Kawartha Conservation Leads Fish Habitat Enhancement Project on Lake Scugog

LAKE SCUGOG, ONTARIO - Kawartha Conservation is leading a collaborative, community-supported project to restore and enhance critical fish spawning habitat on Lake Scugog, marking an important step forward for aquatic ecosystem health and creating a practical model for future lake restoration projects across the watershed.

The Lake Scugog Fish Spawning Shoals Enhancement Project will improve three historically important spawning shoals by expanding them outward into the lake over sand using new cobble substrate. The project will enhance approximately 757 square metres (about 8,150 square feet) of spawning habitat along 157 metres (about 515 feet) of shoreline across five properties.

“This project is a great example of how science, community commitment, and partnership can come together to deliver real benefits for lake health,” said Nancy Aspden, Director of Integrated Watershed Management at Kawartha Conservation. “By enhancing these shoals, we are strengthening fish habitat today and also creating a proven approach that can be applied to other lakes across our watershed.”

The work will involve placing cobble adjacent to existing shoals, rather than disturbing them. This approach will expand available spawning habitat without impacting known shoals, increase the number of protective crevices where fish eggs can safely develop, reduce the risk of shoals being left high and dry during periods of low water, and improve spawning conditions for species such as walleye and smallmouth bass.

For the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation, the restoration of walleye habitat carries both ecological and cultural importance.

“Ogaa (walleye) shoals are vital habitats where the fish spawn each spring and ensure sustainable populations. As a key predator, healthy Ogaa populations help maintain the balance of the aquatic food web. A traditional food of the Anishinabe, Ogaa are put towards many different cultural uses,” said Chief Kelly LaRocca of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation. “The Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation is grateful for the valued partnerships that have promoted the restoration of Ogaa habitats in our Treaty lands.” 

The project is expected to be carried out in late February, when ice and winter conditions allow the work to be completed efficiently and with minimal environmental disturbance.

“Kawartha Conservation is leading the design and ecological planning to ensure this project delivers real, long-term benefits for aquatic life in Lake Scugog,” said Brett Tregunno, Aquatic Biologist with Kawartha Conservation. “Functioning fish spawning habitat is one of the foundations of a healthy lake, and this project directly supports the lake’s ecological resilience.”

The project is being delivered in collaboration with the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation, Scugog Lake Stewards, and the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters Foundation, all of whom have provided direct funding support. Additional funding is being provided through Durham Region’s Implementation Science program, and four private shoreline landowners are partnering to make the project possible. Green Side Up Environmental Services has been retained as the contractor.

Rob Messervey, President of Scugog Lake Stewards, said the project reflects what community-driven stewardship can accomplish.

“The Scugog Lake Stewards are excited to be a funding partner in this Spawning Shoal Enhancement Project on Lake Scugog. This work will bring immediate as well as long-term benefits to the fisheries in the lake and establishes a proven approach and precedent for future fisheries enhancement work in Lake Scugog and other lakes in the region. Congratulations to Kawartha Conservation and other partners and residents in bringing this project to fruition.”

While this project builds on the broader momentum of the Lake Scugog Enhancement Project, it stands as a distinct, community-driven initiative focused on fish habitat restoration.

Beyond the immediate ecological benefits, the project also serves a broader purpose.

“One of the important outcomes here is that we are establishing a clear, repeatable workflow for how shoal restoration projects can move from concept to approval to construction,” Tregunno added. “By working through regulatory processes and demonstrating what is possible, this project helps open the door for more habitat restoration work on Lake Scugog and other lakes in the Kawartha watershed.”

Kawartha Conservation views this initiative as a blueprint for future lake restoration efforts, showing how strong science, local partnerships, and community investment can work together to protect and improve the health of local waterways.

The Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters Foundation says projects like this are exactly what community-based conservation should look like.

“We are excited to see the tangible progress towards restoring fish habitat on Lake Scugog. Conservation of fish and wildlife is a central mandate of the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters since our inception. Projects such as this achieve conservation outcomes that contribute to long-term fisheries management and at the same time provide habitat benefits for other aquatic wildlife,” said OFAH Foundation Chair Maya Basdeo. “OFAH Foundation’s Community Conservation Fund supports community groups delivering on-the-ground conservation work and providing outdoor education experiences, and we are proud to have supported Kawartha Conservation in this project in 2026.”

“This is a good news story for Lake Scugog,” said Aspden. “It is about protecting fish, strengthening the ecosystem, and leaving the lake in better shape for future generations.”

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Media Contact:

John Chambers
Marketing & Communications Specialist
705.328.2271 ext. 220
Jchambers@KawarthaConservation.com