2008 Watershed Report Card
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Surface Water Quality Data
Each grade was determined by taking the average grade for Phosphorous, Nutrients, and Metals. For the nutrient grade, four parameters were input into the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment Water Quality Index (CCME WQI). The parameters were: Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen, Dissolved Nitrogen, Total Phosphorous, and Dissolved Oxygen.
The CCME WQI was also used to determine a grade for metals. The parameters that were input into the index were: Cadmium, Lead, Zinc, Aluminum, Cobalt, Iron, and Hardness.
Based on the WQI score ranges, points, which corresond to specific grades, were assigned.
| WQI |
| WQI Score |
Point Score |
Grade |
| 95 -100 |
Excellent |
5 |
A |
| 80 - 94 |
Good |
4 |
B |
| 65 - 79 |
Fair |
3 |
C |
| 45 - 64 |
Marginal |
2 |
D |
| 0 - 44 |
Poor |
1 |
F |
Phosphorous level ranges were also assigned points which correspond to specific grades. Different ranges were used for rivers and lakes.
| Total Phosphorous: Lakes |
| Phosphorous Range |
Point Score |
Grade |
| 0 - 10 ug/L |
5 |
A |
| 10 - 20 ug/L |
4 |
B |
| 20 - 30 ug/L |
3 |
C |
| 30 - 60 ug/L |
2 |
D |
| >60 ug/L |
1 |
F |
| Total Phosphorous: Rivers, Subwatersheds |
| Phosphorous Range |
Point Score |
Grade |
| 0 - 20 ug/L |
5 |
A |
| 20 - 30 ug/L |
4 |
B |
| 30 - 60 ug/L |
3 |
C |
| 60 - 100 ug/L |
2 |
D |
| >100 ug/L |
1 |
F |
Total Phosphorous was weighted heavily due to its significance as a limiting nutrient in freshwater ecosystems.
Lakes
| Lake |
Phosphorous (ug/L) |
CCME WQI Nutrients |
CCME WQI Metals |
Grade |
| Lake Scugog |
21 |
71.1 |
67.7 |
C |
| Sturgeon Lake |
21 |
70.9 |
48.5 |
C |
| Balsam Lake |
14 |
71.1 |
63.1 |
C |
| Cameron Lake |
14 |
85.4 |
63.8 |
C |
| Pigeon Lake |
19 |
78.2 |
52.7 |
C |
| AVERAGE |
17.8 |
75.34 |
59.16 |
C |
Rivers
| Lake Scugog Watershed |
| Subwatershed |
Phosphorous (ug/L) |
CCME WQI Nutrients |
CCME WQI Metals |
Grade |
| Lake Scugog |
21 |
71.1 |
67.7 |
C |
| Layton River |
54 |
54.5 |
59.5 |
D |
| Nonquon River |
55 |
39.9 |
47.5 |
D |
| Blackstock Creek |
54 |
52.6 |
48.8 |
D |
| South Scugog Tributaries |
80 |
38.4 |
57.9 |
D |
| AVERAGE |
53 |
51.292 |
56.280 |
D |
| Lake Sturgeon Watershed |
| Subwatershed |
Phosphorous (ug/L) |
CCME WQI Nutrients |
CCME WQI Metals |
Grade |
| Sturgeon Lake |
21 |
70.9 |
48.5 |
C |
| East Cross Creek |
43 |
55 |
100 |
C |
| Janetville Creek |
53 |
66.5 |
100 |
B |
| Stoney Creek |
ld* |
ld |
ld |
n/a |
| Scugog River |
26 |
56.3 |
58.8 |
C |
| Mariposa Brook |
38 |
40.9 |
38.4 |
B |
| Mclarens Creek |
ld |
ld |
ld |
n/a |
| Emily Creek |
21 |
100 |
100 |
A |
| Martin Creek North |
ld |
ld |
ld |
n/a |
| Hawkers Creek |
ld |
ld |
ld |
n/a |
| Rutherford Creek |
ld |
ld |
ld |
n/a |
| AVERAGE |
34 |
64.933 |
74.283 |
C |
* Limited Data
| Pigeon Lake Watershed |
| Subwatershed |
Phosphorous (ug/L) |
CCME WQI Nutrients |
CCME WQI Metals |
Grade |
| Pigeon Lake |
19 |
78.2 |
52.7 |
C |
| Pigeon River |
17 |
85.5 |
56.9 |
B |
| Fleetwood Creek |
ld |
ld |
ld |
n/a |
| Nogies Creek /Crystal Lake |
ld |
ld |
ld |
n/a |
| AVERAGE |
18 |
81.850 |
54.800 |
B |
| Cameron Lake Watershed |
| Subwatershed |
Phosphorous (ug/L) |
CCME WQI Nutrients |
CCME WQI Metals |
Grade |
| Cameron Lake |
14 |
85.4 |
63.8 |
C |
| Pearns Creek |
90 |
70.4 |
100 |
C |
| Martin Creek South |
32 |
54.6 |
89.8 |
C |
| AVERAGE |
45 |
70.133 |
84.533 |
C |
| Balsam Lake Watershed |
| Subwatershed |
Phosphorous (ug/L) |
CCME WQI Nutrients |
CCME WQI Metals |
Grade |
| Balsam Lake |
14 |
71.1 |
63.1 |
C |
| Staples River |
47 |
52.2 |
86.4 |
C |
| AVERAGE |
30 |
61.650 |
74.750 |
C |
