New plan launched to protect and enhance Sturgeon Lake

Dozens of representatives from local community organizations, the City of Kawartha Lakes and provincial and federal governments officially launched the Sturgeon Lake Management Plan in Ken Reid Conservation Area on Oct. 8.

Members of the project management team, the various committees that guide the development of the plan and guests, Ken Reid Conservation Area, Oct. 8.

There is also a new web page at www.kawarthaconservation.com/sturgeonlake which is regularly updated with new information and activities taking place under the plan.

The goal of Sturgeon Lake Management Plan is to maintain and enhance the environmental health and economic sustainability of Sturgeon Lake and its surrounding watershed.

This will be achieved by addressing a range of issues, such as:

• excessive nutrients resulting in aquatic plant growth;
• contaminated stormwater runoff from several urban areas;
  
• a loss of natural shoreline habitat;
  
• high counts of e-coli in lake water near public beaches and in some residential access canals; and
  
• other issues that may threaten the health of the lake and watershed.

"The environmental health of Sturgeon Lake is an important part of maintaining a strong local economy," said Donna Villemaire, Chair of Kawartha Conservation, during the launch. "The City of Kawartha Lakes is defined, in large part, by its navigable lakes and waterways, one of the main reasons why there are more than one million visits to the City each year with spending valued at almost $70 million."

The Sturgeon Lake Management Plan is a community driven project involving many partners and individuals. Kawartha Conservation has the coordinating role, and receives program guidance and support from the following:

• City of Kawartha Lakes
• City of Kawartha Lakes Environmental Advisory Committee
• City of Kawartha Lakes Agricultural Development Advisory Board
• Rick Johnson MPP Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock
  
• Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
• Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
• Sturgeon Point Association
• Kawartha Lake Stewards Association
• Balsam Lake Association
• Federation of Ontario Cottagers' Associations
• Fleming College, Frost Campus
• Trent University
• Trent-Severn Waterway
• Victoria Stewardship Council
• Kawartha Protect Our Water (KPOW) 
• Kawartha Conservation

Representatives from these organizations participate on various committees, including the Executive Liaison Group, Community Advisory Panel and Science and Technical Support Committee. As well, many of the organizations are contributing to the environmental monitoring and research, and will play a key role in implementing actions identified in the plan to protect and enhance the lake and watershed.

Rick Johnson MPP Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock (left); Lou Probst, Chair, City of Kawartha Lakes Environmental Advisory Committee (middle); and Mayor Rick McGee, City of Kawartha Lakes (right), show maps of the Sturgeon Lake Watershed during the launch. Click here to view the map.

"Sturgeon Lake is a major draw for tourists, cottagers and residents," said Rick Johnson, MPP Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock. "Heavy recreational use and increasing development around the lake and in the watershed can add enormous environmental stress. I'm pleased to be part of a program that will bring together many local organizations to protect the lake and watershed."

"Many volunteer groups have worked hard over the past number of years to improve our lake quality conducting their own research around Sturgeon Lake," said City of Kawartha Lakes Mayor Ric McGee. "The Sturgeon Lake Management Plan will bring all groups together to coordinate efforts to determine the state of the lake, what factors have an impact and what everyone needs to do to ensure the lake remains healthy and actually begins to improve. A healthy Sturgeon Lake is key to the pursuit of an International Centre of Excellence for Water Quality in Kawartha Lakes and this region."

"Building on our success and experience in developing the Lake Scugog Environmental Management Plan, a focus on Sturgeon Lake is the logical next step for Kawartha Conservation," added Villemaire. "As the project coordinator, we are very pleased to have this opportunity to work toward a common goal with our many partners, and look forward to initiating plans for Cameron and Balsam lakes next year."