The French River Stewardship Council (FRSC) has posted some information on their web site about the 2007 algae bloom(s) on the French River. Their account of the activities of the MOE are accurate, however, the account of the dynamics and likely causes of the bloom are inaccurate. I will point out some of the major errors here. Their posting is shown below.
The bloom began in Wolseley Bay in early September and lasted over 2 months. There have been subsequent blooms in 2008 and 2009 that lasted over 3 months. This is more than just a one-time event in October of 2007 caused by high temperatures. Peak algae levels in the North Channel always occur after peaks in Wolseley Bay. This is consistent with the flow of the river coming out of Wolseley Bay and into the North Channel of the French River. The blooms do not occur upstream in the Wolseley River, indicating that they originate in Wolseley Bay.
Nutrient loading in the north channel is NOT the most likely cause of the blooms. Water sampling, as reported by the Ontario Lake Partners Program and summarized here, shows that phosphate levels are lower at the western (downstream) end of the North Channel than at the eastern (upstream) point where water flows into the channel. Furthermore, no significant sources of nutrient loading have been proposed or confirmed to operate in the North Channel. Coupled with the fact that the blooms appear in Wolseley Bay before entering the North Channel, the data indicate that any significant nutrient loading that is causing these events occurs in or upstream of Wolseley Bay.
Click here to learn more about blue-green algae
|
|
|
The initial blooms were noted in the Woseley Bay area of the French River. Pictures of the bloom were taken on October 8th. A more wide spread bloom began in the middle French or what is also called the Bay of the French on October 25th. Once we could confirm its presence and the extent of the bloom it was reported to the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) on October 26th. The MOE conducted samples on the 26th. Initial sample results were completed by the 29th of October and proved that the bloom was blue-green algae. These preliminary results were provided to the Sudbury District Health Unit (SDHU) by the MOE. On October 31st the SDHU issued a 30 day advisory. This advisory was followed up with a door to door canvas of potentially affected areas by the SDHU. Test results to determine the presence and level of toxins were completed by November 15th and were communicated by the MOE to the SDHU and to the French River Stewardship Council (FRSC). The results showed levels of Microcystin-LR at 0.36 ug/L. The Ontario Drinking Water Quality Standards for Microcystin-LR is set at 1.5 ug/L. These results were communicated during the November 29th membership and public meeting of the FRSC. Some follow-up work shows that weather conditions may have contributed to the bloom as record temperatures were recorded on October 5th and again on October 22nd. Both water levels and water temperatures were normal for this period. The cause of the blooms can be most likely attributed to the nutrient loading in the North Channel of the French River. |
Although no significant source of anthropogenic nutrient loading has been identified in the North Channel, there was a well documented source upstream of Wolseley Bay. In the spring of 2007 there was a bypass of the Noelville sewage lagoon and about 300,000 litres of untreated sewage was discharged to the river. In addition, both of the lagoons were drained down in the spring, which resulted in approximately 70,000,000 litres of sewage from the South lagoon being discharged with inadequate retention time. In fact, from May 14-16, 2009, both lagoons were being discharged at the same time. About 1,000,000 litres of sewage passed through the system during that period. Sewage must be held in the lagoon for months to allow for biological processes to properly treat the waste.
Resolution 2010-90; irresponsible governance in the Municipality of French River. March, 2010.
Noelville sewage treatment lagoons. February, 2010.
Proposal for a power plant on the French River. January, 2010
French River Community Fisheries Enhancement Committee. December, 2009
Open letter to the French River Community. October, 2009