2010 News

Open house on draft Lake Scugog Environmental Management Plan

Kawartha Conservation to present strategies for creating a healthy future for Lake Scugog

Kawartha Conservation is holding open houses around Lake Scugog to present strategies that will help create a healthy future for the lake and surrounding watershed. These strategies are based on research findings in a completed draft of the Lake Scugog Environmental Management Plan (LSEMP), which will also be presented.

The LSEMP was initiated in 2004 in response to public concerns about elevated levels of phosphorus and nitrogen resulting in degraded water quality, aquatic plant growth and a reduction in fish populations. Five years of monitoring and research were undertaken to develop an accurate picture of where these nutrients have been coming from and how much from each source.

Kawartha Conservation found that agriculture, which makes up 53% of the land use in the Lake Scugog watershed, is responsible for 23% of the phosphorus entering Lake Scugog. This is a lower amount of phosphorus per hectare compared to urban areas, which comprise only 3.5% of the land use in the watershed and contribute over 18% of the phosphorus. In addition to a strategy for reducing phosphorus from urban areas, a strategy has been developed to help continue the progress of the agricultural sector.

The other sources which Kawartha Conservation has identified, measured and developed strategies for include natural sources, responsible for 21.4% of the phosphorus; atmospheric deposition, for 19%; septic systems, for 9.7%; rural road runoff (1.3% of land use), for 6.4%; and the Port Perry Sewage Treatment Plant, for 1.8%.

"The quality and level of research in the LSEMP is impressive," says Rob Messervey, Kawartha Conservation CAO. "It provides a good, solid foundation for moving forward on actions that will effectively address the problems."

Open houses will be held from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at each of the following dates and locations:

• Monday, March 8:  Caesarea Community Hall, 3554 Regional Rd. 57, Caesarea
• Tuesday, March 9:  Little Britain Community Centre, 9 Arena Rd., Little Britain
• Wednesday, March 10:  Latcham Centre, 121 Queen St., Port Perry

During each open house, a brief presentation on the research and strategies will take place at 7 p.m. and again at 8 p.m. There will also be displays and opportunities to talk with Kawartha Conservation staff.

"Those who attend the open house will come away with a better understanding of the Lake Scugog watershed and what we need to do to protect and enhance it," says Messervey. "I invite everyone to come out."

More information about the LSEMP can be found at www.kawarthaconservation.com/lsemp.

The LSEMP has been funded by the Region of Durham, the City of Kawartha Lakes and Kawartha Conservation, and was developed in partnership with the Township of Scugog, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Scugog Lake Stewards, the Durham Land Stewardship Council and the Victoria Land and Water Stewardship Council.