Lake-Monitoring Program The Quebec Volunteer Photo : ABVLACS Photo - - PDF document

The Quebec Volunteer Lake-Monitoring Program

Photo : ABVLACS Photo : CRE Laurentides Photo : ABVLACS Photo : ABVLACS

Presentation Presentation Plan Plan

 Program

Program

  Objectives

Objectives

  Background

Background

  Participants

Participants

  Who

Who does does what what? ?

  Water

Water quality quality monitoring monitoring

  What

What is is analyzed analyzed and and why why? ?

  Why

Why get get involved involved in the VLMP? in the VLMP?

2

 The

The Volunteer Volunteer Lake Lake-

• Monitoring

Monitoring Progam Progam is based on a partnership partnership between between : :

 MDDEP  Participants (lake associations)  Municipalities  Partner organizations and university

researchers

What What is the VLMP? is the VLMP?

3

Objectives of the VLMP Objectives of the VLMP

  Assess

Assess the

the trophic trophic level level of a large

• f a large number

number of

• f lakes

lakes and and monitor monitor their their evolution evolution over time

• ver time

  Identify

Identify lakes

lakes showing showing signs signs of eutrophication

• f eutrophication

  Provide

Provide an an overview

• verview of the state of Quebec
• f the state of Quebec’

’s s recreational recreational lakes lakes

  Raise

Raise awareness awareness, , inform inform, , educate educate and and support

support participants participants

  To

To acquire acquire knowledge knowledge

  To

To better better manage manage their their lake lake

4

Program Background Program Background

  2002

2002-

• 2003:

2003:

  Pilot

Pilot project project

  2004:

2004:

  Open to the public

Open to the public

  Registration is

Registration is limited limited to 50 new to 50 new lakes lakes per per year year

  2008:

2008:

  Increase

Increase in in number number of places to 150 new

• f places to 150 new lakes

lakes per per year year

  2011:

2011:

  A total of 656

A total of 656 lakes lakes are are registered registered in the Program in the Program

  2012

2012:

:

  Our goal is to have 700

Our goal is to have 700 lakes lakes registered registered in the Program in the Program

5

Evolution Evolution of

• f number

number of

• f annual

annual registrations registrations

13 13 61 40 33 46 198 103 107 42

20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200 2 2 2 3 2 4 2 5 2 6 2 7 2 8 2 9 2 1 2 1 1 The VLMP had a total of 656 lakes registered in 2011

6

7

11% 2% 8% 1% 78% Secteur 1 Secteur 2 Secteur 3 Secteur 4 Secteur 5

Distribution of participants Distribution of participants

Associations Municipalities Parks Watershed Management Councils Individuals

Geographic Geographic distribution of participants distribution of participants

259 15 30 45 60 75 90 105 120 135 150

Abitibi-Témiscamingue Bas-Saint-Laurent Capitale-Nationale Centre du Québec Chaudière-Appalache Côte-Nord Estrie Gaspésie-Iles-de-la-Madeleine Lanaudière Laurentides Mauricie Montérégie Nord-du-Québec Outaouais Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean

8

Map Map of

• f lakes

lakes in VLMP in VLMP

9

MDDEP : MDDEP :

  Structures and manages the Program

Structures and manages the Program

  Develops

Develops protocols protocols

  Provides

Provides technical technical and and scientific scientific support for support for volunteers volunteers

  Performs

Performs laboratory laboratory analyses (CEAEQ) analyses (CEAEQ)

  Analyzes

Analyzes, , interprets interprets and and provides provides the the results results

  Ensures

Ensures data data quality quality assurance & control assurance & control

  Develops

Develops a network of local a network of local partners partners

Who Who does does what what? ?

10

The The lakeside lakeside resident resident : :

  Collects

Collects water water transparency transparency data and water data and water samples samples

  Collects

Collects information about the information about the littoral zone littoral zone -

• the

the shallow transition zone between dry land and shallow transition zone between dry land and

• pen water of a lake where sunlight reaches the
• pen water of a lake where sunlight reaches the

bottom bottom

  Pays for

Pays for laboratory laboratory analyses and analyses and equipment equipment

Who Who does does what what? ?

11

Municipalities Municipalities can can participate participate : :

  In

In recruiting recruiting lake lake associations associations

  In

In financing financing participation in the Program participation in the Program

  In data collection

In data collection

  In

In technical technical support support

Who Who does does what what? ?

12

Partners Partners and and university university researchers researchers can can : :

  Ensure

Ensure technical technical and and scientific scientific support support

  Participate

Participate in the training of in the training of volunteers volunteers

  Ensure

Ensure quality quality control in the control in the field field

  Participate

Participate in in protocol protocol development development

  Carry out

Carry out complementary complementary monitoring monitoring

Who Who does does what what? ?

13

Water Water quality quality monitoring monitoring

Photo : ABVLACS

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Variables Variables analyzed analyzed : :

  Total

Total phosphorus phosphorus (trace (trace levels levels) )

 Chlorophyll a   Dissolved

Dissolved organic

• rganic

carbon carbon

Water Water quality quality monitoring monitoring

15

Basic program

 Three water samples (June, July and August) taken over

a minimum of two consecutive years

 Water sampling is resumed after a four-year break

following the last year of sampling

  Example

Example: for a : for a lake lake in in which which water water sampling sampling is is carried carried out in 2011 and

• ut in 2011 and

2012, 2012, sampling sampling will will resume resume in 2017 for in 2017 for two two consecutive consecutive years years, etc. , etc.

  Costs

Costs for a monitoring station: $340 for the first for a monitoring station: $340 for the first year year, , and $288 for the second and $288 for the second year year* *

* * Costs Costs in 2011: in 2011: subject subject to change to change

Water Water quality quality monitoring monitoring

Variable Variable measured measured

  Transparency

Transparency (Secchi (Secchi depth depth) )

  Annual

Annual monitoring monitoring

  Monitoring

Monitoring period period

 

From From the the beginning beginning of

• f June

June until until Thanksgiving Thanksgiving

  Frequency

Frequency of

• f measurements

measurements

 

Every Every two two weeks weeks ( (≈ ≈10 10 measurements measurements) )

  Measuring

Measuring site site

 

Deepest Deepest part of the part of the lake lake

Photo : CRE Laurentides

16

Phosphorus Phosphorus

  TP: total

TP: total phosphorus phosphorus (trace (trace level level) )

  Unit of

Unit of measurement measurement: : microgram microgram per litre ( per litre (µ µg/l) g/l)

  Phosphorus

Phosphorus is a is a nutrient nutrient essential to the essential to the growth growth

• f plants and
• f plants and algae
• algae. It is

. It is found found in in dissolved dissolved and and particulate particulate forms forms in in lakes lakes. .

17

Where Where does does phosphorus phosphorus come come from from? ?

18

Natural sources:

  Bedrock

Bedrock and and soils soils

  Animal

Animal manure manure and and decomposition decomposition of

• f
• rganic
• rganic matter

matter

  Natural habitats (

Natural habitats (forests forests and and wetlands wetlands) )

Where Where does does phosphorus phosphorus come come from from? ( ? (continued continued) )

Anthropogenic Anthropogenic sources ( sources (related related to to human human activity activity) )

 Direct sources

Direct sources

  Natural or

Natural or chemical chemical fertilizers fertilizers

  Domestic

Domestic wastewater wastewater

  Cleaning

Cleaning products products containing containing phosphates phosphates

 Factors

Factors promoting promoting exportation exportation

  Deforestation

Deforestation in the in the lake lake watershed watershed and and riparian riparian zone zone

  Shoreline

Shoreline erosion erosion

  Poorly

Poorly designed designed roadside roadside ditches ditches

19

Why Why measure measure phosphorus phosphorus? ?

  Phosphorus

Phosphorus is is found found in in small small quantities quantities in in lake lake water, relative to the water, relative to the needs needs of plants and

• f plants and algae

algae, , which which is is why why we we say say that that this this element element is the is the limiting limiting factor for factor for their their growth growth. . Therefore Therefore, an , an increase increase in the in the abundance abundance of

• f vegetation

vegetation in a in a lake lake is is directly directly related related to an to an increase increase in in available available phosphorus phosphorus. .

20

C Chlorophyll hlorophyll a a

  Chl

Chl a a : : chlorophyll chlorophyll a a

  Unit of

Unit of measurement measurement: : microgram microgram per litre ( per litre (µ µg/l) g/l)

  Chlorophyll

Chlorophyll is the is the photosynthetic photosynthetic pigment pigment that that gives gives plants, plants, algae algae, and , and cyanobacteria cyanobacteria their their green green colour colour

21

Why Why measure measure chlorophyll chlorophyll? ?

  Indicator

Indicator of the

• f the biomass

biomass ( (amount amount) of ) of microscopic microscopic algae algae in water in water

  Algae

Algae are are at at the the bottom bottom of the

• f the food

food chain chain and and reflect reflect the the potential potential productivity productivity of a

• f a lake

lake

  Nutrient

Nutrient enrichment enrichment High High productivity productivity lake lake eutrophication eutrophication

22

Dissolved Dissolved organic

• rganic carbon

carbon

  DOC:

DOC: dissolved dissolved organic

• rganic carbon

carbon

  Unit of

Unit of measurement measurement: : milligram milligram per litre (mg/l) per litre (mg/l)

  Dissolved

Dissolved organic

• rganic carbon

carbon is is mainly mainly composed composed of

• f

humic humic substances ( substances (wood wood components) and of components) and of partially partially decomposed decomposed plant and animal plant and animal material material

23

Why Why measure measure DOC? DOC?

  DOC is a good

DOC is a good indicator indicator of water

• f water colour

colour

  Highly

Highly coloured waters ( coloured waters (like like strong strong tea tea) have ) have a a reduced reduced transparency transparency compared compared to to uncoloured uncoloured waters waters

  Water

Water colour colour affects water affects water transparency transparency and and must must be be taken taken into into account account to to correctly correctly assess assess Secchi Secchi disk disk readings readings

24

Transparency Transparency

  Unit of

Unit of measurement measurement: : depth depth of

• f visibility

visibility of

• f

Secchi Secchi disk disk in in metres metres

  Transparency

Transparency indicates indicates the the amount amount of light

• f light

penetration penetration into into a a lake

• lake. The

. The clearer clearer the water, the water, the the greater greater the the depth depth at at which which the Secchi the Secchi disk disk is visible. is visible.

  Water

Water transparency transparency decreases decreases when when the the amount amount of

• f suspended

suspended matter matter increases increases

25

Why Why measure measure transparency transparency? ?

  A

A decrease decrease in water in water transparency transparency in a in a lake lake is is

• ften
• ften a

a sign sign of

• f diminishing

diminishing water water quality quality

  Since the quantity of algae increases with

Since the quantity of algae increases with nutrient concentration, there is a relationship nutrient concentration, there is a relationship between water transparency and the between water transparency and the trophic trophic status of a lake status of a lake

26

Complementary Complementary indicators indicators

Current Current : :

Photo : MDDEP Photo : MDDEP Photo : MDDEP Photo : MDDEP

27

 Riparian

Riparian zone zone

 Periphyton

Periphyton

 Aquatic

Aquatic plants plants

 Substratum

Substratum Upcoming Upcoming : :

Why Why use use complementary complementary indicators indicators? ?

  Water

Water quality quality does does not tell not tell it it all all

  Signs

Signs of

• f enrichment

enrichment will will appear appear in the littoral in the littoral zone zone before before water water quality quality deteriorates deteriorates in the in the deepest deepest zone zone

  Littoral zone

Littoral zone indicators indicators are are easily easily observable

• bservable

and and signs signs of eutrophication are more

• f eutrophication are more evident

evident

28

  Offers

Offers a good a good starting starting point to point to get get to know to know your your lake lake

  Enables

Enables you you to monitor the to monitor the evolution evolution of

• f your

your lake lake over the

• ver the years

years

  Encourages

Encourages lakeside lakeside residents residents to to take take action action to to protect protect their their lake lake

  Provides

Provides lake lake associations associations with with a a structured structured and and rigourous rigourous approach approach for for lake lake assessment assessment

Why Why take take part in the VLMP? part in the VLMP?

29

Why Why take take part in the VLMP? part in the VLMP? ( (continued continued) )

30

  Benefit

Benefit from from a a well well-

• established

established program program

  Receive

Receive support support from from experts experts at at a a low low cost cost

 Etc.

Lakeside Lakeside residents residents have have their their say say

“ “ The VLMP gives credibility to what our association

The VLMP gives credibility to what our association says, which is very useful in promoting awareness says, which is very useful in promoting awareness among lakeside residents. Our participation in this among lakeside residents. Our participation in this program is with a long program is with a long-

• term perspective, and

term perspective, and enables us to remain up to date in our knowledge enables us to remain up to date in our knowledge about the state of our lake, and to monitor its about the state of our lake, and to monitor its evolution. evolution.” ”

• Mr. Michel Fleury,
• Mr. Michel Fleury, Association des propri

Association des proprié étaires du taires du lac Sept lac Sept-

• Î

Îles les à à Saint Saint-

• Raymond

Raymond

31

Lakeside Lakeside residents residents have have their their say say

 “

“ The VLMP enables our association to monitor the The VLMP enables our association to monitor the evolution of the state of Brome Lake. This program evolution of the state of Brome Lake. This program brings rigour to our action, and it is reassuring to be brings rigour to our action, and it is reassuring to be guided and accompanied by the experts from the guided and accompanied by the experts from the MDDEP. MDDEP.” ”

• Mr. Pierre Beaudoin,
• Mr. Pierre Beaudoin, “

“Renaissance Lac Brome Renaissance Lac Brome ” ”

32

Lakeside Lakeside residents residents have have their their say say

 “

“Being part of the Voluntary Lake Being part of the Voluntary Lake-

• Monitoring

Monitoring Program gives credibility to the actions of our Program gives credibility to the actions of our

• association. The support offered by the VLMP
• association. The support offered by the VLMP

team, and the results obtained within the framework team, and the results obtained within the framework

• f this program encourages lakeside residents to
• f this program encourages lakeside residents to

keep up their efforts to protect the lake keep up their efforts to protect the lake. .” ”

• Ms. Lise L
• Ms. Lise Lé

épine, pine, Association des propri Association des proprié étaires du taires du lac Bill lac Bill à à Saint Saint-

• Mathieu

Mathieu-

• du

du-

• Parc

Parc

33

Lakeside Lakeside residents residents have have their their say say

34

  “

“We are monitoring the evolution of our We are monitoring the evolution of our recreational lakes in collaboration with lake recreational lakes in collaboration with lake

• associations. It is a community project in our
• associations. It is a community project in our

municipality that brings people together to work municipality that brings people together to work towards a common goal. towards a common goal.” ” The The municipality municipality of Saint

• f Saint-
• Alphonse

Alphonse-

• Rodriguez

Rodriguez

Le r Le ré éseau de surveillance volontaire des seau de surveillance volontaire des lacs lacs

Apr Aprè ès 5 ans d s 5 ans d’ ’op

• pé

ération : ration : l l’ ’heure est au bilan heure est au bilan

THANK YOU!

Photo : Suzanne Caron