Ramsey Lake Subwatershed Study and Master Plan – Phase 2 Report

On May 1, 2020   /   Blue Green Algae, Climate Change, Concerns, Drinking Water, Heavy Metals, Junction Creek, Natural Heritage, Ramsey Lake, Septic Systems, Stormwater, Studies, VRS Comments, Water Quality, Watershed Studies  

If the design objective is to meet and provide peak flow control for storm events, it is necessary to plan beyond the 1:100-year peak flow, and instead plan for the new norm of a 1:1000-year flood event.  Planning for the appropriate peak flow is crucial to building climate resilience and meeting the demand over the full lifecycle of the infrastructure.  If an inadequate peak flow formula is used it could result in significant additional costs to the City if it has to repair or tear up failing infrastructure to rebuild and increase capacity before it has reached its end-life.  “Even a 1000-year return period has a 5% risk of being equalled or exceeded in a 50-year period.”

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Official Plan Review – Phase 2

On June 17, 2019   /   Blue Green Algae, Climate Change, Drinking Water, Natural Heritage, Septic Systems, Stormwater, VRS Comments, Waste Water, Water Quality  

The extremes of climate change will affect the operation of critical infrastructure such as water and wastewater treatment plants, sewers, the electrical grid, public transport and roads that are sensitive to temperature and weather thresholds.  Beyond these thresholds, infrastructure may have reduced capacity or may not function at all.

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Water & Wastewater Master Plan – VRS Comments

On May 25, 2018   /   Concerns, Drinking Water, Stormwater, Waste Water, Water Quality  

The importance of creating, maintaining and protecting natural infrastructure such as wetlands, swales and vegetated buffers cannot be overstated when it comes to flood management and filtering stormwater runoff. Policies supporting this concept would go a long way towards reducing some of the stormwater infiltration into the wastewater collection systems. 

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Lower Vermilion Source Water Quality Monitoring Project – Final Report, by VRS

On March 31, 2016   /   Blue Green Algae, Concerns, Drinking Water, Heavy Metals, Mining, Sediment, Studies, VRS Comments, VRS Water Quality Study, Water Quality  

This is the result of a 3 year water quality sampling project on the Lower Vermilion River, within the Vermilion River Watershed.

A big thank you to the Ontario Trillium Foundation for funding this important Project!!

Another big thank you goes out to KGHM International Ltd. for their generous donation and for Conservation Sudbury’s in-kind contribution towards the extension of our Project into the 3rd year!!

 

 

 

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Sudbury Lake Water Quality Model Report

On March 25, 2014   /   Blue Green Algae, Concerns, Drinking Water, Water Quality  
Blue-green algae on Ella Lake - November 2012

Blue-green algae on Ella Lake in November of 2012

Excerpt:  We have had an opportunity to review this Report in detail, and feel that it falls far short of its purpose, which is to provide technical guidance for the development and redevelopment of unserviced shoreline lots in support of Official Plan policies that are protective of water quality, technically sound, defensible, and which meet the intent of the Provincial Water Quality Objectives (PWQO) and Provincial Policy Statement.

To view the Lake Water Quality Model Report in a PDF document click here.

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Lively/Walden Wastewater Treatment System – Part II Order Request

On November 22, 2013   /   Blue Green Algae, Concerns, Drinking Water, VRS Comments, Waste Water, Water Quality  
Algae1

Algae on Simon Lake – Lively, Ontario

The City of Greater Sudbury is proposing to decommission the Lively Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) and upgrade the Walden WWTP.  Vermilion River Stewardship (VRS) has requested tertiary treatment, which is a third means of effluent treatment, to improve water quality on the lower Junction Creek, Simon Lake, McCharles Lake, and the lower Vermilion River.  VRS is making a request to the Minister of Environment to issue a Part II Order to elevate this proposal to an Individual Environmental Assessment.  See attached letter – Click to Download.

SimonLake12Sep09 (16)-Web

Park Beach on Simon Lake

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Blue-green Algae Spotted on Ella Lake, City of Greater Sudbury – February 2013

On February 27, 2013   /   Blue Green Algae, Concerns, Drinking Water  

Blue-green is not just a summer problem.  A bloom was reported on 15 February 2013 and has been confirmed.  This bloom is reported to have persisted since November of 2012.

Media coverage over blue green algae being confirmed on Ella Lake:

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Blue Green Algae Outbreak on the Vermilion River

On October 12, 2011   /   Blue Green Algae, Concerns, Drinking Water, Media, Water Quality  

On September 30, 2011, it was reported that green blobs of something that looked suspiciously like Cyanobacteria, or more commonly known as Blue Green Algae, was seen floating on the Vermilion River.  A few days later the Ministry of Environment confirmed our suspicions.    In an attempt to find the source of this outbreak the writer visited Centennial Park to observe the conditions on the northern arm of the Vermilion, and that water looked quite clear, however, upon visiting Mud Lake, Kelly Lake, Simon Lake and McCharles Lakes, the Blue Green Algae was also observed in Simon and McCharles Lakes.   MOE has subsequently confirmed the outbreak on McCharles, however, based on a picture sent to the officer, he chose not to take a sample on Simon Lake – and it was the Friday before the long weekend after all.   However, it was reported that a dead goose was found on the public beach next to the sighting, and there were also reports of dead suckers found floating on Simon.   It is not surprising to hear that residents further downstream, on Wabagishik Lake, are also reporting the presence of this blue green scum there as well.  MOE has not been called out to take a sample there, and so it is not confirmed.

Blue Green Algae blooms, can be highly toxic to people, pets and wildlife, so precautions must be taken.  To learn more about how this will affect those people using river water for drinking, swimming, washing, or even eating fish from the river, then you will find some excellent information at Sudbury and District Health Department, and/or Health Canada.    Ministry of the Environment also has an excellent pamphlet Blue-green Algae – Information for Cottagers and Home Owners to round out your knowledge on this subject.

You can also check out this excellent slide presentation made by Charles Ramcharan, of Laurentian University’s Fresh Water Ecology Unit, at our Stewardship meeting held on Tuesday, 11 October 2011.

Charles Ramcharan’s Presentation on Cyanobacteria
(click on “Expand” below to view):

Cyanobacteria - Blue Green Algae Bloom found on Vermilion River

Cyanobacteria - Blue Green Algae - Found on Simon Lake

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