What goes up, Must come down?

These three pictures were all taken from the same spot last year, at the 'boat launch' east of Danceland. There is no denying that the water levels went way up. About 36" higher level or maybe even a bit more than that.







You will note that the big rock to the right is just about submerged by late August. We will be watching this rock before, during and after the spring runoff this year to see where the high-water mark ends up.

Attention Members

Manitou Environmental Group Inc. has a yearly membership fee of $20.00 and we presently have 14 members and growing. Our year end is coming up at the end of March.

Please plan to renew your annual membership and encourage your friends and neighbors who care about the long-term ecological health of Little Manitou Lake to take out a membership as well.

Blue-Green Algae in Little Manitou Lake?

Last summer folks here at Manitou Beach noticed a bloom of bright blue-green colored algae in a sheltered bay just east of the Beach Store. It was a noticeably different color from the algae the usually grows there.

Lots of people expressed concern and alarm about the blue-green colored algae. Was it the toxic strain that was killing livestock in other parts of the country?

A MEGI member collected a pristine sample and shipped it off to an independent laboratory in Regina for analysis. M-R-2-McDonald & Associates (Consulting Engineers) wrote in their letter dated Sept. 20, 2007, in part,

“Attached are the results of the microscopic examinations carried out on the three samples you submitted from Manitou Lake. The dried sample collected Sept. 9 approx. half-way down the lake on the south side was predominantly composed of filaments (trichomes) of the cyanobacteria, Lyngbya sp. Cyanobacteria were previously known as blue-green algae. The genus has been mentioned as being found in previous studies of saline lakes in Saskatchewan. It may grow on submerged surfaces (epiphytic) or free-floating (planktonic). In large numbers, it becomes visible to the naked eye. Based on available reference material, this genus is not known to have toxic strains. The unidentified brown spherical particles may be brine shrimp eggs...

...The species observed from your samples suggest typical phytoplankton populations for Manitou Lake. Although some species may become more abundant periods of ideal growing conditions, and therefore become more noticeable than previously. Without further information, we cannot comment on possible causes.”

So, the good news is,
"NO. The blue-green colored algae is NOT the toxic strain."

Thanks to MEGI Members!

There was a board meeting tonight and we decided to say a special "Thank-You" to our paid members for the year 2007. We are going to start publishing MEGI "FYI" notes in the local newspaper starting next week, so watch for that coming soon to The Watrous Manitou!

We are also going to publicize the blog address, so we'll look forward to hearing any comments or suggestion that our readers might have. This is a great way to share information and concerns that may arise over time.

We have decided to instigate a series of water tests at peak periods at known run-off zones, such as at the sewage/RO waste H2O lagoons; the east side of the lake where there may be run-off from the pig barns just north of there; and the far west side of the lake.

The results of these tests are going to made known to the public both through this blog and the FYI column we are launching (the plan is to publish a blurb right after every monthly Board meeting) so watch for that.