As development thrives along the shores of the Black Sturgeon Lakes, concern about the environmental impact also grows. As stewards of the lakes and lands, the City of Kenora is committed to monitoring the water quality of the Black Sturgeon Lakes.
Current report
Kenora Resource Consultants Inc. conducts water quality assessment ff Black Sturgeon Lakes and provides a final report to the City. The 2022 Black Sturgeon Lakes Water Quality Monitoring Report notes that the summer of 2022 was characterized by high water levels throughout the region. Significant rains and snowmelt in the early spring resulted in high water levels in Black Sturgeon Lakes in the spring and throughout most of the summer.
Sampling was conducted in spring and late summer. The phosphorous levels were below the 0.02 mg/L provincial water quality objective (PWQO). This is the tenth year of water sampling on Black Sturgeon Lakes and the phosphorous results have been below the PWQO for eight of these years, including the past two sampling seasons.
Reports
View the list of water quality reports.
2021 Black Sturgeon Lakes Water Quality Monitoring Report
2020 Black Sturgeon Lakes Water Quality Monitoring Report
2019 Black Sturgeon Lakes Water Quality Monitoring Report
2018 Black Sturgeon Water Quality Monitoring Report
2017 Black Sturgeon Water Quality Monitoring Report
2016 Black Sturgeon Water Quality Monitoring Report
2015 Black Sturgeon Lakes Water Quality Monitoring Report and Presentation
2010 Black Sturgeon Lakes Water Quality Monitoring Report
2009 Black Sturgeon Lakes Water Quality Monitoring Report
2007 Black Sturgeon Lake Capacity and Management Report
Background
A lake management plan for Black Sturgeon Lake was a priority project in 2007. The study showed a series of recommendations based on best management practices for managing the basin and surrounding lands.
In 2009 and 2010, the water quality in Lower and Upper Black Sturgeon Lakes were studied. The results of these tests provided data to compare future samples. In 2015, it was determined annual reporting would better serve monitoring efforts.
Additionally, the City of Kenora Official Plan (2015) included land use policy recommendations for the Black Sturgeon Lakes based on the best management practices identified in the 2007 study. Development restrictions are some of the critical components of the Official Plan, such as:
- larger frontages for new lots;
- limited number of new lots; and
- consistent water quality monitoring.
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