Water Quality
Life at the lake is wonderful… because of the lake. Our actions impact the quality of Kasshabog water so we need to do everything possible to keep it healthy.
Algae
Many have reported an increase in Algae over the years and that isn’t good news.
What are the major causes of excess algae on Kasshabog?
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Runoff (both soil and nutrients) from lawns
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Faulty or improperly functioning septic systems
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Lawn and garden fertilizers
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Use of household cleaners that contain phosphate
We can all do our part by eliminating (or at least greatly reducing) our impact so we can continue to enjoy Kasshabog water activities.
Lake Partners Program
Water clarity (Secchi Disk) testing has been done on Kasshabog in three areas (Main/Big Lake; MacDonalds Bay; Connors Bay) since 1996. The information is submitted to the Lake Partner program. Information about the Lake Partner program and the results can be found on the FOCA website.
Septic Systems
Safe disposal of wastewater is so important for our water quality and a properly designed and functioning septic system is key: a defective system can risk contaminating the lake and degrading the water quality. As a general rule, septic systems should be pumped out/inspected every 3-5 years.
FOCA Septic Systems Fact Sheet.pdf
Polystyrene Flotation Devices
Years ago, little was known of the dangers of polystyrene floatation docks. Here's a quick refresher on what they look like and why they are harmful to our lake. Polystyrene Flotation Devices
Trent Aquatic Research Program (TARP)
LKRA partners with the Trent Aquatic Research Program (TARP). Every year TARP associates come to Kasshabog to take water samples for analysis. On August 17, 2022, Kate and Melanie arrived for the annual series of water quality tests. This testing is part of a long-term project to track any trends or changes to our water quality. It is also part of a larger project analyzing water quality across the region. Water testing took place in North Connors Bay just outside the public launch. While we enjoy quite good water quality in Kasshabog it’s up to all of us to continue protecting our shorelands and avoid adding anything to the lake (eg, chemicals/fertilizer, soaps, oil/gas, etc.) that will compromise its health.
Terry Rees navigator & Kate Kate transferring samples Vertical Profiling System
The vertical profiling system you see Kate holding in the right photo is used by TARP scientists. It is a monitoring instrument that measures water quality at multiple depths throughout the water column including temperature, dissolved oxygen pH, and chlorophyll.
The TARP sampling program establishes an ongoing record of various water quality measurements to monitor lake water quality measurements and changes over time. The measurements also provide a basis for comparison with other lakes in our area. Below are links to some recent TARP reports.
Find below a helpful TARP background report which is a primer on what is being measured and the significance of each element measured. It will assist you in interpreting results.