Black Sturgeon Lake Water Quality Reports

As development thrives along the shores of the Black Sturgeon Lakes, concern about the environmental impact also grows. As stewards of the lakes and lands, the City of Kenora is committed to monitoring the water quality of the Black Sturgeon Lakes.

Current report

The City of Kenora, with recent support of Grand Council Treaty #3’s Territorial Planning Unit, has completed its annual spring 2024 water quality monitoring program on Black Sturgeon Lakes. 

The City of Kenora is happy to report that the results of the 2024 spring water sampling and the phosphorous were all below the provincial water quality objective for phosphorous. There are no indicators of negative impacts on water quality due to development activities on Lower Black Sturgeon Lake. Another field day occurred in late-August. View the 2024 Black Sturgeon Lakes Water Quality Monitoring Report for more details. 

This initiative underscores a longstanding commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainable lake management in the region. The water quality monitoring program, originally recommended in the 2007 Lake Capacity and Management Study for Black Sturgeon Lake, has been ongoing since 2009.

Reports

View the list of water quality reports:

2022 Black Sturgeon Lakes Water Quality Monitoring Report

2021 Black Sturgeon Lakes Water Quality Monitoring Report

2020 Black Sturgeon Lakes Water Quality Monitoring Report

2019 Black Sturgeon Lakes Water Quality Monitoring Report

2018 Black Sturgeon Water Quality Monitoring Report

2017 Black Sturgeon Water Quality Monitoring Report

2016 Black Sturgeon Water Quality Monitoring Report

2015 Black Sturgeon Lakes Water Quality Monitoring Report and Presentation

2010 Black Sturgeon Lakes Water Quality Monitoring Report

2009 Black Sturgeon Lakes Water Quality Monitoring Report

2007 Black Sturgeon Lake Capacity and Management Report

Background

A lake management plan for Black Sturgeon Lake was a priority project in 2007.  The study showed a series of recommendations based on best management practices for managing the basin and surrounding lands.

In 2009 and 2010, the water quality in Lower and Upper Black Sturgeon Lakes were studied. The results of these tests provided data to compare future samples.  In 2015, it was determined annual reporting would better serve monitoring efforts.

Additionally, the City of Kenora Official Plan (2015) included land use policy recommendations for the Black Sturgeon Lakes based on the best management practices identified in the 2007 study. Development restrictions are some of the critical components of the Official Plan, such as:

• larger frontages for new lots;
• limited number of new lots; and
• consistent water quality monitoring.