2010 News

Sturgeon Lake Management Plan launched to protect lake and watershed

www.kawarthaconservation.com/sturgeonlake

(Lindsay, October 8, 2010)  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.

The goal of the 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 official launch of the Sturgeon Lake Management Plan on October 8 in Ken Reid Conservation Area with the project management team and members of the various committees that guide the development of the plan.

"The environmental health of Sturgeon Lake is an important part of maintaining a strong local economy," says Donna Villemaire, Chair of Kawartha Conservation. "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
• MPP Rick Johnson
• 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 organization participate on various committees, including the Executive Liaison Committee, Community Advisory Panel and Science and Technical Support Group. 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.

"Sturgeon Lake is a major draw for tourists, cottagers and residents," says 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," says 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," says 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."

For more information about the Sturgeon Lake Management Plan, visit the new webpage at www.kawarthaconservation.com/sturgeonlake.