In June 2020, Friends of Swan Lake Park outlined a proposed action plan for the city of Markham that would restore both Swan Lake and Swan Lake Park.
Short Term Action Plan
- Reverse the policy that defines Swan Lake as a Stormwater Pond
Swan Lake was designed as a community recreational centre with a robust aquatic environment. In 2005 the City unilaterally, without any public discussion, adopted a policy to manage the lake as a stormwater pond. Under this policy the broader community roles were abandoned, water quality has deteriorated, most fish and aquatic plant life have died and the lake is now dying.
We request that Council reinstate the original purpose and community objectives for Swan Lake and Swan Lake Park.
- Establish Management Goals for Water Quality
Immediately implement the recommendations of Freshwater Research for the establishment of management goals for water quality in the lake and the establishment of trigger mechanism’s to ensure prompt remedial treatment in the future.
The initial goal should be to restore water quality to the mid-point of the Eutrophic category -levels attained following the initial Phoslock treatment in 2013. The ultimate long term goal should be to achieve Mesotrophic status (see page 15).
- Immediately Treat the Legacy Phosphorus in the Swan Lake
Immediately implement the recommendations of Freshwater Research to treat the buildup of excessive phosphorus with a chemical treatment of either Phoslock or aluminum.
Following the chemical treatment, invest in aeration and water circulation equipment that will increase oxygen levels and help reduce internal phosphorus load in the lake. Starting in fall of 2020, pump out 10% of the phosphorus laden water (see page 55).
Due to the existence of cyanobacteria in the lake, we ask that Markham post health risk warning signs at the lake, temporality ban fishing in the lake and either remove the fountain or move it further into the lake until the water quality in the lake is restored.
- Improve Effectiveness of the Goose Management Program
Engage an expert adviser to assess the comprehensiveness of the current geese mitigation program, to perhaps propose additional actions such as ways to reduce the attractiveness of the habitat and the feasibility of alternatives such as relocation and culling of the geese. Secondly, install strobe lights in the lake to disturb the migratory geese (see page 64).
- Engage and Adopt the Standards of the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority
Adopt the standards of the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority and enlist their support to undertake an environmental assessment of both the land based and aquatic elements in the Swan Lake Park, similar to a recent study undertaken for Toogood Pond (see Appendix C).
Long Term Action Plan
- Implement Long Term Sustainable Solutions for Water Quality
Implement programs that will help reduce the phosphorus sources that contribute to the annual build up in the lake, invest in physical alterations in the lake and restore core aquatic plants and fish that will further sustain the water quality. We estimate these actions could reduce phosphorus entering the Lake each year by 30-45% (see page 25).
Commit to a program of a Phoslock or aluminum treatment every 3 years if the above programs are not sufficient to maintain the water quality goals.
- Implement Environmental Restoration Programs
Develop and implement a long term environmental restoration plan for all elements in Swan Lake and Swan Lake Park.
- Establish a Stewardship Plan
Establish a long term Stewardship Plan recognizing the broader community and environmental role of Swan Lake Park with management goals and responsibilities addressing all recreational and environmental elements in Swan Lake and Swan Lake Park (see page 31).
We request that Council ask city staff to implement a sustainable solution for Swan Lake and Swan Lake Park building upon the foundation of improved water quality in Swan Lake and we ask for your support for the budgetary approval necessary for a comprehensive restoration program.
Immediate Action in 2020
There are two immediate initiatives that we request Council approve for implementation in 2020 at a cost of less than $8,000.
Canada geese represent over 50% of the annual source of excess phosphorus that enters Swan Lake each year. We recommend the placement of floating strobe lights on the lake this summer to disrupt geese from staying on the lake at night.
Our second recommendation is that the city hires the independent expert adviser we recommended to identify opportunities to enhance the City’s current goose mitigation program and to identify ways to reduce the attractiveness of the habitat. This expert spent his career with Wildlife Services Canada and has developed relocation programs for other municipalities which perhaps may help Swan Lake.