited in celebrating this day!

Wetlands are powerful multi-taskers, working quietly in the background of our lives to provide critical services that we can't live without. As nature's unsu...

01/30/2025

A WELL PLACED COUNTRY OR FARM POND WITH A HEALTHY SURROUND OF CATTAILS AND NATIVE PLANTS IS PRICELESS! It is an important wetland to be kept and appreciated.

"A common misconception is that wetlands are “wastelands” when viewing the land’s value simply in terms of what can be harvested, developed or extracted. Today, up to 80 acres of wetlands are lost every day in Canada. This leaves landscapes vulnerable to the effects of extreme weather. But if land-use planners and developers knew that the quiet, cattail-lined pond on the outskirts of town was protecting a bridge from being washed out or streets from being flooded (things that would cost millions to repair), they might think twice before draining or filling it in. They might consider it an asset worth protecting." CEO, Ducks Unlimited

01/29/2025

JOHN MACKEY OF PORT PERRY MARINA PLOWING FOR ICE RINKS TODAY! If you want to check for hockey or skating happening there day or night, go to www.scugoglakestewards.com and scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the we**am link to view.

NOTE: Just because the ice is strong enough for a truck off the Marina, it does not mean the ice is thoroughly solid everywhere on the lake. Be safe not sorry! Keep your truck out of the lake!

01/29/2025

THE SCUGOG MARSH, has a huge diversity of animals, birds and fish within its 8,000 to 10,000 acres of wetland that must be protected. But do you know its history, pre-flooding and up to now? Several years ago, local historian, Peter Hvidsten, put together this very readable little booklet. Enjoy! Thanks so much Peter. https://scugoglakestewards.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/scugogmarsh.pdf

01/28/2025

THE SCUGOG MARSH .. just to the south of the Causeway! How incredibly lucky we are to still have this working wetland to supply Lake Scugog continuously with clean water, to act like a sponge slowly letting water out even in the deepest droughts, and providing an 8,000 to 10,000 acre birthplace and refuge for such a wide range of local and migrating birds, fish and animals. Wetlands in Canada are disappearing at an alarming rate. In southern areas, up to 70% of these vital ecosystems have already been destroyed. Every day, we lose 80 acres of wetlands—along with the clean water, wildlife habitat, and flood protection they provide. Celebrate our Scugog wetlands, they are priceless.

01/26/2025

IF YOU HAVE LAND, YOU NEED A POND, A RAIN GARDEN, OR A LOW AREA TO TAKE RUNOFF! Rainwater will then keep your water table high to replenish your trees and grass without your needing to water. It will carry various pollutants, including fertilizers, into the soil where it will be cleaned. Naturalized wet areas and ponds provide shelter and food for birds, dragon flies, frogs ... and more ... that connect us all to nature with the steady march of the seasons. Create your own mini cleansing wetland and help protect our lake and our streams. https://www.canada.ca/en/services/environment/our-environment/nature-based-climate-solutions/wetlands.html

01/25/2025

UNFORTUNATELY THE HUGE VALUE OF WETLANDS IS OFTEN REJECTED. Besides sustaining a huge number of plant and animal species, they can improve water quality especially coming from urban runoff; reduce erosion and flooding; and even moderate the effects of climate change. Not to mention they’re often beautiful places for people to hike, paddle, birdwatch, and otherwise enjoy the outdoors. When looked at from all they could do for Lake Scugog, the value of the creation of new wetlands becomes very clear and even quantifiable. Thank you www.wetlands-initiative.org for this great illustration.

01/21/2025

WHY NOT SIGN UP TO HEAR ABOUT A POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO
CANADA'S #1 INVASIVE PLANT, PHRAGMITES GRASS! If you live in the country, phragmites is coming for your shoreline, your pond, your wetland. DID YOU KNOW THAT THIS PLANT HAS ROOTS THAT ARE SO STRONG IT CAN BREAK UP ASPHALT AT THE EDGES OF ROADS. Sign up at [email protected] to hear about possible predators now being tested to help control this nasty invader and we will send you the Zoom invitation for this meeting to be held on Tuesday, January 28, 2025 from 7 to 8:15 or so.

01/21/2025

WHY NOT SIGN UP TO HEAR ABOUT A POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO
CANADA'S #1 INVASIVE PLANT, PHRAGMITES GRASS! If you live in the country, phragmites is coming for your shoreline, your pond, your wetland. DID YOU KNOW THAT THIS PLANT HAS ROOTS THAT ARE SO STRONG, THEY CAN BREAK UP ASPHALT AT THE EDGES OF ROADS. Sign up at [email protected] to hear about possible predators now being tested to help control this nasty invader and we will send you the Zoom invitation for this meeting to be held on Tuesday, January 25, 2025 from 7 to 8:15 or so.

01/10/2025

WHAT TO DO? WHAT TO DO? Canada is losing wetland habitat to the #1 invasive plant in Canada ... Phragmites grass. This is the gigantic, plumed grass that lines the roadways. It is also invading our shorelines and wetlands.
Unfortunately regular methodologies for fighting this invader CANNOT BE USED near water bodies. Therefore, Ducks Unlimited is sponsoring a study on the use of bio-controls that slowly will reduce its numbers ... much like the successful bio-control beetle used to control purple loosestrife in the past. Why not ATTEND OUR PLANNED ZOOM SCIENCE SOCIAL to hear about the tests that are going on in south Durham by researchers from U. of T. Get a link to this session on TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2025 7pm to 8:30pm by sending a note to [email protected]

01/09/2025

BE CAREFUL OUT THERE! There are many spots of open water on Lake Scugog even though the weather has been exceptionally cold. There will also be many areas of thin ice for various reasons including: strong water currents, underlying springs, warming from plant decomposition, dock bubblers, and even warm water coming from illegal grey water outlets. Be safe! (Picture taken today from Fralick's Beach.)

01/08/2025

ARE YOU A SCIENCE PERSON WITH SOME TIME TO DEVOTE TO THE HEALTH OF LAKE SCUGOG? We are looking for a Board of Directors person with a science background to join our Research Team. We believe you will find our program interesting and fun. Check our work, partnerships and publications about Lake Scugog see: www.scugoglakestewards.com/research/ Contact us at: [email protected]. Picture: some of our team inspecting lake conditions on one of our pontoon boat tours in 2024.

12/31/2024

THE LAKE STEWARDS WISH YOU A HAPPY, HEALTHY, FUN BUT VERY ICE SAFE 2025! Please, do not take risks with ice safety. Know your ice conditions on this big and varied lake which is characterized 100% by the word 'entropy' used in the title of the regularly posted Entropy Outdoors YouTube Videos! (Entropy means a state of disorder, randomness, or uncertainty.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCeVayS9TNA&t=73s

12/29/2024

DID YOU KNOW THAT YOU CAN CHECK ON VISUAL SKATING CONDITIONS OFF THE P.P. MARINA AT ANY TIME VIA OUR WE**AM?
Just go to www.scugoglakestewards.com front page and scroll to the bottom to find the link. Too bad it is so dismal today, but it will improve. HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!