Winter kill
Classic winter kill scenario, the smell is coming from anaerobic (in the absence of oxygen) decomposition of summer vegetation. A sulphur like smell will be released from from the holes. The water levels have dropped drastically at Mayatan and other lakes in the area over the past 15 years. Decreased water can allow for winter kill to happen much easier than usual. Other factors may include lack of windy conditions before freeze up. The wind in fall season helps to circulates the water column and oxygenate the water. If the weed and plankton production is heavier during the summer, this can help to contribute to winter kill. More plant material leads to more decomposition and usage of available oxygen. Too bad this has happened, it was a fun lake to go to once and awhile. Give it 5-6 years and it will come back.
Hopefully all the snow will help to raise the water levels in all the lakes around the province, all though the moisture content of most of the snow received during our winters will only translate into 1/10 of the total snow received. 1cm of snow=1mm of moisture on average not including the wet snow of spring where we get the majority of run-off from.
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