Researchers finally delve into Ramsey Lake

After years of delays, the Ramsey Lake Subwatershed study is now in full swing in Sudbury.

The study will focus on protecting natural resources and wildlife, while creating stormwater treatment systems and modern development options.

Earlier this year, the province announced a $2.3 million grant for the City of Greater Sudbury to study nine watersheds over the next two years. Ramsey Lake is one of the first to be looked at.​

The studies will also include Junction Creek and White Water Lake subwatersheds.

Paul Javor, drainage engineer for the city, said the grant money from the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change allowed the city to accelerate the study plans.

The city held an open house Thursday night, at the Northern Water Sports Centre to answer questions and explain the process.

Representatives from Aquafor Beach Limited, the group conducting the study, were on hand.

Grant money helped accelerate study plans

"It's important for the city to know what the public concerns are before the study is too far along," said Javor.

"At this point, we can get to those issues and still tackle them [instead of] not getting them too late in the game, and not being able to address them because of our timelines."

Once the ice melts in the spring, Javor said they'll be conducting an in-lake water quality monitoring platform. This will determine if there is a correlation between blue-green algae blooms and specific water quality parameters.

"We want to know what's the best step forward in each of the subwatersheds we're studying. What are some objectives for development, water quality and quantity criteria?," said Javor.

Lilly Noble, co-chair of the Ramsey Lake Stewardship Committee, said she's pretty satisfied with what will be included in the study, except where development is concerned.

"I think we have to look at stopping some development if it's inappropriate for the watershed. If in the future, it will put our drinking water at risk."

Noble said she is pleased the study will point out the greatest sources of pollution.

"As an urban lake, it's not very big either. The more we develop around it, the more pollution comes from the roadways," she says.

What effect has development had on lake?

"We've been concerned about development around our lakes and what effect it's had," said John Lindsay, chair of the Minnow Lake Restoration group.  He added they're anxious to see what the watershed study will indicate.

"I think that's what's going to be the big challenge of this report, is to determine how far we can go with respect to development. How much is it going to cost for any type of action to remedy?" Lindsay said.

Lindsay said even those who don't live on the lake have a vested interest because Sudbury residents use Ramsey Lake for recreational purposes and for drinking water.

"We need to preserve what we have and ensure it's going to be here for the future", says Noble.