Invasive Species Threatening Lake Clear
This information was provided by the LCPOA Environment Committee, December 2020.
Since humans first began travelling to and from Canada, plants, animals and micro-organisms that are not native to our ecosystems have been introduced; some intentionally for aesthetics or recreation purposes, and some as unwelcome guests on ships, boats, cars, firewood and even hiking boots. Many non-native organisms have not survived or spread, but there are others that are persistent and have thrived, choking out our native species and wreaking havoc with our environment. These are the ones we call Invasive Species.
We all love and prosper in and around our Lake Clear paradise and need to be observant and diligent environmental stewards to keep the water and land healthy so that we can continue to enjoy the pristine waters, wildlife viewing and shade from our majestic trees.
On the following pages are descriptions of some invasive species threatening our local environment. If you are interested in getting more information, excellent websites are listed at the end of this article.
Report any new sightings to the Ontario Invasive Species Hotline at 1-800-563-7711.
Ontario’s Invasive Species Awareness Program www.invadingspecies.com
We all love and prosper in and around our Lake Clear paradise and need to be observant and diligent environmental stewards to keep the water and land healthy so that we can continue to enjoy the pristine waters, wildlife viewing and shade from our majestic trees.
On the following pages are descriptions of some invasive species threatening our local environment. If you are interested in getting more information, excellent websites are listed at the end of this article.
Report any new sightings to the Ontario Invasive Species Hotline at 1-800-563-7711.
Ontario’s Invasive Species Awareness Program www.invadingspecies.com
IsampleON Program
In 2021, the Lake Clear Cottagers Association (LCPOA) was invited by FOCA and the Invasive Species Centre (ISC) to participate in a new citizen-targeted science program. The new IsampleON program was successful in collecting water samples from 25 selected lakes to monitor for invasive mussels and spiny waterflea. The results of this first year of the program are now available in the attachment “Toolkit for Protecting Your Lake from Aquatic Invasive Species.” It is likely that water sampling and testing will also address other invasive species over time.
Lake Clear was one of 25 inland Ontario lakes selected to participate in this new program, since it was deemed to be 'at risk' because of its high calcium levels. Unfortunately, Lake Clear has tested positive for zebra mussel veligers which will require the residents of the lake to heed the warning and prepare for the negative impacts of the zebra mussels. Fortunately, Lake Clear tested negative for Spiny Waterflea.
While residents were already well aware of the presence of Zebra Mussels, this program has the potential to inform us of other invasive species in the future.
In the attachment, there is a wealth of information on invasive species and how we, as citizens, can do our part to prevent further spread.
In 2021, the Lake Clear Cottagers Association (LCPOA) was invited by FOCA and the Invasive Species Centre (ISC) to participate in a new citizen-targeted science program. The new IsampleON program was successful in collecting water samples from 25 selected lakes to monitor for invasive mussels and spiny waterflea. The results of this first year of the program are now available in the attachment “Toolkit for Protecting Your Lake from Aquatic Invasive Species.” It is likely that water sampling and testing will also address other invasive species over time.
Lake Clear was one of 25 inland Ontario lakes selected to participate in this new program, since it was deemed to be 'at risk' because of its high calcium levels. Unfortunately, Lake Clear has tested positive for zebra mussel veligers which will require the residents of the lake to heed the warning and prepare for the negative impacts of the zebra mussels. Fortunately, Lake Clear tested negative for Spiny Waterflea.
While residents were already well aware of the presence of Zebra Mussels, this program has the potential to inform us of other invasive species in the future.
In the attachment, there is a wealth of information on invasive species and how we, as citizens, can do our part to prevent further spread.
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2023 IsampleON – eDNA Results for Water Soldier
During the 2023 season the IsampleON program piloted an Environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling methodology to monitor for the presence of the invasive plant “water soldier." (www.invadingspecies.com/invaders/aquatic-plants/water-soldier-2/). The results of the 2023 season (isampleon-edna-results-report-for-samplers-2023.pdf) indicate that the samples from Lake Clear were "negative". This result only means that it was not captured in the samples. Invasive species could be elsewhere in the lake or too low in abundance to detect.
What is eDNA monitoring?
eDNA monitoring is a method of sampling to detect genetic material shed by organisms into the environment. Genetic material can be detected from any cells that are shed from organisms. Using eDNA grants us the opportunity to get the jump on invasive species because it can support detection early in the invasion process from even small amounts of genetic material. eDNA slots in well for early detection in part because it is quick, easy and it detects specific species, like invasive species.
What is eDNA monitoring?
eDNA monitoring is a method of sampling to detect genetic material shed by organisms into the environment. Genetic material can be detected from any cells that are shed from organisms. Using eDNA grants us the opportunity to get the jump on invasive species because it can support detection early in the invasion process from even small amounts of genetic material. eDNA slots in well for early detection in part because it is quick, easy and it detects specific species, like invasive species.
Another interesting FOCA resource:
For more information on our website:
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Aquatic Fish & Invertebrates
Aquatic Invasive Plants
Terrestrial Invasive Plants
Invasive Insects & Forest Diseases
Aquatic Invasive Plants
Terrestrial Invasive Plants
Invasive Insects & Forest Diseases
Thank you to the following information sources:
https://www.eddmaps.org/ontario/Species/
http://www.invadingspecies.com/
http://ontario.ca/page/managing-invasive-species-ontario
https://www.invasivespeciescentre.ca/
http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/facts/noxious_weeds.htm
https://www.ontarioinvasiveplants.ca/invasive-plants/species/
https://www.invasiveinsects.ca/hwa/hwa.html
http://www.shadowlakeassociation.org
https://www.eddmaps.org/ontario/Species/
http://www.invadingspecies.com/
http://ontario.ca/page/managing-invasive-species-ontario
https://www.invasivespeciescentre.ca/
http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/facts/noxious_weeds.htm
https://www.ontarioinvasiveplants.ca/invasive-plants/species/
https://www.invasiveinsects.ca/hwa/hwa.html
http://www.shadowlakeassociation.org
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