Latest news with #LakeSimcoe
CBC
08-08-2025
- General
- CBC
Experts say invasive plant in Lake Simcoe can injure swimmers, harm the environment
Experts are warning about the harmful impacts of an invasive aquatic plant in Lake Simcoe, nearly 100 kilometres north of Toronto. Water soldier is not new to the province, but it was spotted for the first time in Lake Simcoe last year. The perennial aquatic plant is prohibited under Ontario's Invasive Species Act. The plant has long, thin, serrated leaves that grow in a circular pattern, according to the Invasive Species Centre, a non-profit. The plant forms dense mats that crowd out other vegetation and may alter water chemistry, impacting native aquatic species. Water soldier can be submerged up to five metres under water but floats to the surface in the summer. "It will cut you up if you handle the plant or try to swim around the plant. So what we're trying to do is mitigate its spread," said Brook Schryer, an advisor for the Invading Species Awareness Program with the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters Foundation. Water soldier is used as an ornamental plant in water gardens, the likely source of its introduction to the province, according to the Ministry of Natural Resources. "This plant is a severe risk to recreational activities and it's a threat to wildlife such as fishes, waterfowl and migratory birds," Schryer said, noting the potential impact to the economy as well. Members of the water soldier working group quickly mobilized to survey the area when it was first spotted. The group includes government officials, Indigenous organizations, conservation authorities, and other environmental groups. To date, surveys have shown the infestation to be limited to Cook's Bay, but the worry is that it will spread to other areas of Lake Simcoe. Right now the work being done is focused on evaluating the extent of this invasion, according to the province, and next steps will be managing plans for control and treatment. WATCH | Inside Canada's quiet war against invasive carp: DFO's Alex Price explains his team's mission 15 days ago Judy Dwyer's property backs onto the lake, and the plant is already impacting her. She said she will wear gloves and pull the plants that are nearby her dock, but they come back quickly. "I haven't swam this year. And I have grandchildren and I'd love for the kids to swim in the water, but I don't want them to now," Dwyer said. Schryer says there has been a lot of support from various government agencies, but he hopes to see more funding from the federal government to help tackle the issue. CBC Toronto has reached out to Fisheries and Oceans Canada for comment. "I've been working on aquatic invasive species for 10 years and you know, given the economy and user base of Lake Simcoe, this is probably of top priority," Schryer said. How residents can help In the few other areas of the province with water soldier, it's been extremely challenging to handle, says Colin Cassin, executive director of the Invasive Species Centre. "Just getting the boat in and out, a canoe, kayak, just swimming off the dock or off the sandy beach, it can really impede how we use our lakes," he said, adding that residents can also do their part to help. "It looks like the top of a pineapple or a household spider plant," Cassin said. "If you see something like that floating in the water, especially in Lake Simcoe, the best thing you can do is report it." EDDmapS website.
CBC
08-08-2025
- Science
- CBC
This invasive plant in Lake Simcoe can injure swimmers, experts warn
Experts are sounding the alarm about the spread of an invasive aquatic plant in Lake Simcoe. CBC's Talia Ricci explores how the plant species could affect the environment, recreational activity and, eventually, the economy.
CTV News
16-07-2025
- Science
- CTV News
What the pesky swarm of mayflies say about the health of our lakes
They appear in massive, pesky, swarms striking an unusual reaction from anyone living near the water. But before swatting them away or complaining about their creepy appearance and substantial presence it's worth asking: What are these insects good for? Despite their name, mayflies or shadflies, these critters typically appear in late spring and summer especially around freshwater lakes and rivers. They gather in large numbers near cottages, hanging in clusters from street lights and swarming around boardwalks. Though short-lived, their lives often begin underwater where they play an essential role in our local ecosystems. According to the National Wildlife Federation, Mayfly larvae, spend up to a year beneath the water's surface, feeding on yummy plants and organic debris. They serve as food for fish, amphibians, and birds alike. Mayflies Pesky mayflies swarm Lake Simcoe. (Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority - LSRCA) But surprisingly enough their value doesn't stop there. 'Mayflies are a natural bioindicator,' says the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority in Newmarket. 'They thrive only in clean, oxygen-rich water. When we see them emerge in large numbers, we know the water is healthy.' Lake Simcoe, specifically, sees massive mayfly emergences each year. Believe it or not, this swarm is actually an encouraging sign according to conservationists out of Newmarket. These large-winged insects even inspired the name of the authority's research vessel. 'Their scientific name is the namesake of our research boat and reflects our ultimate goal of a healthy Lake Simcoe,' shared the local conservation authority. While they may seem like a nuisance to some, mayflies tell an important story about the water we swim in. These oddly large bugs aren't just a summertime spectacle, they're a reminder that the ecosystem is functioning properly. So the next time you are at the cottage or enjoying a day on the lake and you stumble across this odd critter that may cloud your headlights or cover your dock, just remember... their presence is actually a positive sign.
CBC
24-06-2025
- Science
- CBC
Meet the beach cleaning robot scrubbing Ontario parks clean
Don't be alarmed if you see a Zamboni-like rover roaming Ontario's shores this summer — it's a beach cleaning robot being tested in some provincial parks. The robot, called a BeBot, is a remotely operated and fully electric machine that removes plastic, glass, metal, paper and other debris from beaches with sand-sifting technology. "This technology allows us to capture some of the larger pieces of plastic before they actually enter the water," said Melissa DeYoung, CEO of environmental organization Pollution Probe, which launched the BeBot in partnership with the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. DeYoung said it is "critically important" to remove litter and plastic before they enter lakes since they commonly break down into microplastics that can impact wildlife in the water. "We'll never be able to remove all of the plastic that's found in the environment, but what we can do is collect data on the types of plastic we're finding and then we have a very good sense of what the sources might be and where that plastic might be coming from," said DeYoung. The BeBot can clean up to 3,000 square metres per hour for up to eight hours and can remove the equivalent of around 19 bowling balls worth of plastic in one use, said DeYoung. The robot is battery-powered with a solar panel on the back and has a top speed of just below three kilometres per hour. The BeBot began its litter-cleaning work on the shores of Lake Simcoe at Sibbald Point Provincial Park this week, and will make its way to Inverhuron Provincial Park on Lake Huron in the next month. Then, it will head to Lake Erie's Long Point Provincial Park in late July and August, and Sandbanks Provincial Park and Darlington Provincial Park on Lake Ontario near the end of the summer. While removing litter is its main job, DeYoung said the robot's tour across the province also aims to encourage people to reduce waste. "Sometimes people think we don't have an issue because they can't spot that plastic in the water," DeYoung said. "So having this technology that's highly visible out on the beach while we're working invites people to come in and discuss what we're doing and then we can have those types of conversations that are required to have long-term solutions." Pollution Probe first launched its initiative to remove plastic from the Great Lakes — called The Great Lakes Plastic Cleanup — in 2020 alongside the Council of the Great Lakes Region. DeYoung said the group had previously piloted the BeBot in the United States and was looking to find partners to bring it to Canada, leading to its collaboration with the Ontario government and Unsmoke Canada. Andrew Dowie, parliamentary assistant to Environment Minister Todd McCarthy, said the Ontario government has provided almost $1 million to Pollution Probe's efforts to tackle plastic pollution around the Great Lakes since 2021.
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Canada's first beach cleaning robot is coming to Ontario's parks this summer
SUTTON WEST — Don't be alarmed if you see a Zamboni-like rover roaming Ontario's shores this summer – it's a beach cleaning robot being tested in some provincial parks. The robot, called a BeBot, is a remotely operated and fully electric machine that removes plastic, glass, metal, paper and other debris from beaches with sand-sifting technology. 'This technology allows us to capture some of the larger pieces of plastic before they actually enter the water,' said Melissa DeYoung, CEO of environmental organization Pollution Probe, which launched the BeBot in partnership with the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. DeYoung said it is 'critically important' to remove litter and plastic before they enters lakes since they commonly break down into microplastics that can impact wildlife in the water. 'We'll never be able to remove all of the plastic that's found in the environment, but what we can do is collect data on the types of plastic we're finding and then we have a very good sense of what the sources might be and where that plastic might be coming from,' said DeYoung. The BeBot can clean up to 3,000 square metres per hour for up to eight hours and can remove the equivalent of around 19 bowling balls worth of plastic in one use, said DeYoung. The robot is battery-powered with a solar panel on the back and has a top speed of just below three kilometres per hour. The BeBot began its litter-cleaning work on the shores of Lake Simcoe at Sibbald Point Provincial Park this week, and will make its way to Inverhuron Provincial Park on Lake Huron in the next month. Then, it will head to Lake Erie's Long Point Provincial Park in late July and August, and Sandbanks Provincial Park and Darlington Provincial Park on Lake Ontario near the end of the summer. While removing litter is its main job, DeYoung said the robot's tour across the province also aims to encourage people to reduce waste. 'Sometimes people think we don't have an issue because they can't spot that plastic in the water,' DeYoung said. 'So having this technology that's highly visible out on the beach while we're working invites people to come in and discuss what we're doing and then we can have those types of conversations that are required to have long-term solutions.' Pollution Probe first launched its initiative to remove plastic from the Great Lakes – called The Great Lakes Plastic Cleanup – in 2020 alongside the Council of the Great Lakes Region. DeYoung said the group had previously piloted the BeBot in the United States and was looking to find partners to bring it to Canada, leading to its collaboration with the Ontario government and Unsmoke Canada. Andrew Dowie, parliamentary assistant to Environment Minister Todd McCarthy, said the Ontario government has provided almost $1 million to Pollution Probe's efforts to tackle plastic pollution around the Great Lakes since 2021. The beach cleaning robot will join more than 160 plastic capturing technologies already in use by Pollution Probe, DeYoung said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 24, 2025. Vanessa Tiberio, The Canadian Press Connectez-vous pour accéder à votre portefeuille
