Winter in Lake Simcoe

In the present day’s submit comes from Laura McClintock, senior park naturalist at Sibbald Level Provincial Park.

The solar is shining, glittering off the ice. It’s winter on Lake Simcoe.

From the shore, it seems the lake is ‘asleep’ for the winter months, with no motion to be seen. Nonetheless, that’s simply what’s on the floor. The truth beneath is sort of totally different.

Winter for the aquatic species of Lake Simcoe is one in every of necessity and thriller. Let’s dive in.

Slightly about Lake Simcoe

Lake Simcoe is situated 70 km north of Toronto, and is the fourth largest lake situated fully in Ontario.

On the time of first European contact, the lake was named Ouentironk (oo-ent’-er-onk) by the Wyandot individuals, which means stunning water.

Sir John Graves Simcoe, first Lieutenant Governor of Higher Canada, later named the lake in honor of his father, Captain John Simcoe in 1793.

The attractive waters of Lake Simcoe are house to over 50 species of fish. A wide range of invertebrates and aquatic vegetation additionally depend on the advanced lake ecosystem.

In the summertime months, Lake Simcoe is bustling with cottagers, beachgoers, and boaters. Because the temperature drops within the fall, the seasonal adjustments are felt above and beneath the lake’s floor.

The autumn turnover

All year long, Lake Simcoe experiences totally different water temperatures and densities of water, relying on depth.

Chilly water is denser than heat water, making it ‘sink’ to the underside of the lake. Heat water stays on the floor.

Because the seasons change, the air temperature lowers, which in flip lowers the floor (warmest) water temperature too. What occurs to this water because it cools? Within the autumn months, the lake experiences a phenomenon known as the autumn turnover.

That is when the cooling water from the highest sinks down low, and the wind stirs the decrease water within the lake to the floor.

For a quick interval, all of the water is across the identical temperature (about 4 levels). Water temperature is linked to the quantity of oxygen water can maintain. The colder the water, the extra oxygen could be dissolved.

As soon as the turnover is full, the floor water would be the coldest and freeze. The water temperatures will vary from 0 to 4 levels beneath the ice.

The oxygen on this chilly water might be all of the oxygen obtainable to lake life over the winter. After the autumn turnover, the dissolved oxygen ranges will dictate the place totally different aquatic species will spend their winter.

Life at totally different depths

The shallow elements of Lake Simcoe are the place there’s the least quantity of oxygen. Because of this, the animals that spend their winters right here often decelerate to preserve oxygen and power.

Painted turtles and snapping turtles will dig into the muddy backside of the shallows and decelerate their respiration and coronary heart charges. This course of is known as brumation. By slowing down for the winter months, turtles rely extra on the shelter of the lake’s backside, than actively utilizing oxygen.

Then again, cold-water species, reminiscent of Lake Trout, want entry to deeper water. Lake Trout have began to naturally reproduce in Lake Simcoe over the previous twenty years, and depend on the oxygen-rich environments within the lake depths.

Within the winter they’re often discovered 25 to 37 m beneath the floor, the place they may feed on aquatic invertebrates, crustaceans, and different fish.

One of the crucial frequent fish species in Lake Simcoe is the Yellow Perch. Yellow Perch feed on invertebrates and quite a lot of fish eggs and younger.

Yellow Perch are primarily a shallow water fish, staying within the within the 2 to 9 m depth vary initially of the winter. Because the winter progresses and dissolved oxygen will get used up, Yellow Perch will transfer to deeper, extra oxygen-rich areas.

Sustaining a wholesome lake

Chilly waters and frozen lakes are important to the survival of aquatic species, particularly cold-water fish species.

These cold-water species require larger ranges of dissolved oxygen than warm-water species, and wrestle to make it by means of the winter when oxygen ranges are low.

The dissolved oxygen ranges of the lake are dictated not solely by the temperature, but additionally by human exercise.

Phosphorus is a naturally occurring factor, and is important within the lake. Nonetheless, when phosphorus ranges get too excessive, they’ll grow to be a think about depleted oxygen ranges, affecting fish and different lifeforms.

Our habits can have constructive impacts on these points, reminiscent of decreasing water utilization, selecting fertilizers with out phosphorus, and utilizing phosphate-free soaps each at house and when visiting parks.

Planning your go to?

Situated on the south shore of Lake Simcoe, Sibbald Level Provincial Park is a well-liked entry level for ice fishing.

The park stays open year-round for day use, and permits are required in any respect occasions.

When planning your go to, please guide your day by day car allow prematurely.

For those who’re giving ice fishing a strive, it’s all the time vital to fish responsibly!

Comply with all fishing rules, and deal with your bait responsibly.