Protecting the Ecological Health of Lake Simcoe

Protecting the Ecological Health of Lake Simcoe

There have been a myriad of articles written by a great variety of concerned citizens about the

 importance of not transforming the Allandale Station Parkland into a plastic-

based AstroTurf soccer field. 

The large majority of the letters and articles I have read highlight the importance of enhancing our

 biodiversity and therefore leaving the area naturalized to provide food sources for

 all the wildlife that make the green spaces along our Lake shore their home. 

So far, I have not read any articles on the importance of maintaining and protecting a ribbon of life

 along the Lake shore to maintain and enhance the ecological health of Lake Simcoe, itself.

Before we rip out and destroy the native and naturalized plants thriving along the shores of

 Kempenfelt Bay to create a soccer field, we need to question the value and purpose of the

 original, native trees, shrubs, grasses, and wildflowers.

The numerous benefits of naturally grown vegetative-rich shorelines with a jumble of flora cannot be overstated.

It turns out that 70% of land-based animals and 90% of the aquatic plants and wildlife depend on a

 vegetative-rich ribbon of life along the shoreline. (Kipp and Callaway, 2003).

The shoreline zone with lots of native plants helps maintain a balance of sensitive aquatic ecosystems.

 All kinds of critical habitats are readily available for a variety of wildlife such as fish, mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, and insects.

Over 90% of the aquatic life, such as fish, turtles and amphibians which live in rivers, lakes, and ponds

 depend on shorelines, deemed to be some of the richest and most productive

 ecological land on Earth, for their survival! This jumble of shrubs, trees, reeds, cattails, and native

 wildflowers known as the Ribbon of Life provides food, shelter, protection, and

 spawning areas for all kinds of aquatic animals in the lake and along the shoreline.

Some varieties of fish lay their eggs in the waters next to the shoreline.

The shading of towering deciduous and coniferous trees can cool water temperatures along the

 shoreline. If the water temperature becomes too warm, it can negatively affect the

 development of the eggs and larvae.

Another benefit of tall native trees occurs when the trees die and tumble into the lake.

Those dead trees will continue to provide habitats for a great variety of aquatic life in the lake. A dead

 tree that has collapsed into the lake may live for another 600 years!

A mature fallen tree laying at the bottom of the lake will attract crayfish, minnows, mud puppies,

 tadpoles, a variety of fish, dragonfly nymphs, mayflies, wood ducks, soft shell turtles,

 blue herons, diatoms, and algae. A new community of life will be created among the multitude of

 branches on the trees. The organisms will continue to use the tree until its cellulose

 has completely broken down and the chemical constituents have been fully integrated into the web of life in the lake.

When we grow, maintain, and protect a variety of native trees, shrubs, and wildflowers, the shoreline

 will benefit from different root structures that work to hold the shoreline together.

Consequently, a huge network of roots from mature trees will help significantly in preventing soil from

 eroding into the lake by summer waves and winter ice.

As well, a riot of native and naturalized plants will act like a sponge and help protect the lake from too

 much silt which can negatively impact the water quality of the lake.

Nitrogen and phosphorus are great for growing lush plants. But too much nutrient runoff from quick-

release fertilizers, sewage plants, and detergents can be deadly to a lake leaving it virtually lifeless!

Through a process called eutrophication the chemicals over-fertilize the water creating thick, smelly,

 nasty-looking algal bloom. When these unpleasant messes start to decay bacteria

 increase and oxygen levels drop dramatically. Cold-water fish that should be abundant in Lake Simcoe

 such as trout, herring and whitefish suffocate and die! Unfortunately, other fish that need less oxygen

 such as invasive carp survive!

The UK's leading woodland conservation charity, the Woodland Trust, has recently highlighted an external study which

 concludes that maintaining and planting more trees along the shoreline is an effective way

 of preventing excessive algae growth. So, it appears that we can reduce eutrophication in Lake Simcoe by the

 simple act of planting more trees.

It makes me wonder how many trees, native flowers, native grasses and native berry shrubs we can

 plant in the space originally designated for a plastic-based soccer field?

In conclusion, by ensuring that we environmentally protect green spaces along the lake, not only

 will we increase biodiversity, habitats, and food sources for wildlife on the land,

 but we will also improve the ecological health of Lake Simcoe.