From Dave Champagne regarding our water quality testing:

As part of lake stewardship activities, volunteers with your lake association have been involved for several years in monitoring water quality. This has included phosphorus sampling with the help of the Ontario Lake Partners program, which provides laboratory assistance. We also monitor the dissolved oxygen in the water. Phosphorus is an important nutrient that plays a role in algae and other plant growth, while dissolved oxygen is an important element to a vigorous fishery.

For at least ten years, we have taken samples in the deepest parts of the lake and measured the oxygen levels, which tend to decrease – especially in deep waters – as the summer progresses. This has been done with fairly simple equipment (“field kits”). For two or three years more recently, we borrowed equipment from the CRCA (Cataraqui Regional Conservation Authority) which can measure water temperature and dissolved oxygen from the water surface to the lake bottom in intervals (for instance, every meter). This profile from top to bottom is valuable additional information for monitoring how the dissolved oxygen varies, not just seasonally, but also with depth.   

Just before the pandemic hit, your lake association purchased its own equipment for such detailed monitoring. Unfortunately, covid travel restrictions have delayed implementing these plans, but we hope this coming year will see progress.

Past results have indicated that late in the season, the oxygen levels in the deeper parts of the lake are inadequate for some fish species. This condition is often related to an overabundance of algae and other vegetation. This condition, in turn, is often related to nutrient levels entering the lake waters – especially phosphorus, as well as nitrogen.

We have been monitoring phosphorus levels for several years. Phosphorus is considered a major contributor to lake water nutrient levels (along with nitrogen), and often implicated in algae blooms and other objectionable conditions. Scientists broadly refer to lakes in three categories of nutrient load, (basically, from very low to too much) with Lower Beverley in the middle. Data that are available through 2020 indicate some gradual improvement (lowering) over time, but not enough to eliminate all undesirable occurrences of blooms, or to bring deep water oxygen levels up to suitable levels for some fish species. At least a portion of nutrient load is generally thought to come from human activity, such as fertilizer applications, faulty septic disposal, and improper shoreline maintenance.

Some of this data are available on the Lake Partners website.

This monitoring helps to characterize water quality, or lake “health,” and relates to many of the recreational uses lakefront owners and others typically enjoy including fishing and swimming

On a related subject, studies are available indicating a relationship between good lake water quality and nearby property values. Better water quality, including improvements in quality, have been found to correspond to higher property values. This could be another incentive for property owners to all do their part in enhancing the quality of our lake environment.