Lake Health Monitoring Program - Pigeon Lake
ABOUT THE LAKE
A central lake connecting the Kawarthas
Pigeon Lake is monitored every two years as part of Kawartha Conservation’s bi-annual Lake Health Monitoring Program. The program brings together information from three areas: water quality and vertical lake profiling, aquatic plants, and shoreline condition.
Staff monitor nutrients and other water-quality indicators, measure temperature and dissolved oxygen from the surface to the lake bottom, survey aquatic plant species and abundance, and assess natural and altered shoreline areas. Looking at these indicators together provides a more complete understanding of the lake, helps track changes over time, and informs decisions that support its long-term health.
The current StoryMap presents the results of 2025 water quality monitoring conducted at six locations on Pigeon Lake and five stream and river locations within the surrounding watershed. It shows that phosphorus continues to be the principal water-quality concern in Pigeon Lake, which remains in fair condition. Water quality in the monitored tributaries is generally good, although localized dissolved oxygen and phosphorus concerns remain in a small number of streams.
Aquatic plant monitoring began in 2026, followed by shoreline monitoring in 2027. These results will build on the current water-quality findings and provide a more complete picture of conditions across Pigeon Lake.
The StoryMap also presents the first lake-wide aquatic plant survey of Sturgeon Lake. Aquatic plants were sampled at 478 locations in July 2025. Shoreline monitoring is also underway, with aerial imagery analysis completed and boat-based surveys continuing in 2026.
Lake area
57 km²
Direct Watershed Area
91 km²
Kawartha Lake by surface area
Third Largest
MONITORING CYCLE
Three perspectives. One clearer picture.
Lake health is not defined by a single measurement. Water quality, aquatic plants and shoreline conditions are monitored over a five-year cycle to show how the lake and its watershed are changing.
Lake Scugog is monitored as part of Kawartha Conservation’s Lake Health Monitoring Program. The program brings together information from three areas: water quality and vertical lake profiling, aquatic plants, and shoreline condition. Staff monitor nutrients and other water-quality indicators, measure temperature and dissolved oxygen from the surface to the lake bottom, survey aquatic plant species and abundance, and assess natural and altered shoreline areas. Looking at these indicators together provides a more complete understanding of the lake, helps track changes over time, and informs decisions that support its long-term health.
The current StoryMap presents the results of 2025 monitoring conducted at six locations on Lake Scugog and seven stream and river locations within the surrounding watershed. It identifies phosphorus as the primary water-quality concern in the lake and notes elevated phosphorus levels in most tributaries. Aquatic plant surveys found plants across much of the lake, but also revealed a limited presence of sensitive species and widespread invasive plants, including Starry Stonewort and Eurasian Watermilfoil. Shoreline monitoring found a moderate loss of natural plant cover since 2002, along with relatively low amounts of woody structure and overhanging vegetation. Together, these findings identify several areas of concern and provide an important baseline for tracking how Lake Scugog changes over time.
2025 | Results available
Water quality
Tracks phosphorus, chloride, dissolved oxygen and other indicators at six lake stations and five stream and river monitoring stations.
2026 | Monitoring Underway
Aquatic plants
Examines plant coverage, sensitive and invasive species, and the depth at which aquatic plants are growing across Pigeon Lake.
2027 | Scheduled
Shoreline conditions
Will measure natural plant cover, woody habitat and overhanging vegetation along the Pigeon Lake shoreline.
See what the monitoring tells us
Monitoring Pigeon Lake brings together information about the water, the aquatic plant community and the shoreline. Each area provides a different perspective on lake health, while repeated monitoring helps identify meaningful changes over time.
FROM PLAN TO PROGRESS
Five priorities for a healthy Pigeon Lake
The Pigeon Lake Management Plan connects scientific monitoring, community knowledge and practical action. Monitoring helps show whether lake conditions are improving, holding steady or facing new pressures.
01
Maintain good water quality
Protect water quality in Pigeon Lake and its tributaries for ecological health, recreation and community use.
Monitoring signal
Phosphorus, dissolved oxygen and other indicators help identify changes in the lake and potential sources of stress within the surrounding watershed.
02
Understand aquatic plant communities
Improve understanding of the distribution, abundance and ecological and cultural importance of aquatic plants, including wild rice.
Monitoring signal
Aquatic plant surveys will document native and invasive species, overall plant coverage and areas where plant communities are changing.
03
Protect shorelines and biodiversity
Maintain and restore natural shoreline vegetation and the habitats that support fish, wildlife and species at risk.
Monitoring signal
Shoreline surveys will measure natural plant cover, woody structure and overhanging vegetation, while aquatic plant monitoring will provide information about nearshore habitat.
04
Support responsible land use
Guide development, infrastructure and land-management decisions in ways that reduce runoff, erosion, nutrient inputs and habitat loss.
Monitoring signal
Lake and tributary results help show how stormwater, agriculture, shoreline development, septic systems and other watershed activities may be influencing the lake.
05
Strengthen research and collaboration
Bring together municipalities, First Nations, residents, lake associations, researchers and other partners to improve knowledge and support informed action.
Monitoring signal
Repeated monitoring establishes a shared scientific record that can support consultation, community discussion and coordinated lake-management decisions.
Want the full picture?
Explore the Pigeon Lake Management Plan to learn more about its objectives, targets and recommended actions.
ABOUT THE WATERSHED
Healthy lands support a healthy lake
The Pigeon Lake watershed covers approximately 91 km² and includes a diverse landscape of mixed forests, wetlands, agricultural lands, communities and other natural features.
It includes several Provincially Significant Wetlands, including the Potash Creek Complex, Victoria Park Marsh, Pigeon Lake No. 14 and No. 15, Emily Creek No. 2, Ennismore No. 10 and Nogies Creek Mouth. These areas provide important habitat, store and filter water, reduce flooding, and contribute to the watershed’s overall ecological health.
Why monitor the watershed as well as the lake?
A lake reflects what happens across its entire watershed. Water flowing over the surrounding landscape can carry nutrients, sediment and contaminants into rivers and streams and, ultimately, the lake.
Pigeon Lake also receives water from a much larger connected system, including Sturgeon Lake, the Pigeon River, Nogies Creek, Big and Little Bald lakes and other tributaries. Water then flows through Gannons Narrows into Buckhorn Lake.
Monitoring Pigeon Lake and its surrounding watershed helps identify changing conditions, understand potential sources of stress and support informed decisions across this connected system.
Explore another lake
Explore monitoring findings for the other lakes included in Kawartha Conservation’s Lake Health Monitoring Program.
Contact Us
Kawartha Conservation
277 Kenrei Road
Lindsay, ON K9V 4R1
Tel: 705.328.2271
Fax: 705.328.2286
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