Re: Response to January 21, 2016 Whitewater News Article: Muskrt Lake Groups to be Invited to a Meeting
The Muskrat Watershed Council welcomes the opportunity to meet with all individuals and groups who share our goal of improving water quality in Muskrat Lake and its watershed. We respect the efforts of other groups also working toward this end. In fact, we’ve already opened lines of communication with the three other groups mentioned in your January 21 article. We’d be happy to meet with them and work toward our common goal.
As a science-based, not-for-profit group, our mission is to engage with people and communities to find and reduce nutrient loading from all sources on the Muskrat watershed.
Since we were formed three years ago, we’ve always welcomed collaboration and partnerships. We’ve reached out to interested individuals, lake associations, municipal-ities, Renfrew County agencies, provincial ministries, federal agencies, environmental groups and academic institutions like Algonquin College. Our monthly meetings are open to everyone and we’re actively seeking new members and partners.
We agree with the comments of several members of Whitewater Council’s environmental committee that funding to clean up Muskrat Lake and the watershed is limited so it would be best for all groups to work together. We are prepared to work with any individual or group wishing to collaborate with us.
The Muskrat Watershed Council has already accomplished a lot. We organized two Annual General Meetings and two Science Nights to bring in expert speakers and engage in discussion with the community. Topics included the 2014 Water Adaptation and Management Quality Initiative, phosphorus in the watershed, and agricultural drainage.
We organized a follow-up meeting of local farmers with agricultural drainage expert Sid Vander Veen to discuss controlled tile drainage systems in more detail.
For the past two years, we’ve partnered with Algonquin College’s Environmental Technician Program to do bi-weekly water quality monitoring. With funding from the Cobden Civitan Club, we recruited Dr. Rebecca Dalton, an expert in the effects of excess nutrients on water quality and ecosystem health, to analyze the data. Dr. Dalton presented her report at our August 2015 AGM. It suggested that several beneficial management practices, controlled tile drainage in particular, may be effective to reduce nutrient loads and improve water quality.
We also organized a fun 2015 Canada Day celebration to share knowledge and concerns for the watershed.
This year promises to be just as productive. As well as continuing our partnership with Algonquin College to continue water monitoring and continuing to work with the agri-cultural community on controlled tile drainage, we’re working on a project to reach out and educate the local public on best water practices.
As well as continuing with our own projects, we also support other initiatives to assess the lake, such as the Michalski Nielsen Associates proposal.
The Muskrat Watershed Council is working hard to improve water quality in Muskrat Lake and its watershed. We look forward to cooperating with any groups or individuals who share our goals.
We need your support! Come join us and help make a difference to our lake!
Karen Coulas
Chair
Muskrat Watershed Council
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.muskratwatershedcouncil.ca
