Holistic approach needed to fix lake levels

Re: Lower lake levels threaten power supply, May 23

This article is a timely reminder of the inter-connectedness between Ontario’s environment and its human population, but does not quite capture the whole story. Lower lake levels will result in less power available from hydro-electric generating stations, as well as in stranded docks and exposed rocks in cottage country. But they may also result in increased dredging costs for marinas, reduced loads on Great Lakes ships, the loss of coastal wetlands, changes in fish species, and potential impacts on municipal infrastructure such as the re-location of drinking water in-take pipes.

More importantly from an ecological perspective, lake levels tend to be an early indicator of what is transpiring upstream. If a lake is down 1.5 meters, what has already taken place upstream? Is a drier climate reducing our wetland complexes? Have small streams withered? Are whole forests drier, with greater potential for fire, pest infestation, and other impacts? Here we are in the middle of spring, and Ontario has already enacted a ban on outdoor burning in parts of Northeastern Ontario.

Ontario’s lakes do not exist in isolation but are distilled in our headwater areas. While society may focus on our big lakes, the reality is that small streams and wetlands make up 50 to 80 per cent of the length of our rivers, contribute up to 90 per cent of a river’s flow, and contribute the majority of a watershed’s bio-diversity.

We will not re-fill our lakes by turning on some magic tap. We need a holistic approach that embraces reduced greenhouse gas emissions, enhancement to Ontario’s already strong ethic of stewardship, and integrated watershed management that includes watershed-scale water budgets, expanded stream gauge monitoring, and enhanced protection of our headwaters — the foundation of our watersheds, and our lakes.