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Yes, phosphorus is the likely culprit and there is concern that levels may
get high enough to start long-term nutrient cycling and more or less
permanently elevate the trophic levels of some lakes. Some types of
cyanobacteria are implicated in some pretty serious health issues, so this
is not just a question of aesthetics and recreation.
The tendency for blooms and phosphate levels to be higher in water bodies
higher up in the watershed is unusual. Domestic sources? Of course they
contribute, but the population in the area isn't growing. More the reverse,
so why didn't it happen before?
Mink farming in the area, on the other hand, has grown briskly, and is a
very important chunk of the local economy.
I think it's very doubtful that domestic sources gave nutrient levels the
critical push needed to achieve these blooms.
The latest report gives considerable detail on the status of the various
lakes studied, along with gaps in the research. Can't comment on the lake
vs. running water bit, but as you know, most research will just lead to more
good questions which would be nice to answer. Studies to date implicate
mink farming strongly enough to tell me that all concerned need to stop
pointing fingers and focus on fixing the problem, for everyone's sake.
John Sollows, again!
-----Original Message-----
From: naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca [mailto:naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca]
On Behalf Of David & Alison Webster
Sent: April-30-11 8:30 PM
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
Subject: Re: [NatureNS] Mink stink; long
Hi John, Apr 30, 2011
It helps to have been there. Thanks.
I gather P has been identified as the culprit. Has a possible
contribution from residential/cottage septic systems been checked ?
Is the uppermost position of the cynaobacterial blooms, in a given
watershed, usually (always ?) in lake water as opposed to running water ?
Logically this would also be associated with lakes in which the water has a
long residence time.
Yt, Dave Webster
----- Original Message -----
From: "John and Nhung" <nhungjohn@eastlink.ca>
To: <naturens@chebucto.ns.ca>
Sent: Thursday, April 28, 2011 9:43 PM
Subject: RE: [NatureNS] Mink stink; long
> To: All
>
> From: John Sollows
>
> Date: April 28/11
>
> Yup, it's a messy story, one with which I have had some involvement.
>
> It's unfair to accuse government departments of sweeping things under the
> rug. We brought the problem up with Environment N.S. in 2008. They
> actually moved quickly to start monitoring the situation, and do have
> competent staff. That said, they certainly are under-resourced, and do
> the
> best they can under challenging circumstances, which are not likely to
> become less challenging under current financial circumstances. Do we want
> to pay more taxes to solve the problem?
>
> The geographic distribution of the cyanobacterial blooms and high
> phosphate
> levels cannot give 100% incontrovertible proof that mink farming is the
> main
> culprit, but the circumstantial evidence is extremely strong; strong
> enough
> when combined with common sense to convince me that it's time for all
> involved to stop fighting, acknowledge that mink farms are strongly
> implicated, and tackle the problem. Many mink farmers comply already and
> are good environmental citizens. A smaller number are not and that,
> combined with the sins of the past are likely to leave us with a problem
> for
> years to come.
>
> An employee of the mink breeders' association raised the possibility of
> climate change, acid rain, and deforestation as possible causes. Yes,
> they
> may aggravate the situation, but he was laying red herrings and wasting
> everyone's time. These blooms NOT occur in nearby streams and lakes which
> do not lie downstream from mink farms.
>
> This situation is a beautiful example of why rural economic development
> needs to be managed on the basis of catchment area.
>
> In my book, mink farmers and their employees have a right to make a
> living,
> but also an obligation to be good neighbours and look after the next
> generation.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca [mailto:naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca]
> On Behalf Of David & Alison Webster
> Sent: April-28-11 9:13 PM
> To: NatureNS@chebucto.ns.ca
> Subject: [NatureNS] Mink stink; long
>
> Dear All, Apr 28, 2011
> An article in the Chron Hrld today (Minks make stink) illustrates how
> difficult it is to correct a problem when the powers that be want to sweep
> everything under the rug.
>
> A severe problem in Lake Fanning in 2006 led to field studies by NS DO
> Environment in 2008, 2009 and 2010 but the source of contamination wasn't
> located because that was not in the mandate. The mandate apparently being
> "study this slowly and with blinders pulled tight." Why otherwise, could
> it
> take more than 5 weeks (let along 5 years) to nail down the cause and
> develop a solution ?
>
> Reading between the lines of this sketchy article, the source
> contamination can not be Nitrate or Ammonia N because the organisms
> involved
> all fix N from air. Presumably P, found to be high, is the culprit..
>
> P can reach water systems (rivers/lakes) only by runoff high in P or by
> way of soils that are hugely overloaded with P to the extent it is mobile
> in
> soil water.
>
> One should not rush to judgment, and conclude that mink waste is the
> source, but the reminder by Agriculture's communication director that the
> industry brings in millions of $$$ is proof, at least from that quarter.
>
> Composting of mink waste is mentioned, but if the waste is in fact high
> in P then usual composting practices would be ineffective unless high
> rates
> of suitable P-capturing materials were admixed with or layered below the
> compost; e.g. Anhydrite, a by-product of Gypsum extraction, spent
> fluidized
> bed material from power plants or Cement kiln dust.
>
> I was astounded some 15 years ago to learn that NS DOE has no labs and
> is staffed largely be people with no science background. DOE employees and
> the NS public continue to have my sympathy.
>
> Yt, Dave Webster, Kentville
>
>
>
>
> -----
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