Water Quality is of prime importance to CALA members. Indeed, it was poor water quality that was the impetus for the formation of the Association in 1980.
The Temagami sewage lagoon was leaking continuously into Snake Island Lake resulting in discernible e-Coli levels and algal blooms. As a result of CALA’s efforts, the province rebuilt the lagoon and brought its operation up to standard.
While CALA does not suggest that water is safe to be consumed directly from its lakes, our objective is that practices and procedures be such that surface water is of the highest quality.
Currently a project is underway to reduce concentration of e-Coli being discharged into Net Lake from the effluent from Temagami North’s failing lagoons. The Ontario Ministry of Environment and Climate Change has mandated that the Municipality shall install an effluent disinfection system to the Temagami North Sewage Treatment Lagoon system.
CALA regularly undertakes testing of the following parameters in the main four CALA lakes:
CALA WATER QUALITY (Word version)
To see ongoing research results on all Ontario lakes including the CALA Lakes regarding the presence of phosphorous as well as information about blue/green algae please check out the website of the Dorset Environmental Science Centre: www.desc.ca > Lake Partners. The 2015 research results are not showing yet.
Even though phosphorous levels are not too high in our lakes at this time, it would be prudent to use detergents, cleansers and personal products which are phosphate-free. Fertilizers also add phosphorous and other nutrients to the water and increase the potential for blue/green algae growth (if anyone has a lawn).