The Kawartha watershed is made up of nearly 50% farmland. Agriculture and healthy lakes are two pillars of our vibrant local economy. Farms can have a significant impact on lake health and how you manage your farm can make a big difference. Fuel and chemical management, nutrient management, source water protection and environmental farm planning can all play a critical role in supporting the health and safety of our watershed.
Programs and services
Kawartha Conservation offers the following programs and services to help farmers contribute to environmental conservation. Take part in our programs or apply for one of our landowner grants.
Seedling program |
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Bareroot seedlings are available to landowners in the Kawartha watershed who are undertaking stewardship planting projects which will help improve forest cover and the health of the watershed. |
Native plant sale |
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The native plant sale happens each spring and fall and provides native plants for the purpose of shoreline re-naturalization, habitat creation, erosion control, the establishment of rain gardens and low maintenance property beautification. |
Rain barrel sale |
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Landowners can access low cost rain barrels made of recycled material during our annual Rain Barrel Sale and Fundraiser. |
Apply for a grant |
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Funding may be available for the actions listed below; visit our grants page to learn more. |
What actions can I take?
Control cropland erosion |
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Follow these tips to control cropland erosion on your farm
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Manage manure, nutrients and runoff |
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You can manage manure, nutrients and runoff by:
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Plant trees |
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Trees can help reduce runoff and keep the soil nutrients in the soil. Here are a few tree planting tips:
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Fuel and chemical management |
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Proper management of fuel and chemicals is important for environmental health and conservation. You should consider:
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Soil and lake management best practices |
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Soil management and lake management have the same goal - keep soil and nutrients on the land and out of the water. Using best management practices as laid out by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs can have many benefits including:
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Additional resources |
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Check out these external programs and resources for more information on farm management. Programs
Resources |
We can help
Our knowledgeable staff can help you take action! We can help you:
- Identify a project that demonstrates an action from your lake's management plan and will benefit water quality
- Schedule a free on-site visit and receive personalized advice for enhancing your property and protecting water quality.