Kawartha Conservation and the City of Kawartha Lakes are partnering on a 4 year (2021-2024) science-based lake management planning project for Lake Dalrymple and its watershed. Lake Dalrymple provides significant economic and environmental contributions to local communities, and once completed, this lake plan will help to keep this lake (the 5th largest in the municipality), healthy and resilient.
The primary purpose of this project is to work collaboratively with lake stakeholders towards obtaining a better understanding of the pressures on a lake and to determine priority management activities.
Comprehensive monitoring of water quality, water quantity, and land use parameters will be undertaken during the Lake Dalrymple Plan Management Plan development. This allows us to develop baseline documentation – or ‘state of the lake’ – as the foundation for developing management recommendations.
Project objectives
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Implement and maintain for the duration of the study comprehensive water quality and water quantity sampling networks to provide a scientific basis to identify current and potential threats/stressors, hotspots, evaluate trends and key management issues, and identify options for priority actions.
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Provide a current and baseline scientific basis to support and inform municipal land use planning and policy tools within the City of Kawartha Lakes.
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Design and implement management activities to maintain or achieve Provincial Water Quality Objectives for the lake and its tributaries, as well to reduce beach closures and create greater confidence in the lake health in general.
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Protect and improve water quality for all uses.
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Foster community participation in the project and understanding of the Kawartha Lakes, their natural and historic heritage, and human impacts.
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Develop and coordinate the necessary partnerships for effective collaboration on all aspects of the planning process and plan implementation.
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Promote a greater dialogue and understanding of issues, conflicting needs, visions and resource uses.
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Identify specific items for ongoing monitoring and advanced university research, for example: quantifying impacts to the nearshore zone, identifying specific sources of pollution, considering impacts of climate change, and invasive species.
For more information or to get involved in the Planning process, please contact Aquatic Biologist Brett Tregunno.
