Importance of Water Quality

Salmon Lake is recognized for its abundance of lake trout, making it imperative for our association to safeguard the water quality, prevent soil erosion along our shores, and uphold the ecological equilibrium of the lake. To fulfill this objective, the Salmon Lake Cottage Owners’ Association (Salacoa) Executive has entrusted one of our directors with the responsibility of managing the lake's environment. Our association has actively participated in the Lake Partner Program, operated by the Dorset Environmental Science Centre (DESC) under the Ministry of the Environment (MOE), and supported by FOCA, as indicated in FOCA's Lake Partner Program summary. Salacoa members have been voluntarily performing Secchi water sampling in Salmon Lake for several years, which entails collecting total phosphorus samples and conducting monthly water clarity assessments. The collected data is submitted to the MOE for early detection of changes in the lake's nutrient levels or water transparency that may result from factors such as shoreline development, climate change, and other forms of stress. To view the sampling results for Ontario, including Salmon Lake's outcomes, visit DESC's Water Quality in Local Lakes page and look for the Lake Reports section. It is worth noting that the data has been acquired through volunteer monitoring efforts. You can also read about Stoney Lake, which used to be a Lake Trout Lake. For details on how we carry out Secchi water sampling in Salmon Lake, refer to the Ontario Ministry of the Environment's guidelines.