FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, June 10, 2020

Markham Council Asked to Initiate Planning for Restoration of Swan Lake and Swan Lake Park

Markham, ON – Today, the Friends of Swan Lake Park asked Markham Council to direct city staff to report within one year on the initial steps essential to the restoration of Swan Lake and Swan Lake Park.

The group of Markham residents submitted their recommendations and their Pathway to Sustainability report to the General Committee of Council in response to a city staff report asking for funding approval for ongoing chemical treatments essential to control water quality issues in Swan Lake.

Fred Peters, spokesperson for the group, says that the staff proposal for ongoing chemical treatment will help reduce the risk of harmful cyanobacteria in the lake and prevent further deterioration of the environmental elements but more is required to improve the water quality to a level that restores aquatic life to the lake.

Recommended Action Plan for Environmental Restoration of Swan Lake and Swan Lake Park

The group believes that as Steward of Swan Lake and Swan Lake Park, Markham has an obligation to ensure a long term environmental solution that serves future generations. The Committee was asked to:

  • Adopt the staff recommendation for periodic chemical treatments and the “interim” goal of keeping phosphorus levels below 150 micrograms per litre;
  • To support continuation of the current water quality monitoring and goose management initiatives;
  • To authorize the staff to spend up to $10,000 in 2020 for expert advice on geese relocation and for the installation of strobe lights on Swan Lake in 2020 to reduce the impact of geese on the Lake;
  • To reject the staff request for a Fish Management Program focused on killing more fish and further environmental destruction;
  • To ask the staff to report back to the Committee within one year on what programs and related costs would be required to improve oxygen levels in Swan Lake adequate enough to support a Fish Management Program that restores the variety of fish in the Lake and sufficient to implement improved goals with phosphorus levels below 100 micrograms per litre and water clarity greater than 1.0 metres.
  • To ask the staff to report back to the Committee within one year on a Stewardship Policy for Swan Lake and Swan Lake Park including an outline on what programs, with the related costs, would be required to restore the aquatic and land based habitats within Swan Lake and Swan Lake Park.

Swan Lake Park, 25 Swan Park Road in Markham, is located north of 16th Avenue, midway between Markham Road and 9th Line. The Park is home to over 90 species of birds and mammals. Swan Lake is dying, many fish have died, and plants cannot survive in the murky water. The Lake contains bacteria that can be harmful to animals and humans and invasive plant species are overtaking the Park.

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For more information contact:
Fred Peters – (416) 460-7090 contact@friendsofswanlakepark.ca
Submission to General Committee available at https://friendsofswanlakepark.ca/june-2020-submission/
Pathway to Sustainability Report available at https://friendsofswanlakepark.ca/pathway-to-sustainability/
Website: at https://friendsofswanlakepark.ca/