MacLure's Pond, in Murray River PEI, has been closed to swimming and fishing, as reported in CBC. The Dept of Environment reports that high levels of cyano-bacteria or commonly called blue-green algae, are occurring in the pond. The CBC report seems to indicate that the high summer temperatures are responsible, however, many other ponds are just as warm, yet not experiencing algae blooms. I'm sure the golf course surrounding the west end of the pond has nothing to do with it. Although warm temperatures are a factor in algae blooms, nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus play an important role as well. Just sayin...

While we are at it, why is there a 1000' bridge going across the pond ?

A bloom of blue-green algae has closed MacLure's Pond near Murray River to swimming and fishing.

The province has posted signs warning people of the problem. The Cyanobacteria algae can make humans and animals sick.

"When it gets to heavy enough growth, there is a toxin that's released from the blue-green algae," said deputy chief health officer Dr. Lamont Sweet.

"This toxin is irritating to the eyes if a person is in the water. And if they swallow the water, it is irritating to the stomach. There can be nausea, vomiting, there can be stomach cramps and diarrhea at times, if a person ingests enough of the water."

Algae closes Murray River pond
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/prince-edward-island/story/2010/08/23/pei-algae...

CBC is reporting that in areas of Tignish, the maple trees have lost most of their leaves and it looks like fall on some streets. There is the spot fungus that we see on a lot of maples all over the island, but apparently, this one is different.

It's only mid-August, but leaves are already falling off some trees on Prince Edward Island because of a fungus that targets maple trees.

Streets and lawns in the community of Tignish, on the northern tip of the Island, are blanketed with fallen brown leaves.

"It's almost as if it's late October," said resident Leo Perry. "I've noticed they're especially maple trees."

Village officials blame the early fall-like conditions on a fungus that targets maple trees and hits sugar maples and Norway maples the hardest.

"It could be a disease called anthracnose," said Jamie McCue, a landscaper for the village.

Tree fungus attacking P.E.I. maples
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/prince-edward-island/story/2010/08/17/pei-tree-...

Whatever it is, it is important to collect the leaves and bury or burn them. The leaves are where the next years crop is going to come fron.

A number of watershed groups have spoken up about the government's inaction on the problem of nitrates in Island waterways. Over 15 watersheds are currently experiencing anoxic conditions this summer. This is areas devoid of oxygen, obviously not good...

Some watershed groups on P.E.I. say the Ghiz government has failed to tackle a nitrate problem that is clogging waterways with vegetation and choking out other life.

Two years ago, a commission looking into the issue made 32 sweeping recommendations. It called six of them absolutely essential. Two of those involved the agriculture community: a mandatory three-year crop rotation and matching nutrients more carefully with crop needs.

Pace on P.E.I. nitrate pollution 'glacial'
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/prince-edward-island/story/2010/08/16/pei-nitra...

This problem hasn't started over-night, but it is time to get serious and make the tough choices.

Opposition MLA Mike Currie piled on the next day, accusing the government of not using the environmental fund from can recylcing on watershed groups as promised.

Opposition environment critic Mike Currie says the Ghiz administration has broken its promise and is cheating Island watershed groups out of the $1.8 million that was promised to support their environmental projects.

Unfortunately, we will be cancelling the Improving Riparian Zones workshop scheduled for August 21. Rob Sharkie, who has led this workshop for several years now, is working out of province and it looks like he may not be around for it. We will try to reschedule one for later in the fall. Gary

A recent article in the West Prince Graphic about beavers has given my an opportunity to revisit some recent news about our favorite rodent.

First, the West Prince Graphic article is about large beavers in the Round Pond area, where local residents noted that some beavers caught in the provincial beaver cull were up to 70 pounds in weight.

Beavers packing on pounds in West Prince
Wed, 08/11/2010

They are the largest rodents in Canada and they appear to be even larger in watersheds in West Prince, according to Allan McInnis.

“An ordinary growing beaver is about 40 to 45 pounds. There were a couple caught (recently) in the Round Pond (in central Kildare) that were 60 to 70 pounds,” said Mr McInnis, co-ordinator of the Tignish Watershed Management Group, which boasts as many 15 volunteers during peak periods.

Mr McInnis doesn’t know why the beavers are so large, but he spectulates it’s because they were left alone and didn’t face much trapping pressure.

http://peicanada.com/west_prince_graphic/publication/beavers_packing_pou...

I did some checking and unfortunately, our beavers are not super-sized. Most literature indicates that up 1 m in length and 60-70 lb beaver is not unheard of. During my reading however, I did come across an interesting thing.

Back in the saber-toothed tiger and wholly mammoth days, there were beavers. Cool eh ! Anyway, from the fossil record, they figure beavers of the day were over 3 meters in length and over 350 kg's. Now that is a super-sized beaver !