Environment
by Paul Ecclestone
Stats (found at the bottom of this page) were last updated June 2023.
Ash Recycling
There is some very exciting and encouraging research going on in regards to this subject. I STRONGLY encourage you to have a look at the info cards below (from Friends of the Muskoka Watershed). There is a wealth of interesting information at their websites. Click the links below.
Ash Muskoka
Friends of Muskoka Watershed
And while on the subject of water quality, I suggest having a look at the District of Muskoka's WaterWeb site as well. Lots of good information. Of particular interest to all of us is a section called Waterfront Living. Check it out!
Muskoka WaterWeb
Friends of Muskoka Watershed
And while on the subject of water quality, I suggest having a look at the District of Muskoka's WaterWeb site as well. Lots of good information. Of particular interest to all of us is a section called Waterfront Living. Check it out!
Muskoka WaterWeb
Click any image below to enlarge.
Bald Eagle sighting!
A bald eagle nest has been sighted by our lake! According to Stephen Scholten (Management Biologist - Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry in Bracebridge) even though they are no longer listed as a threatened species they are still tracked provincially and nests on inland lakes in southern Ontario are still fairly uncommon. Stephen would be interested in hearing about nesting activity if it is used in the future (705-646-5523) or email him at steve.scholten@ontario.ca. Conversely you can report through the Government of Ontario website. It should be noted that this is for animals and plants.
ALERT!
Do you love our loons? Did you know Ontario's loon population is rapidly plummeting? This is partly being brought about by toxins spread in our waters by boats. If you take your boat, canoe, or kayak in and out of different bodies of water, you must clean it well each time you take it from one body of water to another. This is vitally important to the health of all of our lakes and rivers.
Take care of our lake!
This is the result of some thoughtless campers. Please have the courtesy to keep our wonderful island clean and pristine for the next campers. A reminder also to make sure your fire is out. We lost 3 trees because of the carelessness of a couple of campers that led to the fire on the island 4 summers ago.
Zebra Mussels
Zebra Mussels Threaten Northern Lakes from Cottage Life. The article is available here.
Lake Partner Program
As you may or may not know, I have been designated the Lake Partner contact for Echo Lake. As such I am expected to take water quality measurements once a year in the spring, and then water clarity and temperatures measurements hopefully twice a month. I will endeavour to keep you all informed of the current numbers via this page. I have marked the location of the sample point (the deepest part of the lake - 45 feet / 13.7 m) on the map below. A special thanks to Dr. Truscott for providing me with that point courtesy of his fish finder.
Why measure water clarity and phosphorus?
Please click this link if you are interested. :^)
Pin indicates sample location for temperature and water clarity.
| 2023 | Water Temperature (oC) @ 1m | Water Clarity | |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 6 | 11 | 3.4 m (11' 4") | |
| May 29 | 20 | 4.3 m (14' 3") | |
| June 18 | 23 | 2.4 m (8' 0") | |
| July 7 | 25 | 2.9 m (9' 6") | |
| July 19 | 25 | 2.1 m (7' 0") | |
| August 11 | 24 | 2.6 m ( | |
| 2022 | Water Temperature (oC) @ 1m | Water Clarity | |
| May 22 | 18 | 2.9 m (9' 6") | |
| June 24 | n/a | 2.8 m (9' 1") | |
| July 19 | n/a | 3.2 m (10' 5") | |
| August 14 | n/a | 3.3 m (10' 10") | |
| August 26 | n/a | 3.4 m (11' 2") | |
| October 24 | 13 | 2.5 m (8'1")? | |
| 2021 |
Water Temperature (oC) @ 1m | Water Clarity | |
| May 24 | 18 | 3.3 m (11' 0") | |
| June 6 |
22 |
3.3 m (10' 11") |
|
| July 4 | 23 | 2.6 m (8' 6") | |
| September 11 | n/a | 2.7 m (8' 10") | |
| October 20 | 17 | 2.8 m (9' 2") | |
| 2020 | Water Temperature (oC) @ 1m | Water Clarity | |
| May 23 | 17 | 3.1 m (10' 3") | |
| June 4 | 19 | 3.7 m (12' 1") | |
| June 28 | 22 | 2.4 m (8' 0") | |
| September 11 | 18 | 3.2 m (10' 6") | |
| September 20 | 14 | 3.0 m (9' 10") | |
| November 9 | 8 | 2.9 m (9' 7") | |
| 2019 | Water Temperature (oC) @ 1m | Water Clarity | |
| May 16 | 12 | 2.8 m (9' 1") | |
| June 6 |
16 | 4.1 m (13' 5") | |
| June 23 | 23 | 3.6 m (12') | |
| July 22 |
26 | 3.8 m (12' 6") | |
| August 11 |
22 | 3.4 m (11' 2") | |
| August 26 |
24 | 2.8 m (9' 1") | |
| 2018 | Water Temperature (oC) @ 1m | Water Clarity | |
| May 12 | 13 | 3.3 m (10' 8") | |
| June 10 | 22 | 2.6 m (8' 6") | |
| June 17 | 24 | 2.9 m (9' 7") | |
| July 12 | 26 | 3.3 m (10' 11") | |
| July 23 | 25 | 2.5 m (8' 3") | |
| August 19 | 26 | 4.3 m (14' 1") | |
| 2017 | Water Temperature (oC) @ 1m | Water Clarity | |
| May 17 | 16 | 3.1 m (10' 1") | |
| June 3 | 18 | 3.1 m (10' 3") | |
| July 2 | 23 | 2.5 m (8' 1") | |
| July 27 | Not able to attain | 2.8 m (9' 3") | |
| September 21 | Not able to attain | 3.1 m (10' 2") | |
| 2016 | Water Temperature (oC) @ 1m | Water Clarity | |
| May 12 | 15 | 3.3 m (10' 9") | |
| July 6 | 24 | 4.2 m (13' 10") | |
| August 1 | N/A | 4.4 m (14' 7") | |
| September 16 | 16 | 3.9 m (12' 9") | |
| September 25 | 14 | 4.1 m (13' 6") | |
| 2015 | Water Temperature (oC) @ 1m | Water Clarity | |
| May 24 |
17 | 2.3 m (7' 8") |
|
| June 20 |
21 | 2.9 m (9' 6') |
|
| July 6 |
22 | 3.2 m (10' 5") |
|
| August 22 |
24 | 3.1 m (10' 2") |
|
| November 29 | 3 | 2.6 m (8' 6") |
|
| 2014 | Water Temperature (oC) @ 1m | Water Clarity |
|
| June 7 |
21 | 2.7 m (8' 11") |
|
| July 10 |
22 | 3.3 m (10' 8") |
|
| July 27 |
22 | 3.4 m (11' 2") |
|
| August 11 |
24 | 3.6 m (11' 8") |
|
| October 30 |
9 | 2.1 m (7' 0") |
|
| 2013 | Water Temperature (oC) @ 1m | Water Clarity |
|
| May 20 |
18 | 2.4 m (8' 0") |
|
| June 9 |
19 | 3.0 m (9' 11") |
|
| July 3 |
23 | 2.8 m (9' 2") |
|
| August 5 |
22 | 3.1 m (10' 4") |
|
| October 27 |
6 | 1.5m (4' 11") |
|
| 2012 | Water Temperature (oC) @ 1m | Water Clarity |
|
| May 13 |
15 | 4.6 m (15' 2") |
|
| June 10 |
20 | 5.0 m (16' 4") |
|
| July 2 |
23 | 4.1 m (13' 6") |
|
| July 13 |
25 | 3.5 m (11' 5") |
|
| August 15 |
22 | 3.9 m (12' 9") |
|
| September 2 | 22 | 4.6 m (15' 2") |
|
| 2011 | Water Temperature (oC) @ 1m | Water Clarity |
|
| May 21 |
19 | 3.7 m (12' 2") |
|
| June 5 |
20 | 3.4 m (11' 2") |
|
| June 19 |
22 | 2.7 m (8' 9") |
|
| July 7 |
25 | 3.4 m (11' 2") |
|
| July 19 |
26 | 3.5 m (11' 6") |
|
| August 26 |
23 | 3.0 m (10' 0") |
|
| October 9 |
16 | 3.2 m (10' 6") |
|
| 2010 | Water Temperature (oC) @ 1m | Water Clarity |
|
| May 23 |
15 | 3.9 m (12' 9") |
|
| June 13 |
20 | 3.7 m (12' 2") |
|
| July 14 |
27 | 3.5 m (11' 6") |
Ice Watch
| Year | Spring Breakup (Ice completely off) | Fall Freeze-up (Ice over) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | April 17 | December 16 | |
| 2010 | April 1 | December 8 | |
| 2011 | April 26 | December 21 | |
| 2012 | March 24 | December 20 | |
| 2013 | April 23 | November 28 | |
| 2014 | April 28 | November 28 | |
| 2015 | April 22 | January 4! | |
| 2016 | April 19 | December 11 | |
| 2017 | April 15 | December 10 | |
| 2018 | May 4 | November 20 | |
| 2019 | May 2 | December 2 | |
| 2020 | April 16 | December 16 |
|
| 2021 | April 8 | December 28 | |
| 2022 | April 15 | December 13 | |
| 2023 | April 16 | January 5 | |
| Average | April 19 | December 11 |