Cowley Lake levels, quality and history
Overview description: Cowley Lake falls within the Hamlet of Mt Lorne. The Experiential Science 11 classes, over the past 20 years, have undertaken a number of studies and have incorporated assistance from other professional and educators when undertaking such studies. Experiential Science 11 classes have been monitoring the lake water balance, water quality, wildlife utilization of the lake and the history of the lake through studies of paleoliminology. These studies have also included recording snow fall and stream flows in the upper portions of the Cowley Lake drainage basin, recording waterfowl spring use of the lake, and ongoing community concerns regarding the lake. ES 11 received an IPY grant to purchase high quality water monitoring meters. These have been used to increase the precision and accuracy of our surveys. Over the past ten years studies associated with Cowley Lake have taken unanticipated paths. The value of the paleoliminology to archeological finds in the area provide insights to the deglaciation of the region about ten thousand years ago. Identification of periods when no diatoms were deposited in the lake benthic environment suggest periods when the Lake was the glacial outflow for the southern Lakes. We have also studies the impacts of the WPY Rail on the Lake. We conducted a bathometric survey of the Lake and continue to inform the Mt Loren Hamlet council about the classes activities. We have developed a website as a means for collecting ongoing data and keeping the community informed. (see www.cowleylake.weebly.com)
Community interest or concern: Members of the Hamlet have expressed concerns respecting the dropping lake levels and have asked the Experiential Science 11 if they would make it a subject of ongoing study. Community members approached the ES class in hopes they would conduct a more detailed analysis of the lake and environs.
Duration of study and numbers involved: In order to better understand the dynamics associated with this shallow lake we propose to undertake the following activities over a ten to fifteen year period. These studies have been whole class projects with groups dividing to conduct specific elements of study. Our work has increasingly become focused on winter surveys of the lake. The work began in 2005 and has been ongoing, growing into a number of related studies.
Protocols followed and resources. Initially, we used a split bubble level to determine the differences in elevation between the north west section of the lake that had been cut off from the balance of the Lake by the WPYRail. We then conducted a variety of surveys related to water quality (aquatic invertebrate sampling, water chem. studies and a bathometric mapping using canoes, lead lines and GPS. Over the past four years, water levels have risen and we continue to conduct surveys on lake levels and paleoliminology. In each case we follow conventional sampling protocols. Materials and equipment: In the course of these studies we have acquired a number of specialized tools. These include: Water Chemistry: pH meter, DO meter, Hacch Kits, Secchi disks, turbidity assessment, sieve screens, Benthoic Studies: Swift Water samplers, Grab sampler, artificial strata blocks, Flow rates and Volume: Flow meter, rectangular and "V" notch weir gages (the latter for culvert attachment), Trimble Geo Explorer II (differential GPS), ice augers,Rapirian Environment assessment: Transit lines, compass, various identification keys, clinometer, increment bore, DBH tapes, bird call tapes,
Contact person and more detailed information: This project has involved a number of teachers. Bob Sharp has remained to principle contact with ES and Peter Percivil has remained to community contact person. Teachers: Kelly Choy, Alain Dalaire and David Benton have been active participants in recent years. Also see: www.cowleylake.weebly.com
Overview description: Cowley Lake falls within the Hamlet of Mt Lorne. The Experiential Science 11 classes, over the past 20 years, have undertaken a number of studies and have incorporated assistance from other professional and educators when undertaking such studies. Experiential Science 11 classes have been monitoring the lake water balance, water quality, wildlife utilization of the lake and the history of the lake through studies of paleoliminology. These studies have also included recording snow fall and stream flows in the upper portions of the Cowley Lake drainage basin, recording waterfowl spring use of the lake, and ongoing community concerns regarding the lake. ES 11 received an IPY grant to purchase high quality water monitoring meters. These have been used to increase the precision and accuracy of our surveys. Over the past ten years studies associated with Cowley Lake have taken unanticipated paths. The value of the paleoliminology to archeological finds in the area provide insights to the deglaciation of the region about ten thousand years ago. Identification of periods when no diatoms were deposited in the lake benthic environment suggest periods when the Lake was the glacial outflow for the southern Lakes. We have also studies the impacts of the WPY Rail on the Lake. We conducted a bathometric survey of the Lake and continue to inform the Mt Loren Hamlet council about the classes activities. We have developed a website as a means for collecting ongoing data and keeping the community informed. (see www.cowleylake.weebly.com)
Community interest or concern: Members of the Hamlet have expressed concerns respecting the dropping lake levels and have asked the Experiential Science 11 if they would make it a subject of ongoing study. Community members approached the ES class in hopes they would conduct a more detailed analysis of the lake and environs.
Duration of study and numbers involved: In order to better understand the dynamics associated with this shallow lake we propose to undertake the following activities over a ten to fifteen year period. These studies have been whole class projects with groups dividing to conduct specific elements of study. Our work has increasingly become focused on winter surveys of the lake. The work began in 2005 and has been ongoing, growing into a number of related studies.
Protocols followed and resources. Initially, we used a split bubble level to determine the differences in elevation between the north west section of the lake that had been cut off from the balance of the Lake by the WPYRail. We then conducted a variety of surveys related to water quality (aquatic invertebrate sampling, water chem. studies and a bathometric mapping using canoes, lead lines and GPS. Over the past four years, water levels have risen and we continue to conduct surveys on lake levels and paleoliminology. In each case we follow conventional sampling protocols. Materials and equipment: In the course of these studies we have acquired a number of specialized tools. These include: Water Chemistry: pH meter, DO meter, Hacch Kits, Secchi disks, turbidity assessment, sieve screens, Benthoic Studies: Swift Water samplers, Grab sampler, artificial strata blocks, Flow rates and Volume: Flow meter, rectangular and "V" notch weir gages (the latter for culvert attachment), Trimble Geo Explorer II (differential GPS), ice augers,Rapirian Environment assessment: Transit lines, compass, various identification keys, clinometer, increment bore, DBH tapes, bird call tapes,
Contact person and more detailed information: This project has involved a number of teachers. Bob Sharp has remained to principle contact with ES and Peter Percivil has remained to community contact person. Teachers: Kelly Choy, Alain Dalaire and David Benton have been active participants in recent years. Also see: www.cowleylake.weebly.com