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The finding is part of the first phase of the Algonquin to Adirondacks Conservation Association's Gananoque Watershed Project, which looked at species at risk and water quality in Lower Beverley Lake.

The study recommends reducing run-off from homes and cottages along the lake as a way of protecting the habitat where those species live.

The Algonquin to Adirondacks association, which works to improve habitat within the region that extends from Algonquin Park in Ontario to Adirondacks State Park in New York, began assessing the health of Lower Beverley Lake in 2008 as part of a multi-year project covering the entire Gananoque River watershed.

"We'll be trying to establish what is there and what isn't to preserve [the habitat]," said Cameron Smith, vice-president of the association.

He said it is an important area to conserve because it is considered to be one of the most biodiverse areas in the world.

"It's an extremely important area to persuade landowners to preserve and protect," Smith said.

Three scientists worked on the first phase of the project and they'll be presenting their findings Tuesday, from 7 to 8:30 p. m., at the municipal hall in Elgin.

There are 18 lakes in the Gananoque Watershed, which stretches from the Brockville area in the east to Beverley Lake in the north to the St. Lawrence River in the south.

"It's a large watershed ... we could only do one lake so far because it's a very labour-intensive process," Smith said.

The first phase of the Gananoque project aimed to create an inventory of species at risk for Lower Beverley Lake, identify some of the interactions between those species and their environment and establish some preliminary recommendations to help protect habitat for these species.

In order to do that, the scientists and volunteers collected fish, mapped the shoreline and established baseline water quality data to be used in future years.

Their work wasn't limited to Lower Beverley Lake. The scientists collected water samples from the remainder of the lakes in the Gananoque River watershed to test the quality.

In July and August of 2008, a total of 13,483 individual animals representing 22 species, mostly fish, were collected from Lower Beverley Lake and then safely released.

Of those, four were identified as being at risk, including a Pugnose Minnow, a Stinkpot Turtle, a Northern Map Turtle and 22 Grass Pickerel.

Smith said the association was aware that some species at risk could be present, but didn't know where exactly they were located.

The fish were found in the same places as Bog Willow, Broad-leaved Arrowhead, Common Cattail, Duckweed, White Water Lily and Burweed.

They're also found with Emerald Shiner, Brook Silverside and fish that had been hat ched during the same year.

These associations are important and reveal potential fish and plant communities that should be protected in order to protect the fish habitat.

The analysis indicated that some areas of Lower Beverley Lake may be considered overdeveloped.

"As with any waterway, there are some spots where there is some shoreline degradation," Smith said. "By the time the work is done, we'll be able to know what parts of the shoreline need to be improved. Some of it will need to be protected and some areas of the shoreline will need to be remediated."

Smith also said the association is trying to encourage property owners to be more aware of protecting the environment.

"We're trying to get people to get their septic systems inspected to ensure they're not leaking into the lake," he said.

Further to that goal, the association has developed a series of preliminary stewardship strategies to help improve conditions on the lake.

Brockville Recorder and Times, February 11, 2009

By Jennifer Campbell, Freelance Writer

Posted on the A2A website with permission of the Brockville Recorder and Times

The first phase of the Gananoque River Watershed Project, a multi-year project to assess species at risk within the Gananoque system, has been completed and interested residents were treated to a detailed presentation of the findings at a public meeting on Tuesday evening at the Elgin municipal hall.

Led by the Algonquin to Adirondacks Conservation Association (A2A) in partnership with a variety of organizations, the initial phase of the project, which focused on Lower Beverley Lake, cost more than $130,000, and was partly made possible by a significant grant from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources Species at Risk Fund.

A2A president Emily Conger says residents raised concerns about the water quality in Upper and Lower Beverley lakes a few years ago and, with the guidance of the Upper and Lower Beverley Lake Associations and the Gananoque River Waterways Association, surveys were conducted in 2006-2007 confirming that all 18 lakes within the watershed were a concern.

"A2A has charitable status, so about two years ago we got involved," said Conger. "The Gananoque system is extremely important... it is a huge wildlife movement area. Saving what's around Gananoque is absolutely key."

The purpose of the first phase of the study was to identify species at risk to ensure populations are able to continue to live and grow in the area, and to assess shoreline habitat, she said.

For a seven-week period, from July to August 2008, a team of volunteers and scientists conducted a thorough study of Lower Beverley Lake, which consisted of seine netting, shoreline inventory, educating residents and water quality testing for all bodies of water in the watershed. All testing was non-lethal and animals were returned to their environment, unharmed.

At the end of the seven-week period, a total of 13,483 individual animals representing 22 species were identified within Lower Beverley Lake, including four species at risk: a Pugnose Minnow, a Northern Map Turtle, a Stinkpot Turtle and 22 Grass Pickerel.

Dr. Svenja Belaoussoff, with Green Barn Consulting, said one year of data collection is not enough to provide a scientific basis for any detailed stewardship initiatives, and advised that more work should be done.

"This is a very preliminary stage," she said. "Just consider this a taste of what can be done."

Scott Smithers, a biologist with the Ministry of Natural Resources, indicated that extensive sampling is required over a minimum period of 14 years to accurately report on changes in fish species composition within a lake, but added that the Gananoque River Watershed Project is an important first step.

"Species biodiversity is an excellent measure of ecosystem health. Assessing species through studies such as this initiative is useful in setting benchmarks and monitoring species diversity (ecosystem health) through time," he said, adding that the data collected relating to critical fish habitat will offer some protection to the lake in terms of restricting future development near the shoreline.

Although Smithers advised that there were large numbers of northern map turtles, stinkpot turtles, and grass pickerel found in the study, along with "cool hybrids," painted turtles, bowfin and bass, Belaoussoff cautions that species can disappear quickly.

"Species can be very present in an environment and then be gone," she advised.

Tom Beaubiah, a biologist with the Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority, led the shoreline study for Lower Beverley Lake, a 58-kilometre stretch that was studied thoroughly three times to identify potential problem areas.

"Over 90 per cent of all life that occurs within a water body is born and reared within a near-shore environment," said Beaubiah, noting the importance of protecting the shoreline.

Beaubiah advises there is a wide range of plant communities such as trees, shrubs and long grasses that act as sufficient buffers between private property and near-shore environments.

"It is important to have plants that have a denser root system," he added, advising that short grass found on mowed lawns does not provide sufficient protection from run-off or other external pressures. Approximately 16 per cent of shoreline properties on Lower Beverley Lake are mowed lawns.

Beaubiah suggests that residents living on the lake frame their property with plants, such as shrubs, to a height that does not restrict their view but offers privacy. He also suggests that residents take measures to reduce fertilizer and pesticide use, increase awareness of invasive species, pump their septic tanks regularly, and lead by example.

"It's important to explain to people why you're doing what you're doing," he said.

Phase Two of the Gananoque River Watershed Project will follow through with the findings from Phase One on Lower Beverley Lake and conduct a new detailed study for species at risk in Gananoque Lake. However, funding is still needed for all future phases of the project.

Since the region is deemed one of the most intrinsically diverse and ecologically important regions in Canada, Conger notes that it is up to the local people to protect the plants and animals that call the region home.

"We live in a very impressive area," she said. "Everybody wins if this watershed project is successful."

For more information visit www.a2alink.org