Water quality has been consistently ranked as the top priority by respondents to MLA several surveys and studies.  As a result, Water Quality initiatives figure prominently in the list of Action Items included in the MLA Lake Plan, launched in 2015, and updated in 2021.  

​

History - Water quality information on Mississippi Lake has been gathered under a variety of programs since 1968, primarily to examine the trophic status of the lake (the amount of biomass present in the lake).  Please consult this table which indicates how the measurement of total phosphorus concentration, water clarity, and chlorophyll A levels can be used to assess the overall trophic status of the lake.  Mississippi Lake, being shallow and having a broad surface area, is subject to excessive aquatic vegetation and algae growth and was considered to be eutrophic in the late 1960’s through much of the 1970’s.

​

Water sampling includes measurement of:

•  total phosphorus, since elevated phosphorus concentrations are a major factor in promoting plant growth and algae blooms;

• water clarity, which is primarily affected by the amount of suspended algae, using a Secchi Disc; and

• and the concentration of active chlorophyll (chlorophyll A), as a measure of the amount of photosynthesizing plants (algae and phytoplankton) in the water.

​

Sampling programs have also included other water quality parameters such as dissolved oxygen, pH and temperature, although these are not addressed in detail in the annual State of the Lake reports.   However, it is reassuring to note that dissolved oxygen measurements have and continue to show life-supporting oxygen concentrations throughout the water profile.

​​

​Water Rangers (https://app.waterangers.ca) was established in 2016 by a group of dedicated web developers and passionate conservationists to map water quality conditions and issues throughout eastern Ontario. 

 

Occurrences such as blue-green algae appear on the map, along with photographs and atmospheric conditions.  The mapping is coordinated with Citizen Water Watch, a mobile reporting system.  The Water Rangers platform invites visitors to Add an Observation, Report an Issue or View the summary for any selected body of water.  In the case of Mississippi Lake, we can see previously reported incidents mapped in the location where they occurred, along with the relevant reporting details.

​

Here is a great site to visit if you want to see all the water quality information that has been compiled for locations on  Mississippi Lake.   Simply go to the Mississippi Lake Map and browse to your heart's content!  Each location has a list of all the observations that have been logged, along with trends in the various parameters. 

​

Become a Water Ranger and report your observations!

​

State of the Lake

​

Each year, the MLA publishes a State of the Lake Report to keep our membership aware of current water quality, and historic trends.

State of the Lake Report for 2015

State of the Lake Report for 2016 and 2017

State of the Lake Report for 2018

State of the Lake report for 2023​