Protect your waterfront
Receive a free shoreline consultation to learn how to manage erosion, ice damage, Canada Geese, poor water quality and other issues, while maintaining a functional and beautiful waterfront.
Click here for more information and to book a free consultation.
Consultations are completely confidential and recommendations provided are non-obligatory.
Grants of up to $300 for eligible costs are also available on some lakes and rivers.
Contact us to find out if you qualify.
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Free booklet!
A Shoreline Owner's Guide to Healthy Waterfronts
provides information and tips on shoreline maintenance, invasive species, fish friendly docks and more. Download a PDF.
Email us with your name and address to receive a booklet mailed to your door, free, while supplies last.
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Sturgeon Lake updates
Follow the Sturgeon Lake Management Plan on Facebook.
Click here.
Information is also available on our website. |
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Explore over 250 conservation areas across Ontario
Learn more through Conservation Ontario's newsletter.
Click here.
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Have a picnic in a beautiful natural setting
Ken Reid Conservation Area offers 3 picnic shelters in unique locations that are available from $10 to $25 per day.
Click here for details.
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Lake management plan initiated for Balsam and Cameron lakes
We've initiated a new lake management plan for Balsam and Cameron lakes, in partnership with the City of Kawartha Lakes and many community groups and stakeholders from across the region. Click here to view a map of the planning area and monitoring locations.
Councillor Stephen Strangway made the announcement during "Canada's Fresh Water Summit" event in Coboconk on June 18. Councillor Strangway is a member of the Community Advisory Panel that guides the planning process, alongside an Executive Liaison Group and Science and Technical Committee.
 Participants in the development of lake management plans within the City of Kawartha Lakes and guests during the launch. From left to right are Councillor Patrick O'Reilly; Councillor Doug Elmslie; Lou Probst, City of Kawartha Lakes Environmental Advisory Committee; Councillor Brian Junkin; Dave Pridham, Kawartha Conservation; Councillor Emmett Yeo; Trent-Severn Waterway Superintendent Dawn Bronson; Mayor Ric McGee; MP Barry Devolin; and Councillor Stephen Strangway.
Lake management planning is part of a City-wide program to maintain and enhance the environmental health and economic sustainability of our local lakes.
Last year, we initiated a multi-phased approach to lake management planning, beginning with the Sturgeon Lake Management Plan. This year is the Balsam and Cameron Lake Management Plan. Pigeon Lake will be in 2012, and then in 2013 we will initiate plans for the lakes in the northern part of the City of Kawartha Lakes.
This approach to lake management planning follows the completion of the Lake Scugog Environmental Management Plan last year, which is now being implemented.
Each of the lake management plans will involve three years of intensive scientific study, and then the development of recommendations and actions in year four based on the findings.
The research will provide a scientific foundation for actions such as reducing and managing nutrients and other contaminants entering the lake; developing a natural heritage strategy; educating and mobilizing watershed residents to take personal stewardship actions; and enabling Official Plan policies and strategic plans to address lake issues. |
Free shoreline protection workshop for your neighbourhood
 This summer, we're touring the watershed, offering free shoreline protection workshops to interested nieghbourhoods and communities. We can also come speak at one of your meetings.
Let us know your shoreline concerns. We can offer expert advice and recommendations on: - Reducing erosion and ice damage
- Reducing excessive aquatic weed growth
- Deterring Canada Geese
- Protecting water quality - Did you know that certain human activities near the shoreline can have the biggest impact?
- Shoreline design
- When permits are needed for shoreline work
- The permit process
- Creating habitat for the types of wildlife you want
- How to analyze your site and choose the right plants for your shoreline property
- Going natural - How to determine which method is right for you
- How to maintain a natural shoreline - Low versus high maintenance, you have a choice.
To book your community workshop or presentation with one of our qualified professionals, please contact Tracy Roxborough at 705.328.2271 ext. 238 or troxborough@kawarthaconservation.com. |
If you live in Port Perry, Blackstock or Caesarea, you can help protect Lake Scugog
Every year, over 9 tonnes of phosphorus enter Lake Scugog. Although urban areas make up 3.8% of the watershed, they contribute 18% of this phosphorus through storm drains that empty into the lake. See more in the Lake Scugog Environmental Management Plan.
 This phosphorus comes from all of us; when we fertilize the lawn, wash the car in the driveway with soap that contains phosphates, sweep or blow leaves and grass clippings onto the road, leave pet waste on the ground, and allow soils to erode and wash into the storm drain.
This month, we are visiting residents in Port Perry, Blackstock and Caesarea to provide information and answer questions about reducing nutrients entering the lake from urban areas.
We also want to hear from you! Please click here to complete a survey.
For more on stewardship actions in town, click here, or call us at 705.328.2271 ext. 216. |
Watershed tour with Board of Directors
The Kawartha Conservation Board of Directors toured the watershed on June 17. They took a close up look at our five conservation and natural areas, local natural heritage features, and the various pressures on natural systems in the region. They also saw some of our environmental programs and services on the ground, including monitoring activities.
Board members and staff observe insects collected from the Blackstock Creek. Insects are used in benthic analysis to determine the health of watercourses. From left to right: Aquatic Biologist Brett Tregunno; Director Jim Chaplin; Director Chuck Mercier; Vice Chair Pat Warren; Director Heather Stauble; CAO Rob Messervey; and in the top right hand corner, Hydrologist Iryna Shulyarenko. |
Help needed for completion of new trail in Durham East Cross Forest Conservation Area
 We'll soon have a new, 4 km trail in Durham East Cross Forest Conservation Area for low-impact uses such as hiking, bicycling, horseback riding, and cross-country skiing.
To complete this trail, we are seeking volunteers for a trail building event this Saturday, June 25 from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Activities will involve leveling the trail, moving or helping to cut fallen trees, brushing, and clearing rocks and other debris.
If you would like to participate, please register by clicking here. Registration is required by June 24.
A free lunch and water will be provided; but, be sure to dress appropriately for the weather conditions. Please bring work gloves and safety glasses if you have them.
For more information, contact Conservation Areas Coordinator Jessie James at 705.328.2271 ext. 212 or jjames@kawarthaconservation.com. |
1 tonne of Garlic Mustard removed from Ken Reid Conservation Area
With 11 volunteers and staff, 1 tonne of Garlic Mustard was hand-picked and trucked out of Ken Reid Conservation Area on May 29. This invasive plant can quickly spread throughout an area, crowding out a diversity of other plant species. Unfortunately, the hard work does not stop after all of the plants are removed. Seeds can lay dormant in the ground for several years. This makes the timing of removal crucial, so that plants are pulled before they seed. It will also take multiple pulling events over several years to eradicate the plant from this area. We'd like to thank the organizers and all of the volunteers for their help.
For more information about Garlic Mustard and this event, please visit the Biodiversity Education and Awareness Network. Additional information about invasive species is available through the Ontario Invasive Plant Council.
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Municipal councillors and staff participate in drinking water forum
The Trent Conservation Coalition Source Protection Committee held a forum for municipal councillors and staff on June 8 at Trent University. The day included updates on Drinking Water Source Protection and the development of policies for protecting municipal drinking water in our region.
Ian Smith, Director of the Source Protection Programs Branch at the Ministry of the Environment, answers questions about Drinking Water Source Protection.
Source protection plans are being developed by the people who live and work in our communities, with guidance from the province and conservation authority specialists.
Source Protection Committee members represent a diverse range of local public and private interests such as municipalities, business, agriculture, First Nations and environmental agencies.
For more information about the protection of your municipal drinking water sources, visit trentsourceprotection.on.ca.
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