Roy L Hales/Cortes Currents - “ If we achieve this, which I believe we're going to do, this is a model for other communities.  We look at places like Salt Spring and even Quadra Island and places in northern BC where they have lost their lakes. The Process is called eutrophication. When the lakes just become too rich in nitrogen and they become swamps. It's not just our issue, it's everybody's issue and if we show a way to improve the nutrient flow into the lake while adding these extra homes, that's a model for the whole world,” said Rex Weyler, one of the scientists monitoring Hague and Gunflint Lakes.

He was talking about the potential impacts of what would soon be called Rainbow Ridge. 

Weyler was also looking back to the lake’s algae bloom, and fish die off, in 2014. They were caused by the flow of nutrients from properties and streams along the shore.  

Five years have passed since that interview, but it seems possible that this affordable building project may achieve its goal of decreasing the flow of nutrients into the lake.

Sandra Wood, Executive Director of the Cortes Housing Society, explained, “The thing that helps to stop algae blooms is basically keeping phosphorus out of the lake. Anybody who's living in the watershed, in the Mansons Landing core, can help. Specifically anything they can do to make sure that phosphorus is not leaving their property, entering the watershed and entering the lake, will help to protect the lake from algae blooms. Hopefully over time as people's septic systems get renovated, or as new high-tech septic systems get installed, that will help in improve the water quality as far as the runoff that's going down downstream into the lakes.” 

“We have positive news about the soil on the Rainbow Ridge property. Brian French, the soil scientist that we hired, collected samples on our property and specifically around where the waste water system will be as far as the septic fields will be located. He discovered that our soil naturally is very high in iron and aluminum. Those are two naturally occurring minerals that actually attract phosphorus and bind phosphorus to the soil particles.  It will not be in the water column as far as being transported in across the property during downpours or in the winter when the water table's really high on the island.  Phosphorus  coming out of our septic system will be trapped and held in the soil on the property and will not be flowing downstream in the watershed.”

“The other thing that it helped us confirm is that everything we're planning to do as far as stormwater management in bioswales, ditches and in our holding pond -  All of that will help us to settle any sediments that are coming off of our property Especially if there are atmospheric events like atmospheric rivers and torrential downpours, that will probably happen more as climate change continues. Those suspended particles of soil will have a chance to filter out, to settle out in our stormwater system instead of being flushed into the lake. We're giving the nitrogen that is naturally occurring in the soil  a chance to be absorbed by the plants and the trees that are on our property.” 

“Bottom line: All of the things that we're planning to do, are going to help protect the lakes from any contamination and we're really pleased to report that.”

“Friends of Cortes Island or FOCI has been doing an ongoing water testing program in the lakes, gathering those samples and then consulting with Lake experts, limnologists. and other people who have expertise in that field.”

Cortes Currents

Good News about the drainage at Rainbow Ridge

04 20 23 Manganese

08 14 23 Potassium

08 15 23 Fertilizing Winter Wheat

10 12 23 The Importance of Regular Soil Tests

11 13 23 Your Fertility Program

12 21 23 Nitrogen Stabilizers

On this week's program, how the strong cattle market may influence herd size on ranches. Also, the importance of soil tests cannot be emphasized enough when it comes to improving pasture and hay production. There are fewer and fewer agricultural producers serving in the U.S. Congress. A major milestone will be reached soon at the Texas Tech School of Veterinary Medicine.  This is the second best time of the year to plant trees in Texas.

2/17/24 - Cattle market impact on ranch herds

For Episode 80, Co-hosts Adam and Cameron discuss the fertilizer markets and planning for plant foods on farms with MFA’s Jared Harding, Tyler Francis and Colin Kraft. They work with customers daily on improving crop fertility and their most-important agronomy decisions. The team discusses planning and evaluating and planning soil fertility for top crop production.  

Episode#80 - Fertilizer markets & planning

12 09 24 Chloride and Molybdenum

Cortes Currents is a news platform that asks what's current in Cortes and the Discovery Islands. Web articles & radio podcasts: Cortes Island, Quadra Island, Discovery Islands, Campbell River: news, lifestyle, local politics, affordable housing, economy, food security, health, ferries, tourism, history,  culture, environmental issues, sustainable forestry, oyster farming, the arts, First Nations, energy, climate change, overshoot

Join hosts Adam, Cameron and Emily as they discuss Agricultural topics with MFA expert nutritionists, precision agronomists, veterinarians, and farmers about best practices and the latest products & services in production Agriculture. Find on Spotify, Apple iTunes, Google Podcast, AgriAmerica, Podcast Addict, YouTube and Soundcloud. MFA Incorporated is a farm cooperative based in Missouri and serves farmers in MO and surrounding states.

Listen to Brian and Darren Hefty give agronomic advice and agricultural information on Ag PhD Radio on Rural Radio SiriusXM Channel 147.

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New tracks tagged #soil tests