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Springfield Lake Watch: Current Activities
If you want to help out in these and other activities, please contact SLW
We need volunteers - and the lake needs YOU!
2004
SLW was succesful in securing grant funds to support a university Co-op student to work with SLW volunteers and others to achieve a number of goals during the summer of 2004. Some of things that are hoped will be achieved include the following:
  • Monitoring, establishing and documenting the biological and chemical status of Springfield Lake;
    This has been accomplished and data and summary will soon be posted.
  • Mapping and documenting the ecological environs of the lake;
    This has been accomplished and data and summary will soon be posted.
  • Mapping, documenting proposed park/trail from Springfield to Lisle & Fenerty Lakes;
    This was accomplished and data and summary will soon be posted. (You can take a virutal walk to Fenery Lake Gallery on left toolbar)
  • Repairing and reconstructing the lake-level dam that controls the Springfield Lake level during summer;
    This was partly accomplished (see pictures in Dam Repair Gallery on left toobar) and more work has to be done.
  • Design, construction and establishment of loon nesting platforms in Springfield Lake;
    This was accomplished (see pictures in Loon-Nest Gallery and in SLW in the News on left toobar). Let's hope it works out in Spring 2005
  • Construction & establishment of fish-ladders at Springfield and Fenerty Lake;
  • Increasing community awareness of SLW activities and goals;
  • The first of the bi-annual Public Meetings was held on 20 May 2004 at the Rec. Centre.
  • The Spring 2004 issue of the SLW Newsletter (issue #2) was sent out in May 2004.
    2003
  • Late in 2003, the Halifax Regional Municipality purchased a "Vernier" water quality monitoring system for shared use by SLW and the Sackville Rivers Association. More information on this system can be found at: Vernier.com
  • In Oct-Nov 2003, SLW volunteers planned, organized and held the 1st Pulbic Meeting of SLW on 20 Nov. 2003 at the Springfield Lake Rec. Centre. Several voluteers made presentations to the community on a variety of issues relevant to the Lake and the Community. The 1st SLW Newsletter was published and was hand-delivered by volunteers to every residence (we hope) in the Springfield Lake watershed.
  • In mid-June 2003, SLW volunteers moored a Ryan Recording Thermograph (temperature records for 3 months) near the bottom at the north-end of the Lake. The thermograph recorded bottom temperatures until mid-September and the data were retrieved, compiled, and can be found here .
  • A bathymetric (depth measure) survey of the Lake was completed by SLW volunteers on 22 June 2003. Over 500 depth-soundings and GPS position data were collected along 31 survey lines covering the vast majority of the lake. The data have been compiled and planar and 3-D contour maps of the Lake are now posted under "Maps and Photos of Our Lake". At the same time dissolved oxygen and Sechii depth measures were also collected and these data will soon be posted as well.
  • In 2003 SLW volunteers are recording dissolved oxygen and Sechii depth measures near the "deep" basin at the south-end of the lake at approximately weekly intervals. These data will also be posted on the web site in the near future.
    If you want to help out in these and other activities, please contact SLW
    We need volunteers - and the lake needs YOU!