Lake Simcoe Science Archives - The Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority

A curb on the side of a street after a large rainfall with water flowing down it, and grass on the other side.

Low Impact Development (LID) A Recipe for Urban Sustainability

Lake Simcoe Science / Lake Simcoe Conservation Authority

Lake Simcoe Science Low Impact Development (LID) A Recipe for Urban Sustainability In previous issues of our Science newsletter, we’ve explored the problems associated with urban stormwater run-off, a major contributor of pollutants entering into our rivers and ultimately into Lake Simcoe itself. Urban stormwater run-off is responsible for around 20 per cent of the […]

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Three large piles of different types of winter salt.

Sodium Chloride

Lake Simcoe Science / Lake Simcoe Conservation Authority

Lake Simcoe Science Sodium Chloride (Winter Salt) In this issue, we take a look at an emerging environmental concern in the Lake Simcoe watershed and beyond. Winter salt or sodium chloride is one of the more common de-icers used on roads, highways, parking lots, driveways and sidewalks. It is a relatively cheap and effective way

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An aerial photo of Lake Simcoe. The Lake is surrounded by forests and urban neighbourhoods.

Phosphorus Cycle

Lake Simcoe Science / Lake Simcoe Conservation Authority

Lake Simcoe Science The Phosphorus Cycle A View From Inside the Lake Excess phosphorus is the single biggest lake management problem around the world and Lake Simcoe is no exception. In fact, the reduction of phosphorus levels is a key objective behind the provincial government’s Lake Simcoe Protection Act and Plan. With phosphorus being such

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A cluser of zebra mussles sitting on top of water.

Invasive Mussels

Lake Simcoe Science / Lake Simcoe Conservation Authority

Lake Simcoe Science Invasive Mussels Uninvited Lake Dwellers In the past 200 years close to 150 species of foreign plants and animals have established themselves in the Great Lakes Region. The first foreign species introduced in Lake Simcoe was the common carp, which escaped from a Newmarket fish pond in 1896. Since then, 15 foreign

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A hand holding a round goby fish, an invasive species.

A Fish Tale

Lake Simcoe Science / Lake Simcoe Conservation Authority

Lake Simcoe Science A Fish Tale Fish are Important Measures of Ecosystem Health It is widely understood that biodiversity is a measure of ecosystem health. An ecosystem rich in biodiversity is more resilient to stressors and changes, provides better ecosystem services such as air and water purification, and provides more resources for recreational, cultural or

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Stream Flow: A Tale of Two Rivers

Lake Simcoe Science / Lake Simcoe Conservation Authority

Stream Flow: A Tale of Two Rivers From Rain Fall to River Flow Water moves in natural cycles. It falls from the sky, it filters through the ground, it travels across the land through rivers to larger bodies of water, it evaporates, and then the process starts all over again. As part of the natural

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A close-up photo of water pouring into hands.

Groundwater Recharge

Lake Simcoe Science / Lake Simcoe Conservation Authority

Lake Simcoe Science Groundwater Recharge Do you know where your tap water comes from? If you live in the Lake Simcoe watershed, chances are it comes from underground. Approximately 65 per cent of people within the Lake Simcoe watershed rely, at least in part, on groundwater for their source of drinking water. The same cannot

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Benthic Macroinvertebrates

Lake Simcoe Science / Lake Simcoe Conservation Authority

Lake Simcoe Science Benthic Macoinvertebrates Our Creature Feature Bugs are vital to our own existence; they ensure we have fruits and vegetables to eat by pollinating flowers. A world without bugs would be a world without humans. Aquatic insects found in the rivers, streams and lake also play a vital role in ensuring a healthy

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Mussel Loss, Mussel Gain

Conservation Matters, Lake Simcoe Science / Lake Simcoe Conservation Authority

Lake Simcoe Science Mussel Loss, Mussel Gain In 2012, LSRCA published a Science Newsletter showing where invasive zebra and quagga mussels were found in Lake Simcoe, and how they have changed the ecology of the lake since their arrival. Since then some remarkable changes have occurred, worthy of another chapter. In this newsletter, we examine

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A stream surrounded by snow, flowing through a culvert.

Phosphorus Monitoring in Rivers and Streams

Lake Simcoe Science / Lake Simcoe Conservation Authority

Lake Simcoe Science Testing the Waters with Innovative Monitoring Improving Phosphorus Monitoring in Streams and Rivers Phosphorus is an essential nutrient for living things. In nature it is found in small amounts, where it is needed for processes such as plant growth. When a little extra phosphorus is added to an ecosystem (think of fertilizing

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Lake Simcoe Science

Low Impact Development (LID) A Recipe for Urban Sustainability

Sodium Chloride

Phosphorus Cycle

Invasive Mussels

A Fish Tale

Stream Flow: A Tale of Two Rivers

Groundwater Recharge

Benthic Macroinvertebrates

Mussel Loss, Mussel Gain

Phosphorus Monitoring in Rivers and Streams

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