The Killarney Bay-Cedar Point Cottage Association, along with  Kawartha Conservation staff at Killarney Bay Parkette, Balsam Lake, on May 18, 2011. Councillor Steven Strangway, and City of Kawartha Lakes Manager of Parks, Recreation and Culture Craig Shanks also participated in the planting event. 

The shoreline at Killarney Bay Parkette, on the south end of Balsam Lake, was planted on May 18 with native plants, through funding and support from the Killarney Bay-Cedar Point Cottage Association, the City of Kawartha Lakes and Victoria Stewardship Council.

These drought resistant and adaptive native plants will help decrease shoreline erosion as they develop a strong, extensive root system. They will also help reduce weed growth in the water by taking up nutrients in rainwater flowing across the ground to the lake, as well as providing important shoreline habitat for wildlife.

The Diablo Ninebark we planted is a fantastic example of a native shrub that is pleasing to the eye and has roots that can grow up to 15 feet. The more they grow, the more stability they can provide the shoreline. Be sure to check out the site when you're in the area.

If your shoreline looks similar to this, it is more susceptible to erosion and ice damage, Canada Geese, poor water quality and aquatic plant growth from nutrient-rich surface water runoff and eroded sediments.

We are helping create policies that will eliminate or help reduce potential significant threats to the sources of water for municipal drinking water systems within the Kawartha-Haliburton Source Protection Area (KHSPA).

The KHSPA covers 5,406 km2 of land and water, including parts of the City of Kawartha Lakes, Dysart et al, Minden Hills, Highlands East, Scugog, Galway-Cavendish and Harvey, Algonquin Highlands, Brock, Cavan Monaghan, and Clarington.

Email us with your name and address to receive this 6-page brochure on developing source protection plans.

There will be several opportunities to provide input to the Source Protection Plans through a public consultation process taking place from January to June, 2012. The Source Protection Plans must be complete by 2012.

Trent Assessment Report updates 

We have studied each of the 22 municipal drinking water systems in the KHSPA in order to protect them. This technical assessment was primarily completed last fall, but we have made amendments recently to refine the information. A new version of the Trent Assessment Report is now available at www.trentsourceprotection.on.ca and at our

Administrative Centre.

You are invited to review the revised report and submit comments to the Source Protection Committee by June 3, 2011.

Grants available 

Grants are also available to landowners with identified significant drinking water threats to help cover the cost of voluntary projects. These grants are provided through the Ontario Drinking Water Stewardship Early Response Program. Eligible projects may include runoff and erosion protection for agricultural operations, well decommissioning and upgrades, septic system upgrades, and handling/storage of fuel. Click here for details. 

Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock Day at Queens Park, May 18, 2011. From left to right: Brent Kulba, Communications Specialist; MPP Rick Johnson; Mark Majchrowski, Director, Watershed Management.

We hosted a booth at Queen's Park in Toronto on May 18 alongside world renowned businesses such as Kawartha Dairy and Crayola, and the municipalities within the provincial riding of Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock. 

We spoke with provincial Ministers, MPPs and their staff about the importance of protecting watershed resources for sustaining tourism, agriculture, wildlife and recreational activities such as fishing and boating, and contributing to an International Centre of Excellence for Water Quality.

Dave Simser, with the Victoria Stewardship Council, prepares tree seedling orders for pick up at the Kawartha Field Centre, April 29, 2011.