Fall Update 2003

ALGONQUIN ECO WATCH HEADWATER - LICHEN STUDY

The 2003 field season will “close the loop” in our program to establish
water quality and flow data for those waters that source outside Algonquin Park, but flow into it. While some of these inflowing watercourses were identified in the provincial “Lands For Life” exercise and given “Enhanced Management Area” status, others were not. Algonquin Eco Watch has been
involved in negotiations with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources in an effort to have all Algonquin headwaters included in that classification. While our efforts to date have been unsuccessful, we are hopeful that information gained from this study will significantly increase our chances of success.
The long-term goal of this program is to provide meaningful baseline
information for future comparisons, which will assist in defining and locating inbound sources of water

pollution. This year’s work will be concentrated around the eastern and
northern boundaries of the Park, as well as along the abandoned CNR line and the Highway 60 corridor. In addition, we will establish at least 5 new permanent lichen plots that will complete a grid encompassing Algonquin Park and assist in tracking sources of air pollution.

This project has been made possible thanks to a partnership among Algonquin Eco Watch, the W. Garfield Weston Foundation, the McLean Foundation, Sir Sandford Fleming College, the Lake Partners Program and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources/Ontario Parks. While it will require considerable time to collate, format and present the data gathered during the 3-year duration of this program, the results will be available to all interested groups and individuals.

Mounting concern over introduced species from other ecosystems led to the creation of 2 new signs that may now be seen at launching sites and access points in and around Algonquin Park. These signs (see below), which are the result of a “partnership” among Algonquin Eco Watch, the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters, and Ontario Parks, warn of the dangers of species introductions into the Algonquin Ecosystem.

The inadvertent or intentional introduction of fish species such as bass, smelt and pike, in addition to the transfer via boats and trailers of such pests as the zebra mussel and the spiny water flea, could cause the collapse of Algonquin’s predominantly cold-water trout fisheries. Plankton tows, conducted in conjunction

with the “Algonquin Ecosystem Headwater-Lichen Study” (see update this issue), so far indicate that the spiny water flea is not present in Algonquin waters. Hopefully these new signs will act as a visible reminder for us all, to help protect the waters of the Algonquin Ecosystem.

In response to the introduction of “unwanted” fish species to Algonquin waters Algonquin Eco Watch has dedicated one of its Highway 60 sign sites to this problem. Our new sign may be seen on the highway, when approaching from the west.

Failure to pay fines imposed under the Provincial Offences Act for noncompliance to Director’s Orders imposed by the Ministries of the Environment and Northern Development and Mines, will result in cancellation of the Certificate of Approval and the Permit to Withdraw Water at the Graphite mine site, in the Town of Kearney (see “Bullets”, this issue). This mine located adjacent to Graphite
Lake, just outside the western boundary of Algonquin Park, is situated at the headwaters of the Magnetawan and Tim Rivers. Since the Tim River flows easterly through Algonquin Park, Algonquin Eco Watch will seek to have that mining claim permanently decommissioned in an environmentally responsible fashion.

SUPERSTACK UPDATE

While our interpretation of the data received via the “Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act” from MOE was correct (see “Algonquin Eco Watcher, Spring-Summer, 2001), evidently we received data that more correctly reflect emissions that would occur under maximum operating conditions, rather than the actual emissions, which vary according to seasonal production levels. The latter are calculated by a third party consultant
(acceptable to the MOE Director), but obtainable only from INCO. The following excerpt from a letter from INCO to the MOE explains the difficulties encountered when attempting to separate Superstack emissions from total INCO emissions from all sources.

“In answer to the request for the 381m stack portion of the total annual sulphur dioxide emission reported for the Smelter Complex, we do not have actual data. I used best available data to calculate total average annual emissions from the other 3 major atmospheric release points ….. The attached table provides modified data that cannot be construed as hard fact.”
INCO “best estimate” data are presented in the accompanying graph, along with the “CAPS”, or maximum allowable SO2 levels from all INCO sources, which continue to be legislated downward through time.

While no individual CAPS exist for Superstack alone, it appears that total INCO emissions do not exceed the CAPS
for all INCO sulphur dioxide emissions. This introduces doubt as to how the total emissions can be accurately calculated
unless the emissions from the individual components (including Superstack) are known. Since SO2 emissions from Superstack are the only ones likely to reach the Algonquin Ecosystem, Algonquin Eco Watch will continue to closely follow and report on future developments in this regard. Note: A recently issued Director’s Order, states that INCO must further reduce total SO2 emissions to a CAP of 175 kilotonnes (175,000 tonnes) annually by December 31st, 2006. It
is expected that further reductions will follow.

Food For Thought

- Ministry of the Environment personnel were unable to explain the science behind the assigning of maximum allowable SO2 emissions (CAPS). This is understandable owing to the constantly changing and unpredictable nature of wind currents. It does, however, beg the question: “What minimal emission levels will ensure no danger to plant life?” While it is encouraging to see the steady lowering of allowable emissions through time, the sheer height of Superstack, approximately 732m (2400ft) above sea level, virtually ensures that SO2 particles can travel impressive distances. It can be mathematically demonstrated that by lowering Superstack, the Radius of (SO2) Influence (ROI) would be proportionately reduced. If this were done in conjunction with emission reduction, those areas such as the Algonquin Ecosystem would eventually be withdrawn from the ROI, while the status of those areas remaining within the ROI would remain unchanged. In the long-term, this would mean that annual maintenance costs and the ultimate Superstack decommissioning/removal costs would be significantly reduced.

• “It should not be necessary to stock Park lakes with fish if
they are properly managed.” - Algonquin Eco Watch
(AEW) understands that stocking is now only carried out
adjacent to the Highway 60 corridor, since it is such a high
use area. The imposition of such proven restrictions as slot
limits (protecting those sized fish most critical to successful
population reproduction) represents a definite move toward
sustainable fisheries management.

• “Does it not seem ridiculous to make a reservation one year
in advance for a campsite in a natural environment park?”
- Superficially that seems to be the case. Unfortunately
the reality of Ontario’s burgeoning population necessitates
restricting human activity within the Park, if the natural
environment/ecosystem is to be protected.

• “I share the need for research into detrimental emissions
from outside the Park, but is it not time to look within also?”
- While AEW attempts to address issues originating from
within the Park, we also feel that it is necessary to be aware of and deal with problems that source outside, but may negatively affect the Algonquin Ecosystem. (See articles on Superstack emissions, and our water/lichen study, this issue).

• “I have been trying to get steel wire fishing-line banned in
Algonquin. I spend 3 weeks per year fishing in the Park. I
fish deep for lake trout. Every summer I pull up about 500m
of steel wire from the bottom. People get a snag and cannot
break the line so they cut it off at the canoe and let all the
wire sink to the bottom. I have found dead otters and loons
caught up in coils of wire.” - Possible ways of overcoming
this problem include the use of a monofilament leader –
which will break before the wire line in the event of a snag.
Readers may also wish to consult the following website
www.laketrout.org. Algonquin Eco Watch considers this to
be a significant issue worth pursuing and would welcome
comments and/or suggestions from members.

BULLETS

CNR Decommissioning:

Ownership of the CNR right-ofway remains disputed, with the Canadian National Railways contending that ownership reverted to the Province after abandonment and Ontario Parks refusing ownership pending environmental clean-up. As a result of a further site inspection and collection of slag samples from the roadbed, the Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS) of Environment Canada is conducting heavy metals tests to compare with results obtained by Algonquin Eco Watch, in an effort to determine the harmful effects on birds of ingesting slag.

The Algonquins of Pikwakanagan:

The 2-year Provincially imposed mandate to achieve fundamental grounds for land claim negotiations with the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan expired in March, 2003. While recent correspondence from the Ontario Native Affairs Secretariat to Algonquin Eco Watch (AEW) expresses hope that negotiations will resume AEW continues to express concern regarding the implications of the unresolved problems associated with the harvesting of fish and wildlife populations within the Algonquin Ecosystem.

Graphite Lake:

in May of 2002, a $55,000 fine was imposed by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment (MOE) on the owners of the graphite mine located at the headwaters of the Magnetawan and Tim Rivers. The fine was levied for “failing to comply with a certificate of approval and a control order (relating to water quality monitoring) at the mine”and had a 1-year payment deadline. Also, the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines (MNDM) issued aDirector’s Order for the company to file a Closure Plan within the same time frame. Recent discussions with MOE and MNDM indicate that neither deadline has been met and that those Ministries will be “reviewing and preparing alternative options”. Since the required monitoring was not done, it was not ossible to ascertain the status of previously identified water quality impairment. Algonquin Eco Watch will continue to follow developments in this regard.

Kids’ Camps:

During the summer-fall of 2002, Algonquin Eco
Watch made several presentations and was invited to participate in long-range environmental planning at 3 children’s camps. It is most rewarding to discuss the Algonquin Ecosystem with enthusiastic youths and to see the long-range interest expressed by councilors and camp administrators. We look forward to a future increase in these activities.

Muskoka River Plan:

Algonquin Eco Watch has a seat on the Muskoka River Public Advisory Committee, as part of a study to review the operational management of Crown and privately owned water control structures (dams and hydropower facilities) on the Muskoka River system. Headwaters of both the North and South branches of the Muskoka River are located in Algonquin Park, and water control structures are present on 5 headwater lakes; namely McCraney, Burnt Island, Joe, South Tea and Ragged. The 4 areas of concern that Algonquin Eco Watch intends to pursue are dam integrity (leakage), lake trout egg/fry survival, protection of wetlands, and stable water levels for loon nesting.

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