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pr | | | 16 -- PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, March 4, 1986 ss v's Weedkiller breaks down safely by John Mitchell Research at Ontario's York University may help to alleviate one environmental fear that all the weedkiller 2,4-D, used to kill a par- ticularly noxious waterweed, may not break down into harmless com- pounds in Canada's cold northern | lakes. The rapid spread of the waterweed, Eurasian watermilfoil, in lakes and waterways of southern Canada has caused much concern, because it effectively reduced the use of these areas for recreation. Cottages in the Kawartha Lakes area in Ontario and the Okanagan Lake area in British Columbia are amongst those who were alarmed by the invasion of the weed until it kK I IN TIC ( y is the best water conditioner & reverse Osmosis drinking water 3516 you can buy. Introducing the Famous _ Ji 'energy twins The worlds most efficient water softening equipment. It never lets you run out of soft water. # NO ELECTRICITY « NO TIME CLOCK Uses 40% less salt & 70% less water 'BROOKLIN WATER CONDITIONING INC. "Water Treatment Specialists" 53 Baldwin Street, Brooklin Low Monthly Rentals 655- 3600 655- 4936 Evenings 655- 8989 Leasing -watermilfoil was brought under control by the use of 2,4-D. 'York University researchers have shown that the butoxyethyl ester of 2,4D (called BEE), a weedkiller ap- proved for the eradication of water- milfoil, not only kills the weed but also, fortunately, rapidly breaks down to. substances which are harmless to humans, fish and wildlife, everr under Canada's cold climatic conditions. : Dr. Brendan Birmingham, and Professor Brian Coleman, of York's Department of Biology, planted watermilfoil in artificial outdoor ponds and applied BEE. They then observed the ponds for several weeks to see how well the BEE worked and what happened to it later. First, they found the weedkiller was rapidly absorbed by the weeds and completely eradicated them in about a week. Perhaps the most dramatic observation was the ex- treme rapidity with which the absorbed the weedkiller. In seven days, the con- centration of 2,4-D in the weeds was 100 times the concentration in the water. Within 15 days after its applica- tion, the weedkiller was broken down by reaction with the water in- to simpler compounds of negligible toxicity. Some BEE had also been absorbed by the pond sediment, HELP FOR FARM FAMILIES IN DIFFICULTY HELPLINE Aung the-clock information for frm families seeking professional help with financial counselling, legal information, stress counselling, dealing with creditors. farmers rights and obligations. And more. A trained staff is on duty 9 am. to 5 p.m. . daily and on call 5 p.m. to 9 am. and on weekends. An answering service ensures that trained staff will answer after-hours calls promptly. e CALL FREL o 1-800-265-1511 Ministry of Agriculture and Food ®@Ontario Minister, Hon Jack Riddell Premier. Hon David Peterson Helpime is part ot OMAES Farmers In Transition (FFD) program where it decayed to very low levels after about six weeks. One of the possible breakdown products of BEE in water is dichlorophenol, which is toxic to fish, but none of this was found in the experimental ponds. The principal - product of hydrolysis was 2,4-D itself, which is less toxic than BEE. The 2,4-D was in concentrations well below the toxic level. The experimental ponds were treated with BEE late.in the sum- mer, said Dr. Birmingham. Water temperature then dropped from about 25°C to freezing within two months, and the ponds were frozen for the remainder of the study. In spite of the lower temperature, the degradation of the weedkiller residues continued at the same rate. The York researchers reported their work in the 'Journal of En- - vironmental Quality.' The research was supported by grants from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council and the Ontario Ministry of Environment. Deer population high in Lindsay by A.P. O'Donnell Fish and Wildlife Management Officer A total of 647 known deer kills were recorded in 1985 within the Lindsay District area. These kills in- clude deer harvested legally during the hunting season and non-hunting mortalities of all big game. During the hunting season, 1817 deer hunters were interviewed through field contacts by Ministry of Natural Resources staff, volunteer submission of deer jaws and hides to the district office, and mandatory reports from the con- trolled hunt. The known harvest from hunters who reported was 452 deer, for a hunter success rate of 25 per cent. The non-hunting big game mor- ~ talities totalling 195, and included a black bear and one moose. The re- maining 193 deer kills included 157 road kills, 4 illegal hunting kills, 5 drownings, 6 dog kills, 1 wolf kill, 1 unknown predator kill, 10 caught in fences and 9 of unknown causes. The number of non-hunting big game mortalities reported for 1985 represents a record high, even though ministry staff estimate that only 50 per cent of such kills are reported. Vehicle collisions with big game caused an estimated $1168. damage per accident, amounting to a total of $183,376 in 1985. Hitting a deer with a car is not only very dangerous for the vehicle occupants, but also very expensive. The deer population in the Lind- say District is high, and based on ex- amination of recent road kills, in a healthy condition. The recent January thaw has reduced snow depths considerably in the deers' traditional wintering yards. The deer are now more mobile in their search for food. As a result deer are being harassed and killed by dogs. Since the thaw, three known deer-dog kills have been reported, with charges pending against two of the dog owners. The deer are also entering onto roads and 11 have been reported killed since the beginning of the new year. The ministry recommends ex- treme caution when driving through areas where deer concentrate. If a deer is seen near the side of the road, especially at night, slow down and drive with caution as the un- predictable animal will often run across the path of the vehicle. WHITBY-OSHAWA HONDA 1110 Dundas St. East - Whitby, Ont. "SALES - SERVICE - LEASING NEW & USED CARS Call ... Kevin Cannon No 666-1172 TOLDYY 686-1745 RESIDENCE - 985-2515 Seven Mile Island Resort SUNDAY 'BRUNCH From 12 to 9 BANQUET ROOM AVAILABLE -- Effective January 2nd, 1986 -- Scugog Island - Port Perry SN ---- Please Call for Reservations 985-9949 Port Perry Island Rd Hwy 7A East