Healthy Lake Program Approach

Barry Hooper is the person who took up the question of weeds clogging Big Cedar Lake with KLSA in 2010. This resulted in a 3-year partnership with Enviroscience lead by Brian Stock, starting in 2011, which was to target the invasive Eurasian milfoil using Weevils. In order to bring the cottagers together to battle (and to fund the battle of) this invasive species, Brian Stock and some other cottagers formed this Big Cedar Lake association, called the Big Cedar Lake Stewardship Association (BCLSA). The Weevil program was taken over in 2015 by Dr. Eric Sager of Trent University, and was expanded to combat the weed with vegetated mats, as well as to include other monitoring and consultation by Dr. Sager and his students until the summer of 2019. Their final full report can be viewed here. It was written by Dr. Eric Sager of Trent University.

By having the Trent University team help us initially with our Eurasian milfoil work on our lake, Big Cedar has been in much better shape with respect to the management of Milfoil than most other lakes in Ontario.  In addition, we as a Lake Community continue to learn more about what the challenges are in managing a “healthy lake”. 

Doug Colmer is another of our cottagers who has been very involved in the Healthy Lake program, and in 2019 he was instrumental in augmenting the Trent mat program with mats purchased from a company called Weeds B Gone. The conclusion in 2019 was that although the vegetated Mat program saw some success, Trent was unable to identify a process to make it scalable for a larger Lake program. However, they suggested that non vegetated mats still provide a viable solution for heavy traffic areas where there was milfoil to try to minimize further fragmentation of the milfoil and subsequent new growth. Since that time, there has not been a need for additional mats to be installed to combat Milfoil in our Lake.  Doug Colmer and his helpers did do a survey of our Lake late in the summer of 2023.  They found that there was not a significant change in the milfoil population for 2023. 

The following is a brief outline what your Board is recommending for 2024:

  • The Board recommends the “Mat Solution” to members if they would like to address specific areas in front of their property.
  • The Board has decided to maintain the option of installing mats if needed in heavy traffic area if the resources/manpower is available.
  • Doug Colmer to do a wide-spread Lake Survey in the late Summer of 2023 to identify the state of invasive weeds in our Lake.
  • Cottagers are reminded to “not” clear their shoreline until June as the “weevils” who help control the milfoil winter on the shoreline.

Important. Please pay 2024 BCLSA Fee Contribution of $100 to support this important work being done in 2024.

Please see the membership page to download the form for 2024 renewal. Thanks to all of you that support the health and well-being of our wonderful lake.

Aquatic Plant Management on Big Cedar Lake Report, 2019

The Aquatic Plant Management Progress Report for Summer 2019 can be accessed here. It was written by Dr. Eric Sager, Robert Canning, Evelyn Robertson, Lucy Martin-Johnson, and Kaleigh Mooney of Trent University. This is the most recent report received from Trent University regarding Eurasian Milfoil.

Eurasian Water Milfoil Management Progress Report, 2018

The Eurasian Water Milfoil Management Progress Report was written by Amanda Cooper, Max DeBues and Dr. Eric Sager of Trent University.

Eurasian Water Milfoil Management Progress Report, 2017

The Eurasian Water Milfoil Management Progress Report was written by Amanda Cooper, Max DeBues and Dr. Eric Sager of Trent University.

July 2016 President’s Letter

View President’s August 2016 letter here.

See video of Vegetated Mats in Big Cedar Lake, referred to in President’s July letter.

March 2016 President’s Letter

Hello from Big Cedar Lake,

Swimming in Big Cedar Lake (BCL) at Christmas? Over 14 degrees on BCL in February? After the cold winter of 2015, who would have thought 2016 could be so different. Even with this mild winter, I am sure everyone is still looking forward to those beautiful warm summer days on Big Cedar.

Weevil Project

Background
I am pleased to bring to you today, the summary of the Weevil project for 2015. As you will recall, we took a different approach in 2015 with the hiring of Trent University to run our project. The switch to Trent gave us a fresh approach to the situation in Big Cedar Lake and allowed us to look at the milfoil infestation with a different set of eyes, and a view that used more scientific data and background research.

First off, I would like to thank everyone who contributed to the Project in 2015. Your ongoing support has enabled the Association to fund a very important battle against the invasive Milfoil weed.

Project Methods
Trent started last year with an informal survey of the lake and found approximately 25 patches of Eurasian milfoil. They noted that good progress had been made since 2011 in managing the milfoil. Their estimate is that milfoil had started in the lake approximately 2 decades ago but had grown to a problematic level over the last 6-8 years. For 2015, 25,000 weevils were placed over four sites around the lake. In addition, 5 control/monitoring sites were established. Beyond monitoring weevil damage, the Trent team also measured biomass and density of milfoil and the biodiversity of the various sites.

Results
Over the summer, the team measured weevil damage on the Eurasian milfoil. The weevil’s continued, as in past years, to do significant damage to the milfoil. As stated in the report, the amount of damage from weevils will also vary from year to year depending on the weather and other environmental factors. What they also noted is that the weevils may be at their saturation level in many parts of the lake and that further stocking of weevils in those areas would lead to diminishing returns. But in other parts of the lake stocking of weevils could still be beneficial. What they would recommend the Association do is to focus our resources on addressing the bio diversity of the plant life on the lake bottom and minimize the chance of milfoil replanting itself.

Next Steps
How do we address bio diversity? Trent is recommending the concept of placing benthic mats (15m x 15m) in various areas of the lake (these are biodegradable). Attached to the mats are local native water plants which could fill in areas as the milfoil dies off. By taking this approach, the regrowth of Eurasian milfoil in those areas can be minimized. They wanted to try this approach last year but they were unable to find the mats that were 100% environmentally friendly for the lake; they now have sourced the correct mats. In addition to the mats, Trent would place weevils on the Eurasian milfoil around the matted areas to hold back the milfoil while the new plants take hold.

Cost
The cost of running this program is similar to last year; therefore the cost to each lake resident/cottager is $375. In addition to the Lake program, we are looking at a program where we could have Trent create a “do-it-yourself” mat kit – where residents who participate in the Lake program could also buy mats/plants for their lakefront and install them by themselves. This “do-itself” program is currently in the development stages and we will keep you informed as it progresses and if it becomes an option for this current season.

If anyone has any questions about our new lake program please do not hesitate to email me at bstock58@gmail.com or call me at 905-717-0303.

Thank you again for your ongoing support. The continued health of our lake is vitally important to maintaining the enjoyment we all receive from our time at Big Cedar Lake and also preserves the investment we all have in our lakefront properties.

Important. Please contribute to the 2016 Lake (weevil) Project

Please contribute now while it is fresh in your mind by mailing contributions to our Treasurer, Don Austin at 85 Somerset Road, London, Ontario, N6K 3M6 or make an email transfer to dbaustin@rogers.com (our preferred method). The contribution form is attached.

Membership Fees

On another note, since the Board has been able to keep the operating costs of the Association low, we will be able to waive the membership fee of $25 for 2016: but we will definitely need to reinstate the fee for 2017.
2016 Weevil Contribution Form.

Annual General Meeting 2016

Our next AGM is scheduled for Saturday May 21st at 9:30am at the Wilson Park Hall on Northey’s Bay Road. At this meeting we will be discussing several important issues, please plan on attending.

One of the items on the agenda will be the appointment of Board Members. Currently we have 8 members with half of them up for reappointment this year. We know that many of you have a passion for topics related the Big Cedar, so we encourage you to consider joining your Association Board. If you are interested, please send in a nomination form available here by May 13th, 2016. If you have any questions about the roles, don’t hesitate to reach out to any of the current Board Members copied at the top of this letter.
Thanks,
Brian Stock

Download a copy of the 2016 President’s Letter here.

May 2015 President’s Letter

Hello from Big Cedar Lake,

After another cold and long winter, I am sure everyone is looking forward to the warm summer nights on Big Cedar Lake. Please find outlined below updates on two important lake issues.

Weevil Project

In January, I wrote to you indicating that although we continue to be very pleased with the progress the weevil program has made in combating the spread of Eurasian Milfoil, unfortunately EnviroScience would no longer be operating the Weevil program in either Canada or the United States. At that time, I confirmed that your Board would be looking for alternatives to EnviroScience.

I am very pleased to announce that we have a tentative agreement with Trent University and Dr. Sager, a professor at the university to continue the program. Dr. Sager was one of the original people who developed the idea of weevils combating the spread of Milfoil. The program would be very similar to previous years with the addition on another step that Dr. Sager has developed, which includes the use of dissolvable benthic mats (which are not harmful to the lake). Woven into these mats are other BCL native water plants that replace the Milfoil once it has died off. By preforming this extra step, the future regrowth of milfoil is choked out.

The only challenge we have with the new program is the limited time we have to fund raise for the project. We need to raise the funds within the next two weeks. We are pressed for time by two factors;

a) Dr. Sager needs to commit to his graduate students who will do the work within the next two weeks and
b) he needs to start the weevil incubation process soon in order to get the weevils in the water by late June.

As a result, we are asking everyone resident/cottager on the lake to contribute $375 within the next two weeks. We apologize for the short notice, but it took us until last week to establish the new program.

Also as good news we are waving the membership fee for one year. We have enough funds in our membership account to fund our association expenses for 2015. In 2016, the membership fee will be reinstated.

If anyone has any questions about the weevil program please do not hesitate to email me at bstock58@gmail.com or call me at 905-717-0303

Contributions can be mailed to Don Austin, our Treasurer at: 85 Somerset Road, London, Ontario, N6K 3M6 or make an email transfer to: dbaustin@rogers.com (our preferred method). Please fill out the Contribution Form (Word doc or PDF) and send it in as-soon-as possible. Thank you!

Annual General Meeting

Our next AGM is scheduled for Sunday May 17th from 9:30 am to 11:30 am at the Wilson Park Hall on Northey’s Bay Road. At this meeting, we will be discussing several issues important to our Lake, please plan on attending.

One the items on the agenda will be the appointment of Board members. Currently we have 8 members with half of them coming up for reappointment this year. Please consider joining your Association Board. There is no election since our bylaws allow up to 10 members. If you are interested please send in a Nomination form available on our website www.bclsa.ca. by May 13th.

February 2015 President’s Letter

Hello from Big Cedar Lake!

It is that time of year again when I am pleased to bring to you the Annual 2014 EnviroScience Milfoil Solution Progress Report. The full report is posted on the BCLSA Website, but what I would like to do in my letter today is to provide you with a brief summary of the report and an update on the BCLSA Board’s latest discussions.

First off, I would like to thank everyone who contributed to the Weevil Project in 2014. Your support last year and in previous years has enabled the Association to fund the very important battle against the invasive Milfoil weed.

As you may remember, we had a cooler spring in 2014 and the Milfoil weed did not grow as quickly. Since the Milfoil did not grow as early, it delayed the stocking of new weevils by a couple of weeks. The stocking for 2014 began June 24th and was completed July 24th. A total of 28,000 weevils were purchased for the Lake Association program. In addition, we continued with the 2 for 1 “incubation program” again. The incubation program was initiated in late May with EnviroScience taking some weevils from our lake to fill their incubation tanks in their laboratory. They returned these weevils to our lake once the reproduction cycle had started. As payment for supporting this incubation program, EnviroScience gave us an additional 4,800 weevils. This program worked out very well for our Lake Association.

The results for 2014 showed continued positive impact from the weevil program. The positive results in the report include:
• Relocation of S3 due to collapse of the Milfoil stand
• Continued reduction in Milfoil density at all sites with exception of the original S5
• High early season weevil density at all sites
• Milfoil remained below the surface of the water at all sites and did not flower
• Milfoil at S1, S2, S4, S6 remained 1-2 m below the surface in late August
• Milfoil at most sites appeared to be brittle and bent over by the end of the 2014 season
• Collapses of several large milfoil stands around the stocked areas

With the success of the weevil program, your Board was prepared to continue to support an ongoing weevil program. Unfortunately, in late November the Board received a letter from EnviroScience that stated with deep regret that they would not be continuing with their Milfoil Solution program both in the USA and Canada. Although the program had been successful in combating the Milfoil, they had not been able to build a business model that was financially viable. They cited a high labour to revenue challenge and the fact that in the USA, the herbicide industry is growing its market share and limiting EnviroScience’s growth potential. EnviroScience itself will continue to do business in their other five ecological related business divisions.

The Board has reviewed the impact of EnviroScience decision. We are presently looking into what options are available. In the interim, we felt it was important to inform the membership as a whole. As we uncover additional information and options, we will be in communication with you. The Board was very clear that regardless of what direction the weevil project takes, two things are still important. Firstly, the ongoing health of our Lake needs to continue to be a priority; and secondly, that the Association itself needs to continue on. The creation of the BCLSA has provided an excellent opportunity to build community through social activities and has created a means of communicating the concerns and issues of the residents and cottagers of Big Cedar Lake.

We will be in contact with you prior to the May 24th weekend, but in the interim, please put Sunday May 17th on your calendar as the date for our next AGM.

Thank you for your support,
Brian

Nov 2014 Weevil Report

Eurasian Milfoil Weevil Project Report

January 2014 News

Below are three important documents:

Read the EnviroScience 2014 Weevil Gazette

President’s Letter January 2014

Eurasian Milfoil Weevil Project Update

Happy New Year from Big Cedar Lake!

It is that time of year again when I am pleased to bring to you the Annual 2013 EnviroScience Milfoil Solution Progress Report. The full report is posted on the BCLSA Website, but what I would like to do in my letter today is provide you with a brief summary of the report.

First off, I would like to thank everyone who contributed to the Weevil Project last year. Your support is very important in the battle to fight this very aggressive and invasive milfoil weed. The reduction of the Milfoil is a long term challenge and I ask for your support again in 2014. For those who were unable to contribute last year, I hope you will find the means to contribute this year. A healthy and milfoil free lake is for everyone’s enjoyment, but we need everyone’s support to make that happen.

As you can see in the report, the stocking of the weevils took place from June 7 to July 8 in 2013. A total of 32,500 weevils were purchased as part of the Lake Association program and an additional 22,000 weevils were privately stocked. What was new for this year was we were able to participate in Enviroscience “2 for 1″ Incubation Program”. How the program worked: in May, 2013 Enviroscience took some weevils from our lake to fill their incubation tanks in their laboratory. They returned these weevils to our lake once their reproduction cycle had started. As payment for supporting this incubation program they gave us an additional 6,250 weevils. This program worked out very well for our Lake Association.

2013 showed very visible signs that the Weevil project is starting to have some impact. The positive results in the report included:
• Relocation of S1, S3 and S5 due to collapses of the milfoil plant communities.
• High weevil densities during initial and late-season surveys at all sites.
• Large decrease in milfoil density at S2 over the 2013 season.
• Major decrease in milfoil density at all sites in comparison to the milfoil density observed in 2012
• Milfoil at most sites appeared to be brittle and bent over by the end of the 2013 season.
• The stems having various black marks on the stem indicating the plants are dying
• The plants are bent over and are not reaching the surface
• Open areas within stocking sites.

All the points outlined above are very positive and it shows that the program is working. But
our work is far from done. The Milfoil is still growing in other parts of the lake and we need to
continue to stock more weevils and let them do their work.

For the year 2014 the Board is recommending that the Association continue at the 2013 levels
of 32,500 weevils plus continue to encourage as many people as possible to purchase private
weevils. In addition, we will be participating in the “Incubation 2 for 1 program” in order to
bring more weevils into the lake.

To continue the program and keep our lake healthy we need everyone’s support. The cost per
lake lot will be the same as last year $350. On our website, you will see a section that thanks
each contributor for 2013 that allowed their name to be published. Our membership fee will
remain at $25 and you can pay this at the same time as the Weevil contribution – same form.
In order to keep the contribution at $350 this year, we are planning to take advantage of an
early payment discount plan offered by EnviroScience. The early payment plan requires us to
pay by April 1st; so please try to have your contribution submitted by March 15th.

Please find attached 2014 Membership/Weevil Contribution forms and a list of best practices
towards protecting our Weevil investment.

Thank you for you continued support and we always welcome new people who want to get
involved with the Board or on a committee. See you at the AGM on May 18th, 2014.

Brian Stock
President
Big Cedar Lake Stewardship Association

January 2013 News

Below are three important documents.
EnvironScience (now Milfoil Solution) Report
Brian’s summary – Progress Report for Year Two (Summer 2012)
Membership renewal & weevil contribution form.

Message from Brian July 2012

Starting on July 1st and finishing on July 17th, EnviroScience (now operating as Milfoil Solutions out of Canada  http://milfoilsolution.ca/about-us/ have been on our lake 3 times to stock a total of 60,000 weevils. That is a split of 35,000 weevils for the Lake program and 25,000 weevils for private stocking.

In the Lake sites S1, S2, S4, S5 the stocking of weevils was in the same area. For Lake site S3, the stocking area was moved 200 yards further east since the original stocked area no longer has sufficient milfoil to warrant stocking. Also as announced at the AGM a new Lake site S6 was established in the east end of the lake. *See the map below that highlights S1 – S5 per 2011 – changes are as described above.

Early results are encouraging but everyone still needs to continue the recommended precautions to protect our investment in the Weevil population by avoiding entering the marked areas, slowing your boat speed when passing the marked areas and leaving a wide distance between your boat and the markers to create less disturbance.

Also try to avoid the areas of dense milfoil outside of the marked areas with your motor boat – the propeller chops up the milfoil creating new plants.

Please be sure that your visitors/renters with boats are aware of the Weevil project and to please avoid these areas.

The weevil project is a multi-year undertaking that is critical to supporting the long term health of Big Cedar Lake. Participation in the project with a financial contribution of $350 per cottage this season has been favourable. However, we would still like to encourage those cottagers and residents who are not participating to please join the project and forward your contribution. Our Treasurer, Don Austin can be reached at dbaustin@rogers.com for details.

Membership in the Association is still encouraged and we have announced our first social event Paddlefest 2012 on August 11th – please join the BCLSA, get involved and meet your fellow cottagers. Click here to access the enrollment form  http://www.bclsa.ca/membership.

Enjoy the summer and please let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks,

Brian

bstock58@gmail.com

Message from Brian June 2012

Hello BCLSA Weevil Project Contributors,

During Sunday on the July 1st weekend, many of you would have seen a pontoon boat and a couple of people in wet suits diving around the Weevil stocked sites.

Yes, EnviroScience’s people were back in our lake completing two tasks:

  • The first task was to survey the original 5 stocked sites and the 2 monitoring sites.   The results were encouraging.  They found damaged and dead milfoil in all locations.  Some sites had more damage than others.  Also encouraging is the fact that they found a large population of adult weevils at the sites.  A large population indicates the weevils wintered well and they are ready to produce larvae that will kill the milfoil.
  • The second task was to stock 3 of the 6 lake program( one new site added this year) sites with new Weevils.  The balance of the lake program weevils will be stocked on Tuesday July 10th or Wednesday July 11th along with the privately stocked weevils.

Early results are encouraging but everyone still needs to continue the recommended precautions to protect our Weevil population by avoiding entering the marked areas and slowing your boat speed when passing the marked areas to create less disturbance.  Also try to avoid the areas of dense milfoil outside of the marked areas with your motor boat – the propeller chops up the milfoil creating new plants.

Please also encourage your neighbours who have not contributed to the weevil project to do so now – we need their support.   The weevil project is a multi-year project but a project that is critical to support the long term health of Big Cedar Lake.

Enjoy the summer and please let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks,

Brian

Year One Reporting

To: Big Cedar Lake Milfoil Solution Contributors
From: Brian Stock, President – BCLSA & Project Lead & Liaison with EnviroScience
Re: Progress Report for Year One
_____________________________________________________________________

Happy New Year and thank you for your participation in our project with EnviroScience to reduce Eurasian Milfoil at Big Cedar Lake.

Please find included in this email, the “Milfoil Progress Report for Big Cedar Lake” prepared by Enviroscience.

As you will recall the stocking of Weevils in our lake occurred in early August of last year. This report was prepared as a result of survey results conducted by EnviroScience 6 weeks later in mid September.

At the AGM, when we reviewed the EnviroScience proposal we stated that results in year one would most likely be minimal. The EnviroScience Progress report shows that although there is not huge change we are definitely trending in the right direction.

What is most encouraging is some of the comments in Section 4 where the report states:

    • Based on results from the 2011 initial and follow-up surveys, it appears that Big Cedar Lake contains the conditions necessary to support an augmented weevil population as part of a Milfoil Solution® program.
    • Weevil population density has increased at six of seven sites from the initial (pre-weevil stocking) survey to the follow-up survey. This statistic is highly encouraging as it is often typical to find very few weevils on 30 randomly-collected stems within a large site.
  • Milfoil samples from all sites exhibited indicators unique to a weevil population such as holes in the stems and extensively damaged areas where larvae have burrowed through the stems.

Based on the recommendations put forth by EnviroScience the Board is recommending stocking 30,000 weevils for 2012 as per our original contract and reassessing again Progress Report – Year One, EnviroScience Project after year two. Their specific recommendation is listed in section 5 of the report, first paragraph.

Based on results in 2011 and the measured increase in the weevil population, the first year of this stocking program is progressing as expected. The current proposal includes stocking from 2011 to 2014, with 30,000 weevils contracted in 2012. Based on this proposal, it is the recommendation of EnviroScience that 10,000 weevils are stocked at S5 and 5,000 are stocked at S1-S4 in 2012.

You will also note in the report that Milfoil density increased in the surveyed sites. Again as explained in the report this is quite normal early in the program to see the greatest milfoil density in September, after a long warm growing season. Over time as weevil population grows, milfoil density is expected to decrease.

As you can see from the quote below by our EnviroScience Project Manager Sarah Lomske, she is also very encouraged by the results:

“The first summer of this multiple-year program has realized encouraging results thus far. We were able to assess the milfoil infestation lake-wide at the beginning of the season to lay the groundwork for 2011 and future weevil stocking activities. After stocking in August, follow-up analysis at the end of the season by our biologists resulted in a positive increase in the weevil population at many sites. We will continue to track this ongoing progress and appreciate the continued support of the residents of Big Cedar Lake.” Sarah Lomske, Biologist, EnviroScience Inc./Milfoil Solution®

Again, thank you for your ongoing support of the Weevil program.

We will be in touch shortly to request your Membership Dues and the Year Two payment toward the Milfoil Project. We have been offered a 5% discount if we are able to make our payment by April 1st and encourage you to submit your payment quickly so that we may realize this discount and utilize the savings with additional weevils.

Again this year, private stocking will be available. Please contact me for the cost involved should you wish to do so.

    • View

EnviroScience Report 2011

Weevil News August 18, 2011

All Weevils have now been delivered by Enviroscience and stocked in our lake.

Please note the 5 lake program locations:

P1/P2 (western end of the lake in the first bay)
P9 (Hungry Bay – the first bay on the south side of the lake)
P12 (Bolton’s Bay – the second bay on the south side of the lake)
P14 (the channel to the east of Davis Island)
P21 (the channel to the north of the William’s Island)

and 5 privately purchased sites.

All sites are marked with a central orange marker and peripheral buoys (mostly pool noodles) around the orange marker to make the site more visible.

To protect our Weevil investment, we ask that boaters stay 100 feet away from marked areas and reduce their speed considerably while passing these sites.

The following means of communication are being utilized to update/educate our cottagers/residents and visitors to Big Cedar Lake:

– Signage being installed at both public boat launches

– Signage being posted on all 4 roads leading in to Big Cedar Lake

– Email communication to all cottagers/residents at Big Cedar Lake who are in our database

– Website updates – www.bclsa.ca

Please assist us by spreading the word to your neighbours and any visiting guests that the weevil sites are to be avoided to allow the weevils to do their “job”.

Thank you to those who have financially participated in the Weevil project and to everyones’ ongoing support to protect our investment and ultimately our favourite lake!

BCLSA Board

The Weevils have arrived! August 9, 2011

Today 10,000 weevils were stocked into our Lake. The stocking of the weevils took place in Hungary Bay and Bolton Bay. You will notice that there is one orange buoy in each area that was stocked. We will be putting in additional buoys within the week to highlight these areas. Please stay 100 feet away from the buoys with your boats. For those who want to look at the stocked areas, canoe/kayak travel is permitted as long as you are careful with your paddles. When you look into the water in the stocked areas you will see small bundles of the milfoil tied to the lake milfoil. These bundles contain weevils that will transfer to our lake weeds and multiple.

For cottagers who have docks close to the stocked areas please find a path out into the lake that does not travel near the weevils.

More weevils will be stocked on Thursday and Monday next week. We will give you a further update when that occurs.

For cottagers that wanted to purchase extra weevils for their lakefront, those weevils will be stocked mid next week. We will be in touch when we have an exact date and time.

If you have any questions, please let us know.

Thanks again for your support
BCLSA Board

Lake Assessment July 8, 2011

Meeting Outcomes

Overview

    • As discussed in previous communication and at the AGM, the first step in the “weevil” process was to have EnviroScience come to the lake and conduct an assessment of Big Cedar Lake.
    • That assessment occurred on July 8th and was attended by Board members David Clutton Jr., Don Austin and Brian Stock along with the EnviroScience people.
  • A summary of the activities and outcomes of the day are listed below.

Lake Assessment

    • The lake assessment consisted of a boat tour of the entire lake.
  • There was a general observation that the milfoil has grown in many locations over last year.

On-site Advice (as suggested by EnviroScience)

    • Four (4) release sites for the weevils would be better than six (6) – as a more concentrated application in fewer sites would likely yield better results.
    • The second year of the program would likely involve reinforcing the first year release sites and adding one or two more new release sites, therefore it could be two or three years before some sites may see treatment.
  • To date 5 cottagers have committed to releasing extra weevils on the shoreline at their cost. Enviroscience feels the extra release of these weevils will enhance the broader “lake” weevil program.

Timing

    • Release of the weevils will take place near the end of July.
  • Follow-up would likely take place about a month later (end of August).

Criteria Used to Select the Initial Release Sites (as suggested by EnviroScience)

    • Large milfoil beds are better than small beds.
    • Dense beds are better than sparse beds.
    • Upwind sites are better than downwind sites (as the prevailing wind direction will help to disperse or circulate the weevils within the lake).
    • Areas of low boat traffic are better than areas of high boat traffic.
    • Inflow areas to the lake are better than outflow areas from the lake.
  • Areas with shoreline vegetation are better than areas with none (as the weevils over-winter on land).

Meeting Outcomes

  • Given on-site advice from EnviroScience and recognizing the configuration of the lake, it is being recommended that five (5) sites be targeted for the initial release of weevils.

Release and Monitoring Sites Recommended

Release sites will see the introduction of the weevils and monitoring sites will act as a baseline to compare the release sites against.

Release Sites (5)

    • P1/P2 (western end of the lake in the first bay)
    • P9 (Hungry Bay – the first bay on the south side of the lake)
    • P12 (Bolton’s Bay – the second bay on the south side of the lake)
    • P14 (the channel to the east of Davis Island)
  • P21 (the channel to the north of the William’s Island)

Monitoring Sites (2)

    • P16/P17 (eastern end of the lake near the outflow of Eels Creek)
  • P19/P20 (one of the sites near Sibthorpe’s Island)

Additional Advice from EnviroScience

    • “Every effort will make a difference! Pull (by the roots – don’t cut) milfoil in front of your property and avoid driving boats through release sites (let the weevils work).”
    • When broken off milfoil floats on to or near your shoreline please remove it and dispose of it (except in the fall when the Weevils are trying to get to shore for hibernate for the winter)
    • Post signs and floating markers for “weevils at work” at each release site.
    • Encourage lake users to avoid travelling through release sites with power boats (canoes and kayaks are OK) for the first few years following weevil release.
    • Post two signs at the boat launches (“weevils at work”, and “steps to clean your boat and trailer’).
    • Consider having an assessment of lake bed nutrients done (one time survey)
    • Consider having a periodic assessment of plant species done (ongoing).
    • Watch for introduction of other invasive weeds (e.g., variable water milfoil and karly  leaf pond weed).
  • Consider making application for temporary or permanent closure of public access to boat launches.

Next Steps

    • We will send out a further communication to all cottagers once the date for the release of the weevils has been confirmed.
    • At that time we will also remind all cottagers what are the “best practices” to help with the success of the Weevil Program.
    • Thanks for your ongoing support in the preservation and improvement of the environmental health of Big Cedar Lake
  • If you have any questions please contact us through the “contact” section on the Web site  – bclsa.ca

A copy of the EnviroScience report can be viewed, or downloaded, here.

Kawartha Lake Stewards Association Weevil Guide

New Photos
Check out the latest photos of Big Cedar taken from the air! Also, 2015 PaddleFest. See Gallery