Are zebra mussels helping the lake?

No. These foreign creatures who reached our lake by attaching themselves to boats only appear to make things better, because by filtering the water, the water looks clearer. But this clear water allows more sunlight to penetrate and speeds up the growth of weeds and algae and the eutrophication process that is killing our lake.

How do you get rid of the green stuff in the water?

No one likes the dying, stinking weeds that are seen more and more in our waters, so cutting them seems like a good idea. But cutting the weeds, especially in August, causes the weed seeds to spread—and will make the situation worse eventually. It is possible to fix the lake permanently by getting involved with The WAVE:

The WAVE and the Rescue Lake Simcoe Coalition are forces for change.
Contact us.

Are things getting worse?

Sadly, yes. Thirty years have passed since the Government of Ontario first became concerned about the health of Lake Simcoe. The missing ingredients are money, political will, commitment—and people as a force for change.

What is being done now?

There is activity but it adds up to too little progress in the face of continuing population growth. Monitoring of phosphorus has been increased. There are improvements in the handling of urban sewage, and in farming practices. Some retrofitting to reduce urban run-off is underway. Plus, 500 projects have reduced some 18 tonnes of phosphorus in the past decade or so. However, it is not known if these achievements have resulted in any net reduction in phosphorus, as population increases and new development have added additional phosphorus over the same period.

What will it take to fix the lake?

Excellent first steps would be as follows: The Ontario government commits to assisting the “best management practices” outlined by the Conservation Authority to retrofit urban and agricultural runoff sources and undertake new initiatives such as the water treatment plant for the Holland Marsh.

Ontario must also develop the courage to regulate changes. For example, in January 2005, Minnesota imposed bans on phosphorus use. View this document:

Your Lawn and the Environment: Use phosphorus-free lawn fertilizer (252KB PDF)

Reliance on voluntary co-operation no longer seems a reasonable basis for remedy. And once we know how much new development Lake Simcoe can handle, we must abide by what we learn. We must both repair the problem and protect the future.

What will turn the situation around?

People must speak up on behalf of Lake Simcoe, urge greater commitment to rehabilitation and protection, and demand greater accountability from government and the Conservation Authority. There are many examples of how ordinary people can cause change. Political will is a product of political need. Ontario citizens, especially those of us residing or working in the Lake Simcoe watershed, must insist that the Government of Ontario do what it said needed to be done 30 years ago! Getting everyone involved to do this even in small ways is a huge job –but it can happen.