Elk Beaver Lakes Restoration Lessons from other Lakes

Elk & Beaver Lakes: Restoration Lessons from other Lakes Presented by: Erin Gray, JD Articled Student, UVic Environmental Law Centre

Outline 1. Introduction to Restoration Techniques a. Technical Solutions (in lake) b. Input Management (external sources)

Outline 2. Case Studies 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) Lake Washington, Seattle, WA Langford Lake, Langford Glen Lake, Langford St. Mary’s Lake, Salt Spring Island Lake George, Florida, USA Okanagan Basin (6 lakes), BC Chain of Lakes, Minneapolis, MN Delavan Lake, Wisconsin Green Lake, Seattle, WA

1. Technical Solutions a. Aeration: process of increasing the oxygen saturation of the water. Hypolimnetic Aerator diagram & Aerator at Langford Lake, 2012. Photos: Ken Ashley, “Langford City Council Parks and Recreation meeting: Langford Lake Aeration” (24 September 2012) PPT, online: <www. cityoflangford. ca/>.

b. Dredging: remove nutrient-rich sediment, deepen lake 2008 Dredging of Delavan Lake in Wisconsin. Photo: “Lake Dredging Projects Bringing Lakes Back to Life” (accessed 27 October 2015), online: <lakehomerealestate. com/>.

c. Alum: apply alum (aluminum sulfate) to inactivate phosphorus 2004 Alum Treatment at Green Lake in Seattle. Photo: Herrera Environmental Consultants, “Green Lake Alum Treatment – Dose for a Decade” (for Water Center Seminars, 2008), online: <digital. lib. washington. edu/>.

d. Harvesting fish that exacerbate phosphorus loading Gizzard shad harvesting in Lake George, Florida. Photo: St. Johns Water River Management District, “Shad Harvesting” (14 October 2013), online: <floridaswater. com/>.

Input Management 2. 1. 2. 3. Waste Water: regulating septic systems community sewer, lake capacity model Changing Behaviours: educate or regulate fertilizer use, farm practices, controlling stormwater, tree removal, etc. Constructed Wetlands: creating artificial wetlands at the source of nutrient input to a water body

2. Case Studies: (1) Lake Washington, Seattle, WA 1. 2. Problem: raw sewage 1900 -1941 algae, murky water Solution: 1960 s diverted sewage ($140 mil) Children at Lake Washington, 1960 s. Sign: “WARNING Polluted Water Unsafe for Bathing” Photo: Mountains to Sound Greenway, “History and Culture” (accessed 28 October 2015), online: <mtsgreenway. org/>.

(1) Lake Washington, Seattle, WA 3. 4. Stewardship: M. Thomas Edmondson Outcome: first to show lake eutrophication can be reversed; improved water quality; though toxic algae forced closure in 2015…

(2) Langford Lake, Langford 1. Problem: sewage, urban runoff algal blooms, toxicity 1. Solutions: aerator installed 1984 (replaced 1985, 2012); cost in 2012 was $250, 000 centralized sewer system 2006

(2) Langford Lake, Langford 3. Future: public education 3. Stewardship: Langford Lake Area Protection Society 3. Outcome: 2005 temp profiles similar to pre-aerator, 2014 Langford Council “excellent conditions for fish habitat”

(3) Glen Lake, Langford 1. Problem: septic, agricultural runoff toxic algal blooms 1. Solutions: aerator installed 1985 (replaced 2005) 2007 City bylaw requiring lakefront properties to connect to City sewer

(3) Glen Lake, Langford 3. Outcome: no extreme summer phosphorus levels since aerator (blooms in summer 2008 attributed to turning off aerator too soon), 2014 “excellent conditions for fish habitat”

(4) St Mary Lake, Salt Spring Island 1. 2. 3. 4. Problem: residential runoff, internal loading algal blooms Solution: aerator installed 1985, replaced 2008 (turned off 2013) Outcome: aerators didn’t stop algal blooms (b/c “stirred up sediments”). Internal loading less than thought. Next steps: focus should be on input management (stormwater, agricultural).

(5) Lake George, Florida 1. 2. Problem: urbanized watershed & overpopulation of gizzard shad algal blooms Solutions: 1993 -2007, a. b. c. 58 programs including: Stormwater Citywide “no net gains” for septic Public education 2008 -2012, 47 more programs (32 of those cost $17 mil)

(5) Lake George 2. Solutions (continued): 2012 -2015: gizzard shad harvesting ($2. 5 Removing gizzard shad, Lake George mil) 3. 4. Outcome: algal blooms continue to be reported in summer 2015 (outcome of 2015 harvest not known) Note on regulation/public education Photo: St. Johns River Water Management District, “Middle and Lower St. Johns River Water Quality Improvement Initiative” (3 September 2014), online: <floridaswater. com/>.

(6) Okanagan Basin (6 lakes, incl. Okanagan Lake), BC 1. 2. 3. 4. Problem: sewage, agricultural runoff, insecticide toxic algal blooms Solution: study (quantify benefits in $), wastewater management regulation (sewerage systems); tax on properties within watershed Stewardship: multi-stakeholder OBWB, incl. First Nations Outcome: 90% reduction in P in 20 years

From “Okanagan Basin Waterscape Wise Water Use Outdoors” by Natural Resources Canada (a tool to educate citizens on how to reduce toxins from entering stormwater) Photo: Okanagan Waterwise, “In the Yard” (accessed 28 October 2015), online: <http: //okwaterwise. ca/>.

(7) Chain of Lakes, Minneapolis, MN 1. 2. Problem: urban runoff algal blooms Solutions: MN Clean Water Partnership 1995 -2001: alum treatment x 4; constructed wetlands; dredging x 1 + 1993 -present: public education 3. Outcome: no improvement fr dredging; other solutions show measureable reduction in P, especially: education efforts pesticide reduction in stormwater ponds 25 -66% P removal

Restoration efforts at Minneapolis Chain of Lakes. Photo: U. S. EPA, “Minnesota: Minneapolis Chain of Lakes, Nutrient Concentrations Nearly Returned to Presettlement Conditions” (updated 6 March 2012), online: <water. epa. gov/>.

(8) Delavan Lake, Wisconsin 1. 2. Problem: urban/agricultural runoff algal blooms Solutions: 1980 s: (a) sewer system (b) dredged tributary creek & lake to increase depth/filtering capacity ($7 mil) (c) fish management (d) alum 2005 -2011: further maintenance dredging required ($150 k + $1. 46 mil); study valuating the lake in $$

(8) Delavan Lake, Wisconsin 3. 4. Stewardship: multi-stakeholder lake cttee Outcome: initial assessments show improved water clarity, reduced algal blooms

(9) Green Lake, Seattle, WA 1. 2. Problem: urban lake (shallow, no in/outflows to flush), high phosphorus due to stormwater & septic runoff, invasive carp algal blooms Solutions: 1991: alum (180 tonnes), public education, fish management, weed harvesting, dilution 2004: more alum (over 13, 000 tonnes) ($1. 5 mil) 2011: WA state law banning fertilizers containing phosphorus

(9) Green Lake, Seattle, WA 3. 4. 5. Stewardship: Friends of Green Lake Outcome: much improved water quality (shorter-lived than expected), invasive weeds still an issue; critics say comprehensive, long-term plan & funding needed Next steps: 2015 – study ($300, 000) 2016 – alum planned ($1. 8 mil – accelerated funding)

Water Quality Warning at Green Lake with swimmers in background. Photo: Richard D Oxley, “Green Lake: When in Doubt, Stay Out” (12 August 2015), online: MYNorthwest <http: //mynorthwest. com/>.

Before: Green Lake was murky & smelly due to toxic blue-green algae. It was closed to wading, swimming & wet-water boating (August 2003). Photos: Friends of Green Lake, “Alum Treatment” (accessed 26 October 2015), online: <friendsofgreenlake. org>. After: Clear water, 10 months postalum treatment (January 2005).

Closing remarks Fulsome study prior to implementation Comprehensive, long-term management plan (vs. reactive approach) Continuous studying as factors change, be flexible Stakeholder buy-in, public support

Thank you! www. elc. uvic. ca