South Lake Scugog

The South Scugog Tributaries are located just south of Lake Scugog and are bordered by the Nonquon River to the west, Blackstock Creek to the East, the Oak Ridges Moraine to the south. Water flows off of the Oak Ridges Moraine northward into Lake Scugog through a number of unnamed creeks and rivers.

View a map of the South Scugog Tributaries Watershed

Watershed characteristics

Learn about the characteristics of the South Scugog Tributaries watershed.

Environmental conditions

The following grades show the environmental conditions for the South Scugog Tributaries watershed.

The surface water quality grade was based on total phosphorous (TP) and/or benthic macroinvertebrates (aquatic insects) family biotic index (FBI). The provincial water quality objective for TP in rivers and streams is 0.03 mg/L and 0.02 mg/L in lakes. These guidelines were set because levels highter than these guildelines provide conditions for nuisance algae and aquatic plant growth. A TP value below 0.03 mg/L (rivers) or 0.02 (lakes) meets the provincial guidelines and is in the B (good) or A (excellent) grade range, while the result for benthic macroinvertebrates must be 5.00 or lower to receive a B (good) or A (very good to excellent) grade.

Nitrogen levels are excellent and fall below the Provincial Drinking Water Maximum Acceptable Concentration of 10 mg/L. Chloride levels are slightly elevated, but still fall below the Provincial Aesthetic Objective of 250 mg/L for drinking water. Groundwater quality results from the wells do not represent groundwater quality across the subwatershed, but rather, the water quality within the aquifer in which the well is located.

The combined forest conditions grade for South Scugog Tributaries is ranked as poor.